Our People

Barb Gamey

Founder

"I’m proud of how far Payworks has come in the last 19 years, and I attribute our success to the hard work and dedication of our team. Our employees and their families rely on us to make the right decisions every day. My obligation is to ensure that we have a successful business, so that they do not have to worry about their economic livelihood. That is why Payworks is in business, and that is the standard I set for myself."

As cofounder of Payworks, Barb Gamey has overseen the strategic direction and development of the company since its inception.

In 2000, after 15 years of senior level experience in the payroll services industry, Barb recognized that there were gaps in the industry and resulting opportunities that could be gained if she created a unique value offering that encompassed the latest in computer technology combined with a truly customer-centric service philosophy.

As a result, Payworks’ proprietary payroll application was developed by expert individuals who truly understood the needs of the customer and had a proven track record in the outsourcing industry.

Barb has been honoured with awards for her entrepreneurial work, most recently when she was named by Women of Influence Inc. as the winner in the Momentum Award at the 2012 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards (CWEA). Barb was also named to the Profit W100 in 2009.

Barb is dedicated to community involvement: she sits on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Board of Directors, the Business Council of Manitoba’s Board of Directors, the TELUS Manitoba Community Board, is the vice-chair of the Premier’s Enterprise Team in Manitoba, and served as United Way Winnipeg’s 2018 Campaign Chair. She is an ongoing supporter of numerous other community and charitable organizations.

JP Perron

President & CEO

"I’m very proud of our service philosophy and cloud-based products which deliver real-time savings and money. This allows our customers to focus on growing their core business and their people."

JP Perron has extensive experience managing and leading transformational growth. Prior to joining Payworks in 2012, JP was Vice President Enterprise Solutions at MTS Allstream. Prior to this he held a number of senior executive positions with Ceridian Canada including EVP Client Services where he oversaw national service delivery, product management, sales and marketing for the Canadian operations.

JP is a strong supporter of the United Way Winnipeg, having served on cabinet from 2015-17 and 2019. He’s currently a member of the World Trade Centre Winnipeg’s board of directors and sat on numerous past boards including the Information Communication Technology Association of Manitoba, Friends of Centre Tache and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Winnipeg.

Kevin Sokolowski

Chief Innovation Officer

"The infrastructure required to support the 'simple' act of paying an employee is extraordinary. Our department is committed to providing innovative technologies to make our clients more efficient, our employees more productive, and to make the Payworks experience enjoyable for everyone."

Prior to joining Payworks in 2003 as a systems developer, and then ultimately as Vice President, Information Technology (IT), Kevin worked as a Lead Developer at Zero Gravity Wireless and in Operations/SCA at IBM Global Services. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Sciences from the University of Manitoba.

Kevin is a United Way of Winnipeg supporter, and he is currently getting certified to coach hockey.

Myles Halliday

Vice President
Product Management

"As the Vice President of Product Management, I am responsible for understanding the challenges our clients can face with respect to payroll, HR, and employee time management. With this knowledge, I can ensure that our products meet our clients’ needs, provide a solution to their problems, and exceed their expectations."

Myles joined Payworks in March of 2016 and was already familiar with Payworks solutions, as he was previously a Payworks payroll customer. Myles has extensive experience in managing and growing technology-based solutions. During his 20 years with IBM, seven years with Manitoba eHealth, and four years with Above Security, Myles held a variety of senior product and technology positions, including IT Architect, Director of Architecture and Standards, Director of Professional Services, and Chief Technology Officer. Myles holds a Bachelor of Computer Science, Honours (Co-op) degree from the University of Manitoba.

In his free time, Myles enjoys golfing and curling.

Courtney Bérubé

Vice President
Customer Service

“The authenticity of Payworks’ values is evident in our everyday actions, and the impact is real. I feel extremely lucky to work so closely with a service team that strives to deliver the best solutions through a personalized experience for each and every one of our customers.”

Courtney has more than 15 years of experience in both customer service and leadership roles. Before joining Payworks she was an Assistant Vice President at Great-West Life, where she was responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the service experience for clients of all business sizes. As Vice President, Service at Payworks, Courtney will lead both the National Service Centre and regional service teams through their day-to-day operations and champion new service initiatives, to ensure that we continue to deliver the very highest levels of client satisfaction to all of our customers.

Courtney is creative and people-focused. She’s driven to help others achieve their greatest potential. Courtney is excited to further lead, grow and motivate Payworks’ industry-leading service experience by championing new initiatives, models and offerings.

Courtney is a vocal supporter of both the United Way and the GenNext movement. She is an artist who donates her artwork to a variety of charities in the Winnipeg area and she is actively involved in the community as a volunteer through Winnipeg Minor Hockey.

