Payroll In Focus

🎓 Greater Akron Canton Payroll Association One-Day Conference

Empowering Payroll Professionals in an Evolving Landscape

🗓 Conference Description:

Join payroll professionals from across the region for a full day of expert-led sessions, interactive learning, and invaluable networking at the Greater Akron Canton Payroll Association’s bi-annual one-day conference. This year, we’re diving into some of the most pressing issues and innovations in payroll—multi-state compliance, Ohio BWC regulations, AI transformation, and securing sensitive payroll data.

Whether you’re new to payroll or a seasoned pro, this conference offers the insights and tools you need to stay ahead of compliance, technology, and security trends in 2026.

🧩 Agenda Overview:

1. Multi-State Payroll: Navigating Complexities and Regulatory Differences

Speaker: Kelly Westfall, CPP – GPD Group & Dee Gray, CPP – Rea
Session Description:
Handling payroll across multiple states is more than just adjusting tax withholdings—it’s a web of labor laws, tax regulations, and reporting requirements. This session breaks down the key compliance issues and variations between states, helping you avoid penalties while ensuring consistency and accuracy across jurisdictions.

Key Takeaways:

• Residency vs. work-state taxation rules

• State-specific wage and hour laws

• Managing remote/hybrid employee setups

• Best practices for staying compliant across borders

2. Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC)

Speaker: Justin Stoffer – Cleveland BWC Office
Session Description:
Unpack the often-confusing landscape of Ohio BWC. This session covers everything from understanding group discount programs to correctly identifying who is reportable under BWC and how to accurately complete your annual Payroll True-Up report.

Key Takeaways:

• How to qualify for and maintain group rating discounts

• Defining reportable payroll under BWC rules

• Avoiding common True-Up mistakes

• Understanding the impact of misclassification

4. BREAKING THE CYCLE – EWA

Speaker: George C Mavrantzas – Payactiv                                                                                                                                                                            Session Title: Breaking the Cycle: Leveraging Earned Wage Access for Employee Financial Wellness
Session Description
Changes in talent demographics, work arrangements, and technology are reshaping how employees need and want to be paid, making employee financial well-being a critical component of a healthy organization. This session will guide you through the latest trends and tools for Earned Wage Access (EWA) and help your organization prepare to embrace the future of pay. Learn how to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce, take an active role in enhancing employee financial wellness, and leverage these benefits to improve recruiting, retention, and productivity with minimal operational disruption.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the economic and demographic shifts driving the demand for employee financial wellness and Earned Wage Access (EWA) across diverse worker profiles.
• Identify how aligning pay strategies and implementing financial wellness tools like EWA can positively impact key talent objectives such as recruiting, retention, and employee engagement.
• Evaluate the options for implementing Earned Wage Access with little to no disruption to existing payroll operations and business models.
• Gain insights from industry expert George Mavrantzas on optimizing EWA efficiency.

3. AI May Be the Future of Payroll—But Where Do I Start Today?

Speaker: Rosanne Wahl – Sr Payroll & HRIS Mgr. – AFC Industries
Session Description:
AI is reshaping payroll as we know it, but you don’t need to be a tech expert to get started. This practical session explores real-world applications of AI in payroll and offers a roadmap for adopting automation in manageable, strategic steps.

Key Takeaways:

• Simple AI tools you can implement today

• Automating repetitive payroll tasks

• Using AI for compliance checks and audits

• Preparing your team for AI integration

4. Best Practices for Securing Payroll: Breaches, Scams, and Data Theft

Speaker: Brian Kelley – Technology, Transportation, & Innovation Evangelist, Speaker, & Adjunct Professor

Session Description:
Payroll departments are a prime target for cybercriminals. Learn how to identify vulnerabilities, prevent phishing scams, and protect sensitive employee data. This session offers essential strategies and tools to fortify your payroll systems against growing threats.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognizing red flags in payroll fraud

• Data encryption and access controls

• Incident response planning

• Employee training for fraud prevention

🧠 Why Attend?

• Stay current on evolving multi-state compliance challenges

• Learn directly from BWC and industry experts

• Explore AI innovations without getting overwhelmed

• Safeguard your payroll operations from cyber threats

• Network with local payroll professionals and vendors

📌 Who Should Attend?

• Payroll professionals

• HR and benefits administrators

• Finance and compliance officers

• Business owners and office managers

• Anyone involved in payroll processing or oversight

***EVENT LOCATION UPDATE*** This event will be held in person at Raintree Golf & Event Center

• Registration ~ 8:00am – 8:30am
• Educational Seminars ~ 8:30am-4:30pm *LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED 11:45am-1:00pm*      **Bring cash for the 50/50 RAFFLE**
• Attendees will earn 6 RCH’s if they attend the entire learning event