Two individuals who have gone above and beyond to help others in the payroll industry were honored on May 11 during the APA’s 40th Annual Payroll Congress. Barb Muellerleile, CPP, and Link Almon, CPP, received APA’s Special Recognition Award for their exemplary service and unwavering dedication through their volunteer efforts over their many years as APA members and mentors.

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Muellerleile, Senior Director of Finance and Payroll for Panera, has more than 30 years of payroll experience. She became a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) in 2002, and seven years later, in 2009, she became an APA member.

“I’m shaking," Muellerleile said. "Thank you all. I would be nothing without all of the people in this room. I am so honored and thankful to be a part of the APA. I love what I do. I love payroll. I love being involved. This just means so much more than you can imagine. So, thank you so much.”

Her APA volunteer service includes service with the Government Relations Task Force (GRTF), the Board of Advisors, Certification Board, Payroll Cards Subcommittee of the GRTF, the Strategic Payroll Leadership Task Force (SPLTF), CHAMPS Committee, the Nominating and Elections Committee, the Retail Best Practices Subcommittee of the SPLTF, and the Board of Contributing Writers.

From 2002 to 2012, Muellerleile held numerous positions with the Northstar APA Chapter including President, Vice President, Secretary, Program Chair, Conference Chair, and Treasurer.

In 2014, she was recognized for her hard work when she received the APA’s Meritorious Service Award.

She is currently an active member of the  , which became affiliated with the APA in 2001.

Almon, who joined APA in 2009 and became a CPP the following year is the Human Resource Operations Adviser at CIGNA Corp.

Almon earned an MBA at Trevecca Nazarene University and is considered a payroll leader by his peers.

In 2017, Almon received the APA’s Meritorious Service Award.

His volunteer service includes the SPLTF, the Education Advisory Committee, Electronic Payments Committee, Certification Board, Certification Item Development Task Force, the Hotline Referral Service, the Electronic Payments Subcommittee of the GRTF, and the Emerging Technologies and the Best Practices Subcommittees of the SPLTF.

“I remember early in my career, I started working for a new company and the lady that I worked for said, 'I just don’t think that you’re gonna make it in payroll.’ That comment initiated my fire," Almon said. "This has been a great day for me.”