Nextep News
May 2005
Nextep Participates in Ronald McDonald House Dinners
For the past year and a half, Nextep has volunteered at the Oklahoma City Ronald McDonald House preparing meals for families. The Ronald McDonald House is a positive atmosphere for families who have children afflicted with severe illnesses. It allows them to stay close to their children without having to travel long distances from home to the hospital.
Headed by Payroll Manager Sharon Thomas and Accounting Specialist Jenny Coke, Nextep has been preparing and serving monthly dinners for the families at the Oklahoma City Ronald McDonald House. The dinners have been a great success for the families, allowing them to gather and eat home-cooked meals. Jenny, Sharon, and several rotating Nextep employees have provided fun theme nights, such as Mexican Food Night, Summer BBQ, and special Thanksgiving and holiday meals. Nextep has valued these dinners as a way to support the community while strengthening bonds between coworkers.
Sharon started volunteering for the Ronald McDonald House after being called in one night at the last minute to help her sister volunteer. "It was such a rewarding experience," Sharon says, "that I came right back to work and told everyone at Nextep about it. They all immediately wanted to get involved."
For information on how you can contribute to the Ronald McDonald House, visit www.rmhc.org.
Jason Novak Earns ASP
Director of Risk Management Jason Novak has earned his Associate Safety Professional (ASP) certification. One of only thirteen ASPs in Oklahoma, the certification is extremely difficult to obtain, requiring extensive knowledge and experience in the field of professional safety. Jason earned this prestigious certification through Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). This professional organization is the industry leader in certification for safety practitioners.
In addition to his certification, Jason was instrumental in the recent renewal of Nextep’s workers’ compensation policy. Nextep’s continued partnership with Wausau allows us to offer our clients the best policies at aggressive prices. Jason ensures that Nextep’s Risk Management Department runs efficiently , regularly meeting the Certification Institutes stringent performance standards in his field.
Kyle Reedy Earns Workers’ Compensation Adjusters License
Risk Management Specialist Kyle Reedy has added his Workers’ Compensation Adjusters License in Oklahoma to his already wide knowledge base and expertise in workplace safety. Kyle is now licensed to work with insurance companies in adjusting claims.
With his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Safety, Kyle assists Nextep’s clients in providing safe work areas, staying compliant with government laws, and Workers’ Compensation administration.
Kyle is also a member of the longest-standing and largest professional safety organization, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). ASSE is dedicated to advancing the field of safety in through knowledge, skill, and commitment to protecting people and property.
Director of Risk Management, Jason Novak, is pleased with Kyle’s continued success. “His expertise allows him to manage claims and aggressively pursue fraudulent claims,” Jason said.
Jenny Coke Earns ABA and CPP
Accounting Specialist Jenny Coke has been very busy this year becoming certified as both an Accredited Business Accountant (ABA) and a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP).
Given by the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation® (ACAT), the ABA is earned through a combination of successful accounting experience and knowledge in addition to passing a detailed eight-hour exam. The CPP is designed to test proficiency and professionalism in payroll matters. The ABA and CPP certifications are difficult to attain, and Jenny earned them both within two months of each other. “She worked hard to earn these certifications and deserves recognition for her accomplishments, both on these exams and in her everyday work,” says Helen Jones, Accounting Supervisor.
Jenny holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Oklahoma in liberal studies and an Associates Degree in business. She is a member of the American Payroll Association (APA) and the National Society of Accountants (NSA).