Board of Directors
Aaron R Alaniz, CPP, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
NextStep Recruiting
PRESIDENT
Aaron R. Alaniz, CPP, SHRM-SCP, SPHR is an accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience in various leadership roles in Staffing, Movie Theatres, Recreation, Advertising, and Restaurants. He currently serves as the Director of Operations at NextStep Recruiting, where he oversees accounting, payroll, human resources, marketing, and client/candidate delivery.
Aaron is a Bachelor's degree holder in Business Management, with an emphasis on Human Resources Management from Western Governors University. He also holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) from the Human Resource Certification Institute, the Senior Professional Certification (SPC) from the Society of Human Resource Management, and in March 2021, he earned his Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation from the American Payroll Association (APA).
Aaron is an active member of the Lone Star Chapter of the American Payroll Association, serving as the chapter's President. He is also a national APA member and a Dallas APA member, having previously served on the Board of Directors as the Website Director for two terms.
Throughout his 15+ year career in staffing, Aaron has held multiple roles in leadership, where he has mentored and trained individuals on a variety of topics, including restaurant operations, payroll, human resources, training, documentation, difficult conversations, driving results, food safety, interviewing (hiring managers & candidates), and managing performance.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Aaron is also actively involved in his local community and church, where he has been working with youth and young families in need since 2003. He is passionate about mentoring and training individuals to reach their full potential in both their personal and professional lives.
Claudine Arias, CPP
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital
SECRETARY
Claudine is a highly experienced payroll professional with over 19 years of progressive experience, with a comprehensive background in Human Resources, Recruiting and Payroll. Her career transition from retail operations into Human Resources and Recruiting in the oil and gas and call center industries. She then moved to Dallas where she expanded her career into payroll where she worked for CBS Radio until an opportunity presented itself to become part of a dynamic and ever-changing world of healthcare. Her deep institutional knowledge gained at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, combined with significant leadership roles in prominent payroll associations, positions her as a strategic and authoritative voice on all payroll matters.
At Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, her position in payroll has not only taught her the importance of detail and accuracy but has afforded her the opportunity to expand her knowledge in areas such as taxation, federal and state laws, development and implementation of support systems, training, and mentoring. This has equipped her with a unique, end-to-end perspective on employee lifecycle management and compliance.
A proven leader within the professional community, Claudine, served on the Board for the Dallas Chapter as the Program Director. She is also one of the founders of the Lone Star Chapter and currently serves on the board as Secretary as well as getting speakers for their monthly luncheon. Claudine is also currently serving as a Board member for the Texas Payroll Conference as First Time Attendee Chair. She is dedicated to supporting the organization's growth and development and is commitment to professional education and member engagement.
Martha Baxter
TREASURER
Martha is a passionate payroll professional serving her 48th year in payroll with a large footprint in health care and retail industries. Martha is Lean Six Sigma certified in Health Care and has focused on large implementations.
Martha is currently a member of the Lone Star Chapter where she serves as Marketing and Membership Director and continues to support all Texas Chapters through her membership. Martha served on the Dallas Chapter Board of Directors for over 10 years. She has also served on the Texas Payroll Conference Board of Directors and was President in 2013. Martha believes that giving back to our profession is paramount, which is evident by her continued service with the National PayrollOrg. She previously received the 2022 Meritorious Service Award during Congress in Denver, CO. Martha was also named Dallas Chapter Payroll Professional of the Year in 2020 and received the Texas Payroll Professional of the year in 2015. She has completed a 3-year term on the National Board of Advisors and is a member of numerous national committees.
Martha has been speaking and sharing payroll education for over 40 years. She has written educational content for Texas Association of School Boards, presented at many chapters across the US as well as Statewide and Congress events.
Martha believes that sharing our knowledge is powerful to the continued success of the payroll professional.
Stefanie Lozano, CPP
NACCO Natural Resources
MEMBERSHIP & MARKETING
Stefanie L. Lozano, CPP, is a dedicated and accomplished payroll professional with a strong background in payroll administration. As a Senior Corporate Payroll Processor at NACCO Natural Resources and Board Advisor for the Texas Payroll Conference, she leverages her expertise to drive excellence. With a proven track record of leadership, Stefanie has served as Lead Payroll Administrator for the City of Waxahachie and President of the Texas Payroll Conference. Her strategic vision and innovative approach have made a lasting impact, notably as Social Media & Marketing Chair, where she elevated the organization's online presence and crafted compelling marketing materials. Certified in Fundamental Payroll (FPC, Oct. 2017) and as a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP, April 2018), Stefanie embodies professional excellence. Her contributions to the payroll profession reflect her dedication and passion for growth and innovation in the payroll industry.
Jeanne Jackson
Retired
EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Jeanne Jackson is a retired former Payroll Director and dedicated payroll professional with over four decades of experience. Her passion for sharing her vast payroll knowledge with others is evident in her active involvement in the Dallas Chapter APA since 2010.. She is also a national APA member and a Dallas APA member, having previously served on the Board of Directors as the Associate Education Director, Education Director, President Elect, and President.
In addition to her contributions to the Dallas Chapter, Jeanne recently joined the Lone Star Chapter, where she currently serves as the Education and Program Director. Her focus is on creating meaningful education content for those studying for the CPP and FPC exams or taking education classes for RCH opportunities to retain their certification.
