What inspired you to enter the Commercial Payments industry, and how has your journey evolved since then?

I began as approver for a departmental P-Card program. When a position opened, I transitioned to managing the University of Pennsylvania’s P-Card program for 12 years before moving to my current role with UNC-Chapel Hill. My passion for organization and process improvement makes this work a natural fit.

 

How do you stay ahead of emerging trends and technologies in the Payments space?

I actively engage with industry networks including IOCP, the Higher Education Advisory Team, and the Global Card Advisors team at Bank of America. I also participate in the UNC systems P-Card roundtables (17) Universities in North Carolina, and I attend IOCP's annual conferences and webinars to stay informed.

 

What's the most innovative project you've been a part of, and what made it stand out?

I developed refresher trainings for P-Card and T&E accountholders, proxies and approvers – an initiative that did not previously exist.

 

How has IOCP helped improve your program?

Through IOCP conferences and collaboration with the HEAT team, I’ve built valuable relationships with peers in the P-Card and Travel Card space.

 

Any current challenges?

Ensuring timely reconciliation of transactions while maintaining compliance with card policies is an ongoing challenge. I am also studying to take the Certified Purchasing Card Professional (CPCP) exam in February.

 

What are you passionate about outside of work?

I enjoy gardening and sourcing fresh produce and food locally for garden/farm to table cooking.

 

What is a fun fact about you?

I am a retired professional chef and share my culinary creation on my Instagram page.