Illinois State University needed a better way to manage enterprise applications while competing for top tech talent. Their existing infrastructure wasn’t keeping up, so they turned to AWS.
In this episode, Todd Smoak, Executive Director of Technology Solutions at ISU, shares how the university navigated cloud migration, tackled performance challenges, and optimized PeopleSoft in AWS. With ERPA as a trusted partner, ISU gained the flexibility and automation needed to keep systems running smoothly—even during peak usage like course registration.Todd explains how ERPA’s hands-on support transformed ISU’s IT strategy, freeing their team to focus on innovation instead of infrastructure maintenance. He also highlights key strategies for maximizing uptime, optimizing PeopleSoft, and creating lasting operational efficiency.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
Things To Listen For:
(00:00) About Illinois State University
(01:50) Managing enterprise applications
(05:06) Mainframe migration lessons
(08:38) Performance challenges in cloud
(12:24) Choosing AWS and ERPA
(17:14) Scaling PeopleSoft with AWS
(20:47) Automating environment refreshes
(24:53) ERPA’s role in ISU’s team
(29:10) Optimizing PeopleSoft on AWS
Resources:
Connect with the Guest: Todd Smoak
Connect with Host: Jeff Miller
Connect with ERPA: www.ERPA.com
Workday has been a key part of MSCI’s operations for nearly two decades—but making the most of it takes the right approach.In this episode, Nick Fassero, Executive Director of Business Technology at MSCI, shares how his team has evolved with Workday over the years, leveraging its capabilities to create a seamless, self-sufficient HR experience.
With ERPA as a trusted partner, MSCI tackled major projects like payroll transformation, studio integrations, and advanced compensation, ensuring their HR tech keeps pace with the company’s growth.Nick explains why flexibility, deep expertise, and the right working style made ERPA the ideal fit for his team. He also shares how MSCI’s approach to HR technology prioritizes frictionless experiences, empowering employees while minimizing the need for outside intervention.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
Things To Listen For:
(00:00) About MSCI
(02:07) 20 years of HR tech evolution
(05:02) Workday’s role in employee self-service
(09:11) Making HR frictionless with tech
(12:31) Why MSCI partnered with ERPA
(17:09) A seamless payroll transformation
(20:30) Workday Studio for talent acquisition
(24:27) Leveraging advanced compensation with ERPA
Resources:
Connect with the Guest: Nick Fassero
Connect with Host: Jeff Miller
Connect with ERPA: www.ERPA.com
While Workday is a great solution, customizing it can make it even better.
In this episode, Gwen Houldsworth, Senior Vice President of Administrative Operations, and Kimberly D’Auria, Director of Human Resources at Acenda Integrated Health, share how tailoring Workday to their nonprofit’s unique needs transformed their operations. With support from ERPA, they unified their HR and finance data and overcame the challenges that come with adopting a new platform.
Gwen and Kim reflect on their first year with Workday, discussing how ERPA’s expertise helped their small team achieve big results. They share insights on how the right partnership can make Workday work even better for your organization.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
Things To Listen For:
(00:00) About Acenda Integrated Health
(03:13) Acenda’s Workday journey
(07:10) Realizing the need for a Workday support partner
(13:54) Smooth open enrollment with ERPA
(17:38) Tailored solutions for performance reviews
(21:52) Building a partnership with ERPA
Resources:
Connect with the Guest: Gwen Houldsworth
Connect with the Guest: Kimberly D’Auria
Connect with Host: Jeff Miller
Connect with ERPA: www.ERPA.com
What does it take to maximize a Workday partnership?In this episode, we look at Keystone Cooperative’s journey with Workday and how partnering with ERPA has reshaped their experience.
Angela Hudgins, Vice President and CHRO at Keystone Cooperative shares how ERPA’s proactive support has enabled them to overcome challenges, from seamless open enrollment to building robust integrations with Lincoln Financial Group.From enhancing employee self-service to fostering long-term self-sufficiency, Keystone Cooperative’s partnership with ERPA highlights the power of tailored support and agility. This collaboration allowed their team to focus on strategic initiatives while improving efficiency and employee satisfaction.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
Things To Listen For:
(00:00) An introduction to the episode with Angela Hudgins
(01:37) Keystone Cooperative’s Workday journey and their merger experience
(03:20) Choosing Workday and navigating the first year of implementation
(05:01) Transitioning from a previous partner to ERPA’s AMS support
(06:47) How ERPA enabled a seamless open enrollment process
(08:07) Building complex integrations with Lincoln Financial Group
(09:20) Implementing Workday Help and Journeys to improve employee self-service
(10:45) How ERPA’s agility addressed contract adjustments efficiently
(12:20) Enabling long-term self-sufficiency through ERPA’s guidance
Resources:
Connect with the Guest: Angela Hudgins
Connect with Host: Jeff Miller
Connect with ERPA: www.ERPA.com
What does it take to transform operations in higher education?In this episode, we explore how Kansas City University, one of Missouri’s largest medical schools, has harnessed the power of ERPA’s support to elevate its Workday experience.
