The APA honored nine outstanding individuals for their exemplary service to the Association, locally and nationally, with Meritorious Service Awards.
MeritWinners-1
They are: Lisa Anderson, CPP; Brett Cooper; Brian Garrett, CPP; Carlanna Livingstone, CPP; Cheryl Seifritz, CPP; Ansleigh Smith, CPP; Linda Werts, CPP; Tori Worley, CPP; and Joseph Ziska.

Details of each recipient's service are below:

Lisa Anderson, CPP, Global Payroll Manager for Cyrus One, has been a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) since 2005. Her volunteer service includes Certification Item Development Task Force and the Fundamental Payroll Certification Committee. Locally, she has served the Dallas Chapter as Education Director, Study Group Coordinator, Local Administrator, Vice President, and President.

Brett Cooper, Payroll Operations Manager for Costco Wholesale, has been an APA member since 2011. He has served on the Child Support, Garnishments, and Payroll Cards Subcommittees of the Government Relations Task Force (GRTF) and on its Unemployment Insurance Workgroup. He also has served on the Retail Best Practices Subcommittee of the Strategic Payroll Leadership Task Force (SPLTF).

Brian Garrett, CPP, Tax Expert Lead for Intuit, became a CPP in 2012. His volunteer service includes the State and Local Topics and Payroll Cards Subcommittees of the GRTF and the Hospitality Industry Subcommittee of the SPLTF. He also has served on the Board of Contributing Writers for PAYTECH.

Carlanna Livingstone, CPP, is Quality Assurance Engineer for CIC Plus. A CPP since 2009, her volunteer service includes Hotline Referral Service, Social Networking Committee, Child Support, Garnishments, State and Local Topics, and Payroll Cards Subcommittees and the Early Wage Access/On-Demand Pay Workgroup of the GRTF. She also has served on the Best Practices and Retail Best Practices Subcommittees of the SPLTF. She is a member of the Rainier Chapter.

Cheryl Seifritz, CPP, is the Senior Director of Payroll for The Ohio State University. A CPP since 2006, she has served on the Hotline Referral Service and the Educational Institutions Subcommittee of the SPLTF. Locally, she has served as Vice President and President of the Greater Cleveland Chapter.

Ansleigh Smith, CPP, Payroll Operations Manager for Equifax, has been a CPP since 2013. She has served on the Hotline Referral Service, CHAMPS, Education Advisory Committee, Board of Advisors, Social Networking Committee, and the Shared Services Task Force. She serves on the Best Practices and Emerging Technologies Subcommittees of the SPLTF. She has served the Atlanta Chapter as Local Administrator, Study Group Coordinator, Statewide Coordinator, Secretary, President-Elect, and President.

Linda Werts, CPP, Payroll and Travel Manager for Cargotec Holding, became a CPP in 2001. She has served the APA on the Hotline Referral Service, Shared Services Task Force, State and Local Topics Subcommittee of the GRTF, and the Best Practices and Small Employers Best Practices Subcommittees of the SPLTF. Locally, she has served the Toledo Area Chapter as Chapter Coordinator, Government Liaison Officer, and President.

Tori Worley, CPP, is Payroll Manager for Meredith Corporation and has been a CPP since 2016. Her volunteer service includes the Child Support, Garnishments, Federal Tax Forms and Publications, Federal Issues, and Payroll Cards Subcommittees of the GRTF, and the Retail Best Practices Subcommittee of the SPLTF. She has served the Central Iowa Chapter as Local Administrator, Government Liaison Officer, Statewide Coordinator, and President.

Joseph Ziska, Manager of Compensation and Organizational Management for BMW Manufacturing, has served on the Global Education Advisory Committee and the Manufacturing Best Practices and Emerging Technologies Subcommittees of the SPLTF.

"Thank you all, it couldn't be done without you," Kathleen Martin, CPP, wrote in the chat. "You are the best mentors to us."

Photo: Top row, Smith, Cooper Garrett; middle row, Livingstone, Seifritz, Ziska; bottom row: Werts, Anderson, Worley