NWP Employee Spotlight: Julie Wilson

NWP Employee Spotlight Series:
Illuminating Stories from the People of Northwest Pipe

At Northwest Pipe Company, our team members are the foundation of our success, and we take pride in our diverse and talented workforce. This series shares the inspiring stories and career journeys of employees from different departments and locations. In each installment, we interview one of our team members and delve into their experiences, challenges, and accomplishments, and discover why they choose to build their career with Northwest Pipe Company.

Spotlight on: Julie Wilson

Payroll and Benefits Manager | Vancouver, WA

Bringing over 25 years of experience to her role, Julie serves as Payroll and Benefits Manager at our Corporate Headquarters, leading a small but mighty team of three who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support employees and local HR teams. Her top priorities? Ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, administering benefits plans, and staying compliant with policies, laws, and regulations. With a role she finds rewarding, a team she enjoys working with, and supportive leadership focused on career development, Julie has found her perfect fit at Northwest Pipe Company.

Tell us about your career experience and what brought you to Northwest Pipe Company?

I’ve been working in Payroll for over 25 years, and in Benefits for about 10 years. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked for companies ranging from 400 to over 2,000 employees, including several in the manufacturing sector. Each business offered challenges and opportunities that helped me develop different sets of skills and grow to where I am today.

I joined Northwest Pipe Company in October of 2021 as Payroll Supervisor. The size and type of organization matched my experience, but my initial conversations with Megan Kendrick (VP of Human Resources) and Amy Byrnes (Director of Human Resources) are what sealed my interest in working here. Their passion for the Company, where NWP had been and where it was going, was exciting to hear. I immediately felt my background would be a great fit at NWP. I haven’t regretted my decision since.

After three years, what makes you want to stay with the Company?

I feel valued and appreciated here, and I’m fortunate to have one of the best teams. On top of that, I love what I do—why would I want to leave when I enjoy both the work and the people I get to work with every day?

What does a typical workday look like for you?

There is no typical workday for me. The general routine is the same as far as payroll processing and answering benefit questions, but I never know what challenges or changes will be coming at me when I walk into work each day.

For those that aren’t familiar, what goes into payroll processing?

A lot of people think payroll is as simple as pressing a magic button—but there’s a lot more to it than that. Our work involves validating timecard data, transferring it into payroll, and managing a variety of pay schedules, all while ensuring compliance with Company policies, state and federal laws, and payroll tax codes. We also process manual checks and special payment payrolls. Our goal is for employees to trust us—knowing they’ll receive their pay accurately and on time—as well as the benefits they’ve earned and deserve.

In addition to payroll, we approve employer-provided benefits, including life events, new hires, and open enrollments. Our team is tasked with knowing and understanding our Company benefits thoroughly, and we’re always available to answer employee questions. With all these tasks, we work closely with our local HR teams to ensure everything runs smoothly.

What do you look forward to each day at work?

The entire HR team makes each day a little better. We are constantly working together on improvements and finding ways to better support all of our employees.

What do you find most rewarding about your job?

I have one of the most rewarding jobs imaginable. My team impacts every single employee, even if they don’t know who we are—and that’s exactly how it should be. In Payroll and Benefits, the better we do our jobs, the less employees need to think about us. That means we’re doing things right. The sense of pride that comes with that is priceless.

Describe a favorite project you’ve worked on so far.

One of my favorite projects has been successfully integrating ParkUSA into our payroll and benefits system. In late 2021, NWP acquired Park, and in 2022, Park employees were fully transitioned into our system. They completed their first open enrollment using our workforce management platform later that year. Ensuring a smooth transition with minimal disruption to employees was so important and a big accomplishment for our team.

Since day one, I’ve focused on cleaning up processes and streamlining payroll and benefits to make them more efficient and effective. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and the positive changes implemented since I joined NWP.

Which of the Northwest Pipe Company ACT Values (Accountability, Commitment, Teamwork) resonates most for you in your role?

Teamwork. Most employees don’t think of themselves as part of the Payroll and Benefits team, but I do. We are asking all employees to give us accurate timecards and to do it on time. We are asking all employees to enroll in their benefits accurately and on time. These tasks are essential to the function of my department, and every employee’s effort contributes to the success of the Payroll and Benefits team.

What stands out to you about the culture at Northwest Pipe Company?

Northwest Pipe continually stands behind its ACT values. You see them everywhere, and there’s a clear expectation that all employees maintain the high standards of Accountability, Commitment, and Teamwork. Also, the Company looks to promote from within whenever possible, providing employees with opportunities to advance in their careers.

What advice do you have for someone starting a career in your field?

My position isn’t one that people generally think about or aspire to, but it’s definitely one that all employees appreciate on payday. In Payroll and Benefits, every employee in the Company relies on you to do your job and to do it well. There is always a deadline and pressure. Being detail-oriented is key to overcoming these challenges and being successful in your role. Even though it can be stressful at times, the reward when you complete the job right—that’s the best feeling.

Is there someone at NWP who has inspired or motivated you along your career journey?

Megan Kendrick and Amy Byrnes are both truly focused on career development. They take the time to meet with each HR team member to learn about our goals and provide guidance to help us grow. They’re always willing to share their knowledge. Unfortunately, I’ve had managers at other jobs who kept things to themselves to hold their employees back, so having mentors like Amy and Megan who genuinely want to see us thrive is incredibly refreshing.

What do you like to do to unwind, and how does working at NWP help you maintain a work-life balance?

Outside work, I’m all about family time. I enjoy boating, going to movies, and playing games with my kids.