Cynthia J. Thompson, AAP, CCM
Payments Authority
July 2008 Chapter Meeting - International Payments: Payroll & A/P
Cynthia has more than 20 years experience in the financial services industry, electronic
payments and e-commerce. Having earned both the Accredited ACH Professional (AAP)
certification and Certified Cash Manager (CCM), Thompson serves as education and
training director for The Payments Authority, a not-for-profit trade association focused
on growing the use of electronic payments and e-commerce. She speaks about
electronic payments and related topics at trade and industry association meetings and
conferences throughout the state and nationally.
She currently represents The Payments Authority on NACHA's Internet Council, The AAP
Blue Ribbon Panel and the Arbitration Board.
Keith Brodie
Barnes & Thornburg
October 2008 Chapter Meeting - Independent Contractors vs Employees
Keith J. Brodie practices in Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Grand Rapids, Michigan office,
concentrating his practice in labor and employment law. Mr. Brodie counsels clients on
issues under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave
Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and other regulatory laws that impact
the workplace, and assists clients in the development of workplace policies and
procedures as well as the training of managers and supervisors. He defends
employment discrimination, harassment and wrongful discharge claims, and responds to
Department of Civil Rights and EEOC investigations. Mr. Brodie also represents clients
regarding traditional labor issues, including union relations and grievance and arbitration
proceedings.
Mr. Brodie presents and writes on a number of labor and employment law topics and is a
named contributor to the following publications of the American Bar Association (ABA)
Sections of Labor and Employment Law and BNA: Employment Discrimination Law, Third
Edition; Trade Secrets, Third Edition, a state-by-state survey (Michigan Chapter);
Covenants Not to Compete, Fifth Edition, a state-by-state survey (Michigan Chapter),
and Tortious Interference in the Employment Context, a state-by-state survey (Michigan
Chapter).
Mr. Brodie graduated from Alma College summa cum laude in 1991, the University of
Detroit Mercy School of Law magna cum laude in 1994, and clerked for the Honorable
Leopold P. Borrello, Chief Judge 10th Judicial Circuit, in Saginaw County Michigan.
Kelly Young
Chase Bank
August 2008 Chapter Meeting - Identity Theft
Currently, I am a sales coach for Chase Bank and cover 14 retail branches in the Grand
Rapids and surrounding Lakeshore areas. Within my 5 years of employment at Chase, I
have been promoted into several leadership positions. I have enjoyed working with the
branch managers and their teams delivering reliable and honest education, in hopes to
add value to our local communities through partnerships with various school entities,
neighborhood organizations, and places of employment. Networking with these
resources delivering financial education and financial service discounts has been very
rewarding for me both personally and professionally. Previous to my employment at
Chase, I worked for a family business in Northern Michigan. I was raised working in a
retail environment, which afforded me my first leadership experience 15 years ago.
Having worked with my father who has owned several types of business over the
duration of 30 years, I possess the passion for creating new opportunities that add value
to our local community.
Kelly Powis
Barnes & Thornburg
October 2008 Chapter Meeting - Independent Contractors vs Employees
Kelly Powis is an associate in the Grand Rapids, Michigan office of Barnes & Thornburg
LLP and a member of the firm’s Labor and Employment Law Department.
Ms. Powis focuses her practice on defending employers in litigation initiated by
employees in federal and state court, and before administrative agencies. She also
counsels employers on personnel policies, disciplinary issues, and compliance with Title
VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, EPA, and equivalent state statutes prohibiting discrimination.
Ms. Powis received her B.A. in American Public Affairs-Social Relations from James
Madison College at Michigan State University. She earned her J.D. magna cum laude in
2002 from Indiana University School of Law–Bloomington, where she was elected to the
Order of the Coif.
In 2004, Ms. Powis received the Fifth Annual Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest
Service Award from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Ms. Powis is
admitted to practice in the State of Illinois.
Amy L. Smith, AAP, CAE
President & CEO
Payments Authority
Sept 2008 Chapter Meeting - ACH Rules & Regs
Amy Smith brings more than 20 years sales and marketing experience in the financial
industry to her position as President & CEO of The Payments Authority. She manages
the association’s budget and ten-person staff, with the goal of maximizing value to a
membership of more than 425 financial institutions and 57 associate (corporate)
members. She is an Accredited Automated Clearing House Professional (AAP) and
Certified Association Executive (CAE).
Smith originally joined The Payments Authority in 1996 as marketing director. Prior to
that, she served as assistant vice president, product manager at Comerica Bank, where
she was responsible for the overall management of ACH and wire transfer activities. She
has also held treasury management positions with Continental Bank and has served as
marketing representative for Arthur Anderson & Co.
Smith serves as Past President of the Detroit Treasury Management Association
(DTMA), Vice Chair of the Payments Executives Leadership Forum and participates in
NACHA’s Marketing Management Group, responsible for directing national marketing
efforts for electronic payments. She is a frequent speaker at various industry events
and conferences.
Smith received a bachelor of arts degree in marketing, corporate communications, and
graphic design from Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Mich.
Jim Owen
APA National
November 2008 Chapter Meeting - Year-End Update
Jim Owen is the American Payroll Association’s Senior Director of Administration. Prior
to joining the APA staff, Jim worked as Payroll Operations and Services Manager for over
20 years for Meijer Stores, a retailing company in the Midwest with about 80,000 Team
Members and over 10,000 garnishments processed weekly. He has an undergraduate
degree from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Management from Aquinas
College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
An active member of the American Payroll Association since 1989, Jim has served on the
Automated Clearing House Committee and has chaired the Government Affairs Task
Force Subcommittee on Child Support.
Over the past few years, Jim has been involved in EFT/EDI, Centralized Collections,
Child Support Enforcement, and other related federal and state legislation. He was one
of three non-governmental individuals to receive the HHS Secretary’s Award for
distinguished service for his work with the Federal Parent Locator Systems work group.
He is currently serving on the Board of the National Child Support Enforcement
Association.
Nate Wolf
Mika Meyers Beckett & Jones PLC
December 2008 Chapter Meeting - TBA
Nathaniel Wolf practices in the areas of commercial litigation, employment
law,immigration and landlord tenant law. He is a member of the American Bar
Association, the American Association of Immigration Attorneys, the State Bar of
Michigan and the Grand Rapids Bar Association. In addition to practicing law, Nate
teaches labor and employment law at Davenport University as an adjunct professor in its
MBA program. Nate has also taught business law and e-commerce law at Davenport
University in its undergraduate program. Nate has authored several articles and has
lectured at many seminars on the issues of employment law, privacy rights, landlord
tenant law and immigration.
Nate is also active in the community, serving as Treasurer of the Grand Rapids Area
Catholic Elementary Athletic Council and Vice President of the Education Commission for
St. Thomas the Apostle School.
Nate received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration/Pre-Law from Michigan
State University in 1994, and his law degree from Wayne State University Law School
cum laude in 1997. After graduating from law school, he served as a law clerk for Chief
Judge Lawrence P. Zatkoff on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Michigan.