Interview with Florida IOFM Chapter Leaders

IOFM recently spoke with Paula Runyan, President, and Alan Paley, Vice President, of the Florida IOFM Chapter, to explore the chapter’s journey, its impact on financial operations professionals, and its vision for the future.

In this Q&A, Paula and Alan discuss how their chapter keeps members engaged with expert-led discussions on critical topics like 1099s, sales tax, automation, and AI, how their participation in IOFM Conferences has transformed their careers, and why they encourage financial operations professionals to get involved.

Q. Can you share a little about your chapter – when it started, where it’s based, what area it covers, and how many members typically participate at each meeting?

Alan: The roots of the IOFM Florida Chapter go back to 2017, when a chapter was launched in Florida called the “Lakeland Area IOFM Chapter.” It was one of IOFM’s very first chapters, and it was started by Brandi Crouch, a director at Lockheed Martin.

The early meetings were held at the Lockheed facility, under the leadership of President Gary Phillips. However, while the chapter made every effort to be inclusive of people across the state, there were limited means at the time for serving virtual attendees.

Simultaneously, the South Florida Chapter of the IAPP, which had been meeting on a quarterly basis since the early 1990s, was eager to move over to IOFM. In 2018, I attended an IOFM Conference and inquired about starting a chapter in Southern Florida.

The timing was perfect, and working with IOFM, our former IAAP chapter members joined forces with the Lakeland Area Chapter and became not only the first statewide chapter but the first fully virtual IOFM Chapter. This enabled us to reach members from across the entire state during and after COVID—regardless of geographic location. Financial operations professionals from across the state were welcome to attend, and no dues were charged. Gary Phillips remained as Chapter President, and I agreed to serve as Vice President.

Today, seven years later, I am proud to co-lead the chapter with Paula Runyan of Lockheed Martin. We have an active, engaged membership and we meet quarterly. At each meeting, we have about 15 to 25 members who attend online.

Q. How has your chapter helped members stay connected and engaged with the financial operations community?

Paula: The FL Chapter has played a significant role in helping its members stay connected and engaged with the financial operations community through our quarterly virtual meetings. We provide a platform for members to network, share knowledge, and stay updated on industry trends and best practices. Our meetings often feature expert speakers and interactive sessions, facilitating meaningful interactions among members.

Q. What topics or discussions have been most valuable to your chapter members?

Alan: Every quarter, we discuss an interesting topic suggested by one or more of our members. Among the most requested topics are Form 1099, sales tax implications, third-party audits, expense control, invoice automation, data capture, unclaimed property, year-end closing schedules, and the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence.

Q. What advice would you give to someone considering joining an IOFM Chapter?

Paula: I would encourage anyone in the AP field to join a chapter! Being a chapter member allows you to gain support from other practitioners who are facing or have faced similar challenges on industry-specific issues. Members are encouraged to reach out to other members for advice or bring up the topic during our round-table session. Networking with others in the same industry is always beneficial.

Q. What’s the most valuable takeaway you’ve had from being part of an IOFM Chapter?

Alan: The most valuable takeaway for me is that since the statewide chapter started, my company has become as paperless and advanced in the AP field as possible. We employ all the best practices gained from attending IOFM chapter meetings and annual conferences.

Paula: One of the most valuable takeaways for me is having a peer network to share knowledge and best practices with. Just recently, I reached out to the group regarding best practices around Non-PO payment terms. It was helpful to see what approaches other businesses were using.

Q. How has attending IOFM Conferences benefited you and your chapter members? What is the conference experience like on-site?

Paula: The IOFM Conferences provide numerous networking opportunities, allowing members to connect with peers, thought leaders, and industry experts. This helps members build relationships, exchange ideas, and collaborate, ultimately strengthening the financial operations community. The variety of sessions appeal to everyone. These sessions have helped me to sharpen both my AP skills and my soft skills and share my conference learnings with my team. It is also nice to see the new AP products and software presented by a variety of vendors at the Expo Hall.

Alan: For me, when I attend the IOFM conferences, I can see firsthand what the latest innovations are in all the areas of AP that I encounter every day. I bring these ideas back to my company and try to implement as many as possible. I always encourage everyone in our chapter to attend these conferences at least once.

Q. What’s one reason you’d encourage other chapter members to attend an IOFM Conference?

Alan: It is a wonderful experience to meet in person the officers and members of not only our chapter but also other chapters and IOFM people from all over the world. In the end, we all deal with many of the same problems, regardless of business type or size.

Paula: I enjoy the opportunity for professional development, such as training sessions, workshops, and certification programs. These offerings help members enhance their skills, stay current with industry developments, and advance their careers in financial operations.

Q. What are your chapter’s goals for the future?

Alan and Paula: Our goals are to continue meeting the needs of our membership base by discussing timely topics and having presenters talk about problem areas or topics of interest brought up by our members.

We look to continue to grow our chapter by helping our members stay connected, engaged, and informed about the financial operations community—ultimately contributing to their professional growth and success.

Q. If you could describe your chapter experience in one word, what would it be and why?

Paula: My word would be “Growth!” The Florida IOFM Chapter has grown in size over the years, and it has also promoted growth for all of us—personally and professionally.

Alan: I would describe my chapter experience as “Stimulating.” We discuss topics of concern brought up by our members. Many times, solutions are suggested that help our members deal with those issues at their organizations.

Editor’s Note: For more information about Paula and Alan, please visit the chapter page on the IOFM website at: www.iofm.com/community/chapters/florida.