Joining us is Ginger Harris, Director of Workday and Business Process Support. Ginger explains how ERPA’s named resources and tailored solutions empowered KCU to tackle complex projects, like automating student sponsorship invoicing and building a custom contract processing hub using Workday Extend. From streamlining manual processes to enhancing student and financial systems, KCU’s collaboration with ERPA demonstrates the transformational impact of a unified system. You’ll hear how this partnership freed up KCU’s internal team for strategic initiatives while maintaining agility and excellence in their day-to-day operations.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
Things To Listen For:
(00:00) An introduction to the episode with Ginger Harris
(00:42) KCU’s Workday journey and challenges in higher education
(01:53) An overview of KCU, its campuses, and the structure of its Workday support team
(03:39) Timeline of KCU’s Workday implementation, from HCM to Workday Student
(05:07) The impact of unifying systems under Workday Student
(07:20) Key challenges with KCU’s previous support partner and ERPA’s collaboration
(10:08) Building a streamlined contract processing hub with Workday Extend
(15:45) Enhancing KCU’s Student Information System (SIS) with ERPA’s support
(21:07) How ERPA’s partnership enables KCU to prioritize strategic initiatives
(23:32) Balancing internal expertise with ERPA’s support to tackle complex requests
(25:58) The value of ERPA’s named resources in building familiarity and trust
(28:05) ERPA’s personalized approach to customer support.
Resources:
Connect with the Guest: Ginger Harris
Connect with Host: Jeff Miller
Connect with ERPA: www.ERPA.com
Curious about how a strategic partner can transform your company’s acquisition journey?
In today’s episode, we learn how Flexera Software, a leader in technology value optimization, is navigating the complexities of mergers and acquisitions with a little help from ERPA.
Joining us is Jennifer Matsuoka, Senior Director of People Strategy and Analytics at Flexera, who brings over 20 years of experience in IT and HR. Jennifer shares Flexera’s journey of scaling systems, managing integrations, and ensuring seamless transitions through ERPA’s dedicated support.
You'll hear about the key role named resources played in Flexera’s latest acquisition, ERPA’s flexibility in responding to critical staffing needs, and how ERPA’s expertise in Workday helped Flexera create continuity through a period of rapid growth.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
Things To Listen For:
(00:00) An introduction to the episode with Jennifer Matsuoka
(03:45) Flexera’s Workday journey and growth through acquisitions
(07:29) The decision to choose ERPA as a Workday support partner
(10:55) The value of dedicated, named resources for smooth collaboration
(16:57) Why ERPA’s embedded approach makes a difference in Flexera’s operations
(20:27) Flexera’s recent acquisition and ERPA’s role in handling tight deadlines
(24:18) Unique requirements during acquisitions and how ERPA helped navigate them
(25:56) ERPA’s creative solution to train Flexera’s newly acquired HR team on Workday
(30:08) Flexera’s collaborative approach with ERPA for knowledge transfer
(34:42) Managing staff augmentation needs and ERPA’s seamless support during a maternity leave
Resources:
Connect with the Guest: Jennifer Matsuoka
Connect with Host: Jeff Miller
Connect with ERPA: www.ERPA.com
What does it take to transform Workday operations for 14,000 employees during a time of unprecedented disruption?
In today’s episode, we’re joined by Donna Matteucci, Senior Director of Corporate Systems at P.F. Chang’s, to share her journey of leading the company’s transition to Workday with the help of ERPA.
You’ll hear Donna break down the unique challenges of going live with Workday during the pandemic and how her team’s collaboration with ERPA played a pivotal role in overcoming those hurdles. From managing security and payroll to navigating the complexities of workforce scheduling, Donna highlights the key decisions that helped streamline P.F. Chang’s operations.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
Things To Listen For:
(00:31) An introduction to the episode with Donna Matteucci
(02:35) The challenges of implementing Workday during the pandemic
(08:47) Strategic decision-making on what to manage in-house versus with a partner
(11:36) How ERPA's personalized support model changed the game for P.F. Chang’s
(15:21) How workforce scheduling and security needs were addressed with ERPA
(18:10) Moving from reactive problem-solving to proactive, strategic solutions
Resources:
Interested in transforming your educational institution's technical support?
In today's episode, we'll explore how Daytona State College is doing just that.
Joining us from Daytona State College for this episode are Eric Bouse, Director of Information Technology, Carey Roebling, Senior Systems Analyst for Information Technology, and Tanika Clemons, Associate Vice President of Human Resources.
Youll hear Eric share his journey of migrating Daytona States’ Peoplesoft infrastructure to AWS, discussing the challenges and victories encountered along the way, while Carey takes us through the intense and detail oriented FAFSA project, covering the support received from ERPAs technical consultants. And lastly, Tanika reveals how a massive benefits project was completed in record time and the role ERPAs managed services played in that success.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
Things To Listen For:
00:00 An introduction to the episode with Daytona State College
04:58 How ERPA provides excellent, responsive customer service
08:55 Needed assistance to handle workflow efficiently
10:28 FAFSA changes that were made for easier student financial aid
13:57 How an inherited Cloud platform caused peak enrollment issues
17:08 Why being open to expert input can lead to improvement
19:57 The importance of support in technical roles
Resources:
Connect with ERPA: www.ERPA.com
What if discovering a security breach in your organization became the catalyst for revolutionizing your IT infrastructure?