Mike Leon

Vice President
Sales Operations

"As the Vice President of Sales Operations, I’m lucky, because my job is different every single day, and I am always getting to see and learn about new businesses, what they do, and how they work. Being able to help these companies is very satisfying."

Before joining Payworks in 2002, Mike worked as an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Consultant for Hunter Group. Mike holds a Marketing diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

Mike is a strong supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities in British Columbia.

Jim Butler

Vice President
Sales - Central Canada

"I am proud to work for Payworks because it is a community-minded company that provides superior service at the most competitive rates in the industry. Payworks strives to be number one in our industry, and we will continually support the communities in which we live and work."

Jim Butler joined Payworks in 2001 as Vice President of Sales and as one of Payworks’ first employees. Jim began his career in the payroll services industry in 1989, and was employed with Telpay just prior to joining the Payworks team. Jim holds several Sales certifications, including: Xerox Selling Skills; Professional Selling Skills 1,2,3; and Accounting for Non-Accounting Managers.

Jim supports many local charities and community organizations, including the United Way of Winnipeg.

Bryan Gault

Vice President
Sales - Eastern Canada

"I’m proud to work for Payworks, because we keep our methodology simple: we deliver a strong suite of solutions for a competitive fee and service our clients the way that we would want to be serviced."

Prior to joining Payworks in 2008 as Vice President, Eastern Canada, Bryan worked for 19 years at a national service provider as a Director of Sales.

Michael Penman

Chief Financial Officer

“Payworks is a dynamic fast growing company with proven results providing exceptional customer service to a broad customer base operating in numerous industries. I’m proud to be a part of this energetic management team for a company that is changing the landscape of the payroll industry every day and is committed to giving back to communities across Canada.”

Michael Penman joined the Payworks team in July 2016 with 11 years’ experience in both public accounting and corporate accounting. Prior to Payworks, he most recently worked for G3 Canada Limited in the role of Controller, Operations. Additionally Michael worked within the payroll industry for 6 years in various roles in Finance. Michael previously worked as a Manager at Deloitte in Winnipeg where he obtained his CPA (CA) designation.

Michael has been actively involved in the community serving on the board of Winnipeg Harvest.

Andrew Stevens

Vice President
Development

"I am fortunate to have an exceptional team of developers to lead here at Payworks. My goal every day is to help them become better at what they do, so that ultimately we can continue to deliver high quality solutions and valuable services to our customers and have some fun while we’re doing it!"

Andrew Stevens joined Payworks in 2014 after spending 16 years working in the software industry. Prior to Payworks, he most recently worked for Advicent Solutions in a number of roles, culminating in a Product Director position. Andrew also did co-op terms at Pollard Banknote, IBM, and Microsoft. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Computer Science degree from the University of Manitoba.

Outside of the office, Andrew is involved in Ultimate Frisbee at a competitive level, and has previously coached Ultimate and basketball. He supports many local charities, including the United Way Winnipeg and the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

Michael Derksen

Corporate Controller

"It is a terrific honour to be part of the team at Payworks. I’ve seen first-hand the commitment shown to constantly improving our product offerings and client care, and Payworks’ attention to the communities in which we do business is very refreshing."

Prior to joining Payworks as Corporate Controller in 2012, Michael worked as an Assistant Manager in the Assurance department of Deloitte & Touche in Winnipeg. Michael holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and has his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation.

Cameron Friesen

Director
Small Business Services

"I am proud of the commitment that our team shows in providing an exceptional customer experience on a daily basis. We strive to continually respond to our customers’ needs with innovative ideas and services, and as a result, our customer retention rate is among the highest in our industry at 98%."

Prior to joining Payworks in 2005 as Director, Service Operations, Cam held a variety of positions at a national service provider, including: Small Business and Corporate Customer Service Representative positions, Manager of Small Business, Sales Representative, and Implementation Representative. Cam was certified as a Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) by the Canadian Payroll Association.

Nicole Stewart

Director
Human Resources

"I consider myself extremely lucky to be part of an organization that truly encourages innovation and creativity. Outstanding service and remarkable development comes easy to our team when they’re having fun, exemplifying the value of providing the team with an exceptional employee experience."

Nicole joined Payworks as Director, Human Resources in 2011 and she has more than 17 years of management and Human Resources experience. Nicole holds a Business Administration diploma from Red River College and a Human Resource Management diploma from the University of Winnipeg. Nicole also holds a to Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation.

Nicole supports the United Way of Winnipeg through a monetary donation and as a volunteer on the Payworks United Way Committee. She is also involved in the Crossfit community at Crossfit Sublime and in Winnipeg's running community.

