INCREASING THE RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT

Like a lot of you, I love our annual conference and marketplace. The energy, the people, the content all coming together is as good a reminder of the vitality of our industry as any. I was proud to share in Austin that the state of our association is similarly strong!

And while there are a lot of reasons for our strength, it all stems from a specific focus on enhancing the value you get from your investment in NAPEO. We deliver this value in a lot of ways – industry data, direct advocacy in state capitals and Washington, online and in person events, etc.

Your investment in NAPEO is an opportunity to support the growth of this industry we all believe in. We launched a new three-year strategic plan this year to serve as our roadmap in this effort and we’re already making great progress against our four pillars:

Driving A Compelling Industry Narrative

We’re working to enhance our own assets – the new napeo.org that we launched in April is modern, content-rich and user-friendly. In just a few months, traffic is already up 50%. We also undertook a first-of-its-kind industry communications audit to unify and strengthen how we talk about PEOs across the board. These findings will help shape messaging that resonates with policymakers, business leaders and the media.

Securing A Favorable Policy Environment for PEO Success

Our advocacy efforts are yielding meaningful results. In Washington, we worked with congressional champions to introduce H.R. 3223, a bipartisan bill that brings much-needed clarity to payroll tax credit liability. The bill currently has 15 cosponsors, and a companion Senate bill is coming soon (well, as soon as the government reopens…). We have more work to do to get across the finish line, but our progress so far speaks to how far we have come in elevating the caliber of our relationships on Capitol Hill.

In the states, we’ve passed pro-PEO legislation in Oregon (twice), Montana, New Jersey and Indiana. These wins represent years of patient, focused and aligned advocacy, and we’re not letting up. As our visibility grows, so does the opposition which is why continued momentum is essential. Our efforts in the states are a collaborative effort, with member engagement strengthening our approach and amplifying our voice.

Elevating NAPEO As the Definitive PEO Industry Resource and Convener

Bringing people together is one of NAPEO’s core strengths. But we’re still always looking at how we can evolve this strategic imperative. This year we debuted the Operations Workshop and launched the NextGen leaders initiative. We’ve also locked in the full 2026 event calendar (napeo.org/events), enabling you to plan ahead and engage fully with us throughout the year.

Strengthening Organizational Sustainability to Deepen Member Value

Internally, we’ve strengthened our team and overhauled financial systems, streamlined budgeting and continue to evaluate long-term revenue sustainability. We’re investing in the infrastructure to ensure NAPEO is built to serve you for decades to come.

At the end of the day, your participation in NAPEO isn’t just a membership—it’s an investment in your business and the bright future of our industry. Research clearly shows a direct correlation between active association engagement and benefits including increased profitability, lowered risk and higher enterprise value.

I look forward to continuing to enhance the value you derive from your NAPEO membership. Together, we can keep this momentum going!