Meet the Facilitators

Co-founder and president of ConnectPay, as well as head of mergers and acquisitions, Paul Altavena likes to think of the staff as a team of “freedom fighters”. He believes small businesses are the key to economic freedom, and ConnectPay supports them in this mission by providing the tools to help them thrive. Paul is passionate about the great value ConnectPay delivers to small businesses by helping them to become more efficient and successful.

Paul has been looking for ways to build value since he was a kid — from the lawn-cutting business he founded at 12, to the 1960 MGA sports car he bought at 13 to restore and sell. His history in the payroll business goes back to the late ’70s when he joined the founding team at Paychex and was part of the company’s successful public offering in 1983. When he’s not building business relationships with payroll professionals, you can find him spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, or golfing. Even the way he spends his free time mirrors the ConnectPay business philosophy: It’s all about relationships.

Rhonda believes that if a company has a clear purpose, a program of developing leaders, and fostering a culture that thrives on learning and teamwork, the company will excel.  Rhonda’s passion is to help companies find their purpose and passion and to help create the leaders that will inspire their teams to meet the Company’s goals and purpose. 

Rhonda graduated in 1982 with her degree in accounting and obtained her CPA certification in 1984.

Rhonda served as a partner in a Chattanooga Regional Accounting firm for 22 years.  When the firm made the decision to create a payroll service bureau, Rhonda led that charge.  In 1994 Computerized Payroll Solutions was created and she led the growth of that company until 2007.   

In 2007, Rhonda joined Payroll Professionals in Kennesaw GA.  as an owner and leadership of the operations team.  Under her leadership Payroll Professionals (later known as PayPro HCS) transformed from a payroll service bureau to a full-service Human Capital Management company.

In 2013, Rhonda obtained her SPHR certification and started a Human Resource Consulting company – PayPro HR. 

Rhonda led PayPro HCS and PayPro HR as their CEO until their sale in 2021. 

Rhonda has been very involved in industry associations, serving on the boards of both IPPA and TPG.  She also had the privilege of serving as President of both organizations.  

Rhonda enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 grown daughters and their families.  Travel with them and the annual cruises with her high school girlfriends are her personal highlights. 

I have spent my career leading from the front. Performing any job that needed to be done. A strong work ethic and a competitive desire to overcome any obstacle have created my base of experience. I truly love the challenge!

I started at Paychex in 1997, in an entry-level customer service role at 22. In 6 years, I became one of the youngest operational managers in the country, leading one of Paychex’ largest service hubs.  

In 2003, I co-founded Balance Point Payroll. Operating three different HCM systems, along the way to growing the company to over 70 employees and over 2,500 client companies nationwide.  

I believe in building a culture of accountability, constant education, and team empowerment through input and collaboration.  

I am married with two teenage boys. When not professionally engaged, I assume my second passion; the caddy to my boy’s youth hockey lives! The few remaining moments are filled with cooking and mechanics.

My “people first” philosophy has never wavered in my 40+ years in service and leadership. Leadership has never been about title, status, or wielding power but rather taking responsibility. Responsibility for recognizing, rewarding, and advocating for people. Believing in and developing the potential of people and ideas. With 20+ years in retail roles and another 20+ years in the HCM industry, I have developed the reputation of an innovative change agent, creative solutions thinker, and people developer. I have a proven track record in startups, turnarounds, realignments, and sustaining success. I have worked in big-volume retail, analytics, loss prevention as well as social service, payroll, ASO, PEO, and HR consulting services. I am a firm believer in servant leadership, vulnerability, and asking for forgiveness. I am a lifelong learner, avid reader, RV traveler, and live in a 4-generation household with 2 German Shepards. #lifeisgood