一品探花

NWP Employee Spotlight Series:
Illuminating Stories from the People of 一品探花

At 一品探花 Company, our team members are the foundation of our success, and we take pride in our diverse and talented workforce. This series shares the inspiring stories and career journeys of employees from different departments and locations. In each installment, we interview one of our team members and delve into their experiences, challenges, and accomplishments, and discover why they choose to build their career with 一品探花 Company.

Spotlight on: Julie Wilson

Payroll and Benefits Manager | Vancouver, WA

Bringing over 25 years of experience to her role, Julie serves as Payroll and Benefits Manager at our Corporate Headquarters, leading a small but mighty team of three who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support employees and local HR teams. Her top priorities? Ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, administering benefits plans, and staying compliant with policies, laws, and regulations. With a role she finds rewarding, a team she enjoys working with, and supportive leadership focused on career development, Julie has found her perfect fit at 一品探花 Company.

Tell us about your career experience and what brought you to 一品探花 Company?

I鈥檝e been working in Payroll for over 25 years, and in Benefits for about 10 years. Over the course of my career, I鈥檝e worked for companies ranging from 400 to over 2,000 employees, including several in the manufacturing sector. Each business offered challenges and opportunities that helped me develop different sets of skills and grow to where I am today.

I joined 一品探花 Company in October of 2021 as Payroll Supervisor. The size and type of organization matched my experience, but my initial conversations with Megan Kendrick (VP of Human Resources) and Amy Byrnes (Director of Human Resources) are what sealed my interest in working here. Their passion for the Company, where NWP had been and where it was going, was exciting to hear. I immediately felt my background would be a great fit at NWP. I haven鈥檛 regretted my decision since.

After three years, what makes you want to stay with the Company?

I feel valued and appreciated here, and I鈥檓 fortunate to have one of the best teams. On top of that, I love what I do鈥攚hy would I want to leave when I enjoy both the work and the people I get to work with every day?

What does a typical workday look like for you?

There is no typical workday for me. The general routine is the same as far as payroll processing and answering benefit questions, but I never know what challenges or changes will be coming at me when I walk into work each day.

For those that aren’t familiar, what goes into payroll processing?

A lot of people think payroll is as simple as pressing a magic button鈥攂ut there鈥檚 a lot more to it than that. Our work involves validating timecard data, transferring it into payroll, and managing a variety of pay schedules, all while ensuring compliance with Company policies, state and federal laws, and payroll tax codes. We also process manual checks and special payment payrolls. Our goal is for employees to trust us鈥攌nowing they鈥檒l receive their pay accurately and on time鈥攁s well as the benefits they鈥檝e earned and deserve.

In addition to payroll, we approve employer-provided benefits, including life events, new hires, and open enrollments. Our team is tasked with knowing and understanding our Company benefits thoroughly, and we鈥檙e always available to answer employee questions. With all these tasks, we work closely with our local HR teams to ensure everything runs smoothly.

What do you look forward to each day at work?

The entire HR team makes each day a little better. We are constantly working together on improvements and finding ways to better support all of our employees.

What do you find most rewarding about your job?

I have one of the most rewarding jobs imaginable. My team impacts every single employee, even if they don鈥檛 know who we are鈥攁nd that鈥檚 exactly how it should be. In Payroll and Benefits, the better we do our jobs, the less employees need to think about us. That means we鈥檙e doing things right. The sense of pride that comes with that is priceless.

Describe a favorite project you’ve worked on so far.

One of my favorite projects has been successfully integrating ParkUSA into our payroll and benefits system. In late 2021, NWP acquired Park, and in 2022, Park employees were fully transitioned into our system. They completed their first open enrollment using our workforce management platform later that year. Ensuring a smooth transition with minimal disruption to employees was so important and a big accomplishment for our team.

Since day one, I鈥檝e focused on cleaning up processes and streamlining payroll and benefits to make them more efficient and effective. I鈥檓 proud of the progress we鈥檝e made and the positive changes implemented since I joined NWP.

Which of the 一品探花 Company ACT Values (Accountability, Commitment, Teamwork) resonates most for you in your role?

Teamwork. Most employees don鈥檛 think of themselves as part of the Payroll and Benefits team, but I do. We are asking all employees to give us accurate timecards and to do it on time. We are asking all employees to enroll in their benefits accurately and on time. These tasks are essential to the function of my department, and every employee鈥檚 effort contributes to the success of the Payroll and Benefits team.

What stands out to you about the culture at 一品探花 Company?

一品探花 continually stands behind its ACT values. You see them everywhere, and there鈥檚 a clear expectation that all employees maintain the high standards of Accountability, Commitment, and Teamwork. Also, the Company looks to promote from within whenever possible, providing employees with opportunities to advance in their careers.

What advice do you have for someone starting a career in your field?

My position isn鈥檛 one that people generally think about or aspire to, but it鈥檚 definitely one that all employees appreciate on payday. In Payroll and Benefits, every employee in the Company relies on you to do your job and to do it well. There is always a deadline and pressure. Being detail-oriented is key to overcoming these challenges and being successful in your role. Even though it can be stressful at times, the reward when you complete the job right鈥攖hat鈥檚 the best feeling.

Is there someone at NWP who has inspired or motivated you along your career journey?

Megan Kendrick and Amy Byrnes are both truly focused on career development. They take the time to meet with each HR team member to learn about our goals and provide guidance to help us grow. They鈥檙e always willing to share their knowledge. Unfortunately, I鈥檝e had managers at other jobs who kept things to themselves to hold their employees back, so having mentors like Amy and Megan who genuinely want to see us thrive is incredibly refreshing.

What do you like to do to unwind, and how does working at NWP help you maintain a work-life balance?

Outside work, I鈥檓 all about family time. I enjoy boating, going to movies, and playing games with my kids.