What’s your favorite thing about working with your team/department?
I love the camaraderie we have. We’re a team all the way through. We work hard, but we also enjoy each other’s company. There are plenty of moments of levity throughout the day, and we always find time to do a team lunch one way or another. When it comes to business, we work together to figure out issues and make sure we’re on the same page. I couldn’t ask to be part of a better team.
Outside of work, do you have any favorite activities or hobbies?
To say I’m a hockey fanatic would be a massive understatement. The game has always been a huge part of my life. I’ve been a goalie since I was 9 years old, and I still play up to three times a week. I coached youth ice hockey for four years, and now I coach my older son in ball hockey. I also do a weekly Flyers podcast for fun, as my background is in broadcasting.
When the weather is nice, you’ll find me outside on the baseball fields as a volunteer coach, riding my bike, and doing activities with my wife and two sons.
What’s the best piece of advice you have been given relating to your job/career?
I’m a naturally positive person, but early in my career, I used to beat myself up after making a mistake at work, seeing nothing but the negative. Then a mentor of mine said something that completely changed my thinking:
“A mistake is an opportunity to learn.”
It was the best piece of advice I ever received. No matter what, you can learn what to do, or what not to do. That’s how you achieve true growth. It’s a perspective that has helped me develop my skills and overcome many obstacles throughout my career.
What’s one thing you never leave home without?
As crazy as it sounds, my Apple Watch. There have been times I’ve left the house without it and turned around to go back and get it. No idea why, but I don’t feel the same without it.
What do you do here at EDA?
Most people may think payroll is just submitting timesheets and having it reflected in their checks, but there’s so much more going on behind the scenes to make that happen.
The best way I can explain it is to think of payroll like a giant jigsaw puzzle. You have wages, taxes, union dues, and fringe benefits. Then there’s the back end, which includes compliance items like union remittance, certified payroll, and OCIP/CCIP.
If we’re missing pieces or if they don’t fit, it’s my responsibility to make sure we get the correct ones.
Cats or dogs? Why?
Don’t tell my two cats (Simba and Coco) this, but I love dogs. Dogs see me and just want to play. I guess I look like a giant tennis ball to them or something. However, I wouldn’t trade my cats for anything, even though they like to jump on the counter and eat the chicken that’s defrosting if we don’t hide it.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My teammates. I have the absolute pleasure of working with amazing people who truly care about what they do. You can feel the passion for everyone’s work, and everyone has the drive to complete their responsibilities to the best of their ability.
If you were planning your favorite meal, what’s on the menu?
I’m actually a terrible cook, in fact, I could probably burn water.
Put me in front of a grill, though, and I’ll make you the best cheeseburger you’ve ever had in your life. That with a side of grilled asparagus and grilled corn on the cob.
How do you stay updated on industry trends and advancements, and are there any recent developments that have caught your attention?
Payroll is a little tough. Things don’t drastically change often. However, we work with our internal partners to make things more efficient and cost-effective. I view things through a process-oriented lens, so if there’s a way to improve, we’ll explore it.
What's your proudest accomplishment, either in your professional or personal life?
Personal: Winning the 2017 CAN/AM Hockey Championship in Lake Placid, NY, with my youth hockey team. We actually won it on the same ice where the 1980 U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Team beat the Soviet Union. It was an unbelievable event to cap off an amazing season.
Professional: When I was in Human Resources, I spearheaded the implementation of the EOS System across an entire organization. That required a significant cultural shift and a new approach to management, and it fundamentally changed how the company operated. It was such an accomplishment because it paid off in the long run and improved the company at every level.