Living and leading by example
Jeff Marbach, Payday Payroll Services
FORT LAUDERDALE — Jeff Marbach is a family guy. From his days coaching his son’s little league baseball team to working alongside his daughter managing the successful Payday Payroll Florida office, Marbach’s goal is to spend as much time with his family as possible. “I spend more time with my family than most, I think,” he said. “We love each other, and really enjoy each other’s company.”
“I like working with people who have such a level of passion and energy for what they do.”
Marbach said he can spend all day at the office with his daughter and is still thrilled when she brings his granddaughter and son-in-law over for dinner or just to hang out that night. “The thought of being a grandfather is so beyond the pale for me, but I love it. No one is as fortunate as I am to spend as much time with family as I do.”
A native of Queens, Marbach graduated from Rutgers University in 1976. Ten years later he headed to Florida with his wife, son and daughter to help run the family’s take-out food and wholesale distribution business, Poultry King.
Marbach recalls the ’90s fondly. A baseball fan and dedicated mentor, he coached Big League baseball for 16–18 year-old players and was one of the coaches of the 1997 team which went all the way to the Big League World Series beating Venezuela in the championship game. The Big League World Series was played in Fort Lauderdale for 29 years until it moved to Easley, South Carolina in 1999.
“There was an incredible pool of talent in South Florida,” said Marbach, who played high school ball but his coach said his hair was too long and he left the team. “I cut it once, but that wasn’t short enough and I was too stubborn to cut it again. That was the end of my baseball career.”
Eight years ago, Marbach’s family business was winding down and he was looking for new opportunities. Payday Payroll was founded in 1986 in Virginia Beach by Marbach’s best friend and college roommate, Andy Kline. By this time Payday Payroll was recognized nationally as a leader in the independent payroll processing industry, and the decision was made to expand Payday Payroll to South Florida.
Payday Payroll is an independent payroll processing company that challenges the national companies like ADP and Paychex head-on. “The big guys are phenomenal at sales and marketing,” said Marbach. “We don’t have a sales and marketing force. We’re leaders in the industry because of our phenomenal customer service and technical support. We look to be our client’s payroll department, not a payroll provider.”
In today’s economic environment a company may have only one or two employees doing what four or five used to do. Payday Payroll’s ability to provide additional support from their staff is an additional benefit.
“It’s like having one of my staff working at your company,” said Sue Ellen Boatright, Controller for Broward Partnership for the Homeless. “The personal care and attention is wonderful.”
That sentiment was echoed by Grace Grant-Brown, COO of the Southeast Florida Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association who said, “It’s great to call a company these days and have your phone call answered by an individual in three or fewer rings. It’s one of their guarantees and it works.”
One of Payday Payroll’s largest areas of market penetration is with non-profits. When using a third- party financial provider, a non-profit must use a company with a SAS 70 (soon to be SAE16) certification. Non-profits have limited choices for payroll processing. Payday Payroll is one of the few independent payroll providers that can meet the certification requirements for non-profit businesses.
“We’ve always seen being a local company as our advantage,” said Marbach. “I ask my clients, ‘why not use a local company — a company that gives back to the community that gives us business?’ The national companies don’t give the local support that we do.”
Marbach explained Payday Payroll’s three-pronged approach for non-profits:
1.) Promote client events in payroll envelopes;
2.) Support client events financially through sponsorships; and
3.) Provide “boots on the ground” — volunteers — if needed.
Payday Payroll’s community commitment included sponsoring a hole for the annual golf tournament for Broward Partnership for the Homeless, raising as much as $1500.00 on their “Las Vegas” contest hole which Andy and Jeff would work every year.
But three years ago, the tournament’s main sponsor pulled out, leaving the much-needed organization wondering how to make up the financial shortfall losing the tournament would put in their budget.
“Non-profits are run by a special breed of people. Everyone I meet has a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I like surrounding myself with people like that.”
When Payday Payroll was approached to participate in a new format, the Golfathon, Andy and Jeff jumped at the opportunity. Now in its third year, the Golfathon asks golfers to commit, individually or through pledges, to raise a minimum of $2000 to play in the 36-hole tournament. This year they raised $73,000.
Marbach’s understanding of the non-profit community drew him to Club 211. He made a presentation that prompted Louisa Morris, 211 Broward’s Human Resources Director, to change payroll service providers. In the course of getting to know 211’s business, he learned about Club 211’s networking opportunities and extensive relationships with non-profits.
“These are very challenging times and the non-profit community has been hit very hard,” said Marbach. “We try on a company and a personal level to encourage our friends, clients and business partners to support those organizations that are doing so much in our community. We don’t just talk the talk — we walk the walk.”
Marbach says his Club 211 membership is paying off in personal dividends. “I like working with people who have such a level of passion and energy for what they do,” said Marbach. “Non-profits are run by a special breed of people. Everyone I meet has a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I like surrounding myself with people like that.”
You can find out more about Marbach’s company and his services on their website, www.paydaypayroll.com.