Ann Bushnell, Business Systems Analyst at CorVel Corporation, discusses CorVel's journey—detailing their decision to migrate their PeopleSoft system to AWS.
Ann shares insights on navigating resource constraints, overcoming system vulnerabilities, and ultimately boosting performance and reliability with AWS.
You’ll learn how this strategic partnership reshaped CorVel’s IT support and set the stage for a more secure and efficient future.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
Things To Listen For:
00:00 An introduction to the episode with Ann Bushnell
05:00 Security incident prompts Corvel's move to AWS
09:06 Setting goals for PUM strategy and testing
10:29 Contract signed without full team communication leads to system challenges
13:14 ERPA provides relief from service challenges
Resources:
Optimizing your IT systems to not only save time and resources but also provide a robust, seamless experience for your entire organization.
Herman Moller, Director of Information Systems at Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), shares his experience running FSCJ's IT department for over two decades with the help of ERPA.
We'll dive into FSCJ's transformation, from overcoming a challenging initial implementation to fully managed services, including a successful 9.2 upgrade, an on-time fluid implementation, and a seamless transition to AWS Cloud.
Learn about the crucial decisions and technical challenges faced along the way and how a collaboration with ERPA resulted in soothing upgrades and uninterrupted service delivery.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Things to Listen For:
00:00 An introduction to the episode
03:01 Why Herman chose ERPA
04:24 What ERPA does for FSCJ
07:33 ERPA’s help with technical resources
09:31 FSCJ’s migration to AWS
12:05 Cost & time savings for FSCJ
13:49 Herman’s advise on partnering with ERPA
Resources:
What if your organization could seamlessly integrate HR, procurement, and finance into one powerful system? One that not only saves time and money but also boosts operational efficiency.Today, we're discussing the remarkable journey of Avēsis and how they have successfully done that with ERPA to elevate their business operations.Steve Gearhart, Chief Technology Officer, and Ronda-Rhea Nueske, Vice President of Talent Management, bring a wealth of experience from Avēsis, a trusted dental and vision insurance provider, as they unravel the key benefits of their ERPA integration.Steve discusses the strategic transition from Guardian to ERPA and the importance of a flexible resource model. At the same time, Ronda-Rhea emphasizes the value of cultural alignment and the proactive support from ERPA that keeps Avēsis operating optimally.You won’t want to miss it.
In this episode, you’ll learn: How a strong partnership fosters an efficient and seamless process, particularly concerning Workday's integrated system, which combines finance, procurement, and HRHow ERPA provides cost-effective solutions for managing complex systems like WorkdayERPA's expertise in Workday, its proactive service delivery, and its continuous training to keep up with new releases
Jump into the conversation:
00:00 An introduction to the episode06:05 Implemented Workday and finance with consulting help
08:41 How SaaS providers like Workday stay competitive and innovative
13:13 Team collaboration with specialized expertise and support
14:34 System functionalities for data collection and customization
21:57 Consulting is crucial for successful partnerships
24:13 Resource needs and budget planning
29:00 Final thoughts on having ERPA as a partner
What if you could transform your HR and financial systems to not only meet but exceed your organizational goals?
We'll explore how some incredible professionals are doing just that with the help of ERPA.
Three of Kandji’s remarkable employees–Patty Quan, Corporate Controller; Queen Lee, People Operations Manager; and Brett Pugliesi, VP of Human Resources—join us in today's episode.
We’ll discuss how expertise, dedication, and collaborative problem-solving have enabled these individuals to streamline processes and achieve scalability despite a few technical hurdles along the way.
Our guests provide an inside look at navigating complex HR landscapes and optimizing their operations.
You won’t want to miss it.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Jump into the conversation:
[00:00] An introduction to the episode
[03:41] Experience with Workday, a scalable solution
[08:36] On becoming an ERPA customer
[09:35] ERPA’s technical expertise and customizations
[10:46] ERPA’s role at Kandji
[11:19] Extension of HR team through ERPA
[14:02] Relational approach to service delivery
[17:36] Journeys for onboarding and other system integrations
[18:20] Merit increases project and timely support from ERPA
[19:39] Defining swimlanes for project responsibilities
[23:13] Handling journal entries, EIB uploads, and financial revaluation
This is The Possibility Perspective.
The show where we peel back the layers on enhancing enterprise solutions with Workday magic and PeopleSoft innovation. We’ll sit with real-time customers who've participated in our tailored services.
Whether you're eyeing a smooth Workday transition or modernizing your PeopleSoft with the power of Amazon’s public cloud (AWS), we've got you covered. We’ll dive into topics from cloud migrations to fluid user experiences.
Tune in and empower yourself with the knowledge to optimize your enterprise solutions.
