BETTING ON HERSELF: TRACY CULICERTO’S JOURNEY TO BUILDING ASCENDHR

When Tracy Culicerto talks about building AscendHR, she doesn’t start with growth metrics or expansion plans. She starts with people. She talks about her parents using retirement savings earned through decades in the coal mining industry to help fund her dream. She talks about bringing her infant son to client meetings during AscendHR’s earliest days. …

THE PREDICTABILITY PREMIUM: THE RISK PROFILE BUYERS ACTUALLY WANT

Risk is in the DNA of the PEO business. It is not a flaw in the model. It is the model. Top-performing PEOs make a calculated move: accept measured risk today to earn a multiple of it tomorrow. The core equation is simple: risk one dollar to make three, if not more. The best operators …

• RISK

PEOS IN THE COMMUNITY: E3 HR’S SPIRIT OF SERVICE

At E3 HR, community service is integrated into the company’s values, creating a culture where giving back is a core part of the organization.

STRUCTURAL PROFIT EXPANSION: REWRITING THE ECONOMICS OF THE PEO CLIENT BASE

Structural profit expansion is based on the process of identifying and correcting these imbalances in a systematic and measurable way.

• FINANCE & OPERATIONS

SHAPING TRUST IN THE AI BUYER JOURNEY: FROM VISIBLE TO RECOMMENDED

AI tools match content to the vocabulary of the question being asked, and buyers ask questions in the language of their world, not yours.

• CYBERSECURITY & TECHNOLOGY

UPDATES AND INSIGHTS ON THE WORKERS’ COMP. MARKET

California announced an 8.7% increase in advisory pure premium rates effective 9/1/2025 and again recommends a similar magnitude increase effective 9/1/2026.

• HR & BENEFITS

HOW PEO TEAMS ARE USING AI WITHOUT LOSING THE HUMAN TOUCH

One of the most useful ways to think about AI in PEO operations is not what to automate, but what to protect.

• CYBERSECURITY & TECHNOLOGY

BEYOND TEMPERATURE CHECKS: NAVIGATING OSHA’S 2026 HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION STANDARD AND EVOLVING VIEW OF WORKPLACE SAFETY

OSHA may no longer view heat hazards in isolation, but as part of a more integrated approach to worker health and safety.

• LEGAL & LEGISLATIVE

4 THINGS PEOS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE NEW DOL JOINT EMPLOYER PROPOSAL

The Labor Department’s recent proposed joint employer rule is welcome news for the PEO industry. That being said, you’ve received similar welcome news every other time the DOL went through this same exercise in the past, only to see the helpful guidance unwound by a new administration. Watching the joint employer rule evolve is like …

• LEGAL & LEGISLATIVE

DELIVERING IMPACT THROUGH ABSENCE MANAGEMENT: HOW PEOS CAN HELP SIMPLIFY LEAVE, STRENGTHEN COMPLIANCE AND IMPROVE THE WORKSITE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE

Modern, well‑aligned absence management approaches help PEOs retain ownership of compliance, reduce administrative friction, and provide the consistent oversight worksites expect.

• HR & BENEFITS

HR NEEDS MORE DAD JOKES: A WORK DAD’S CASE FOR HUMOR, CONNECTION AND GRACE IN THE PEO WORLD

A simple, safe moment of humor signals emotional steadiness. It communicates that the conversation is a process, not a confrontation.

• HR & BENEFITS

INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE

Looking back, I can say with certainty that my participation in FAPEO and NAPEO have been highlights of my experience in the industry.

MEET CONGRESSMAN RICHARD NEAL: A Q&A WITH THE HOUSE WAYS & MEANS RANKING MEMBER

Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA) has served Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1988. He has served most of that time as a member of the Ways & Means Committee and served as committee chairman from 2019 until 2023. He currently serves as the committee’s ranking member. He spoke with NAPEO Vice President of …

THE VALUE CREATION PROCESS: DRIVING SUPERIOR ECONOMICS IN THE PEO INDUSTRY

At its core, value creation in the PEO model is about maximizing the lifetime economic value of each client relationship while maintaining discipline at the point of entry and throughout the lifecycle.

• FINANCE & OPERATIONS

CONSISTENCY BUILDS TRUST BEFORE THE CONVERSATION BEGINS

AI systems pull signals from across sources, looking for patterns that reinforce credibility and relevance. When it comes to your business, consistency across channels is what ties those signals together.

• CYBERSECURITY & TECHNOLOGY

HOW AI IS CHANGING SEARCH: WHAT IT MEANS FOR PEO MARKETING

To remain visible in this new environment, many organizations are focusing on a newer discipline called answer engine optimization (AEO).

• SALES & MARKETING

ENTERPRISE AI ADOPTION: A THREE PILLAR APPROACH TO ROLLOUT, RESPONSIBILITY AND CULTURE

Avoid the temptation to roll out AI organization-wide immediately. The best strategy involves launching controlled pilots with small, enthusiastic teams—your "early adopters."

• CYBERSECURITY & TECHNOLOGY

HOW TO INTRODUCE AI TO YOUR PEO WITHOUT KILLING TRUST

One of the fastest ways to destroy trust is ambiguity around headcount. If your teams suspect that assistive intelligence is a precursor to layoffs, adoption will stall. Productivity gains will be hidden rather than shared.

• CYBERSECURITY & TECHNOLOGY

TRUMP CHILD SAVINGS ACCOUNTS: A NEW BENEFIT OFFERING FOR PEOS?

If employer contributions or pre-tax salary deferrals to Trump Accounts becomes a common benefit offering, PEOs are well-positioned to offer it to small businesses who otherwise do not have the bandwidth to administer it.

• LEGAL & LEGISLATIVE

SUPPORTING CLIENT GROWTH ACROSS BORDERS: A GUIDE FOR PEOS

When your clients decide to expand into new markets, the excitement of growth often collides with a harsh reality: every jurisdiction brings its own maze of employment laws, tax codes, and regulatory requirements.

• LEGAL & LEGISLATIVE

THE DUAL HR MODEL: BUILDING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN PEOS AND CLIENT HR LEADERS

For HR professionals working within a PEO, building strong partnerships with client-side HR professionals is essential. When the relationship works well, the client benefits from expanded expertise and resources.

• HR & BENEFITS

YOU CAN’T SPELL PEO WITHOUT PEOPLE

The future of the PEO industry is not a binary choice between human expertise and automation; it is a powerful partnership.

THE NO-FRICTION WORKFLOW: DEFINING THE NEW STANDARD OF CLIENT-CENTRIC AGILITY IN PEOS

Reducing friction requires more than incremental process improvement. It requires rethinking how underwriting and pricing workflows support the overall client experience.

SOC 1 OR SOC 2 READINESS: A PRACTICAL PATH FOR PEOS TO BUILD STRONGER CONTROLS WITHOUT FULL CERTIFICATION

Readiness is not a watered-down version of compliance. It is the disciplined foundation that makes compliance possible and valuable.