Willie Malcolm

Director
Quality

"I get to spend my days working alongside great people who are all committed to a common goal: developing and delivering high-quality solutions and services for our clients, and having a ton of fun while we do it!"

Willie Malcolm joined Payworks in 2013, filling senior roles that led to his becoming the Director, Quality. Prior to Payworks, Willie worked as a Senior Consultant in Quality Assurance/Testing for Online Business Systems for eight years. He also holds 11 years of direct payroll industry experience.

Outside of work, Willie has been very involved in the coaching and managing of youth hockey and soccer. He is also a supporter of the United Way Winnipeg.

Bob Haldane

Director
Information Technology

“I love Payworks’ culture, values and commitment to the communities we do business in. It’s truly inspiring to be a part of a business that not only provides great service to our clients, but also invests so heavily in giving back to the communities we live in.”

In 2007, Bob joined the Payworks team as an Infrastructure Analyst and held that position for 6 years before being appointed to Manager, Infrastructure. In 2018, he joined Payworks’ Senior Management Team as Director, Information Technology. Bob works tirelessly behind the scenes to manage Payworks’ two geographically dispersed data centres, the technology for Payworks employees in each of our offices, as well as the email and telephony communication systems that are used to service all Payworks clients from coast-to-coast. Bob loves technology both in his day-to-day duties as well as outside of the office.

Bob leads the VMUG (VMware User Group) of Manitoba and is a strong supporter of United Way Winnipeg.

Stefan Decosse

Director
Information Security

“Payworks focuses on doing right by all people, both inside and outside the organization, through extensive education and training, generous community support and heavy investment in the development and continuous improvement of our products and services. I’m proud to work for an organization that deeply values the provision of effective security solutions to our customers.”

Stefan joined Payworks in 2015 as a key member of the security team and has been instrumental in evolving our security practice, including the establishment of our Security Operations Centre from the ground up.

Prior to his time at Payworks, Stefan spent a decade at cyber-security and managed security leader Seccuris Inc. as an IT Manager and Supervisor of Managed Security Services.

He holds an Advanced Network Technology diploma from Red River College and has maintained his Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designation since 2007.

When he’s not fine-tuning our information security solutions, Stefan is enjoying the fresh air on one set of his many sets of wheels - motorcycle, truck, ATV or otherwise. He’s also a strong supporter and advocate of the United Way and CancerCare Manitoba.

Eric Aubry

General Manager
Québec

"I am proud to work for Payworks because it is highly respected within the industry. The company’s core values, particularly their investment in community initiatives, aligns very closely to mine."

Eric has more than 30 years of experience, having worked for two major financial institutions, most recently serving in the payroll sector for 14 years.

Prior to joining Payworks as the General Manager of Québec, Eric was the Regional Vice President of Sales, Global Services. His past experience in developing and growing markets represents a key asset and opportunity for Payworks as he grows the company’s presence within the Québec region. Eric is also involved with a number of local charities.

Christine Bain

Sales Manager
Eastern Region

"In my role with Payworks I have the opportunity to lead a high performing team and help them in being successful in their roles, all the while making sure we are selling the right solutions to meet our clients’ needs."

Sales Manager, Christine Bain, started in the payroll & HR industry in 1999. She had experience using the Payworks system for 10 years prior to joining our team in 2012. Christine has her Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) credentials, and held HR & payroll management positions at her previous places of employment.

Christine is also on the board for a local soccer league in Etobicoke, Ontario. She also participates regularly in the Breakfast Club at the local public school.

Kiran Nagra

Sales Manager
Western Region

"As a Sales Manager I am involved in sales with corporate accounts. I am passionate about pleasing our customers and going beyond their expectations. I want our customers to have the highest quality of service because that is what they deserve. I am proud to be a part of a company that feels the same way, and continues to develop new, innovative solutions that improve client care and help my team of Sales Consultants build strong, lasting relationships."

Kiran is approaching his 10 year milestone with Payworks. He came to the company through his British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) practicum in 2006, and was hired on afterward.

Kiran has his diploma in Technology, Marketing Management, Specializing in Professional Sales from BCIT. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from BCIT in 2010, and he also completed a Canadian Securities Course in 2012.

Kiran is a supporter of the BC Children’s Hospital and the BC Cancer Research Society.

Craig Soontiens

Sales Manager
Atlantic Region

"I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of the Payworks team, and work for an organization that continues to grow and strives to be the number one leader in the industry."

Craig Soontiens joined Payworks in 2012 after working for a national service provider for 13 years. Over that time period he held a number of sales positions, with his last position being the Sales Executive for the Atlantic Region.

Craig started in the payroll industry in 1999, for a combined experience of 17 years. He holds a Bachelor Degree of Commerce from Dalhousie University.

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