Alexandria, VA, March 4, 2026 — The National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) today announced the members of its NextGen Leadership Class of 2026, recognizing emerging leaders who are helping shape the future of the PEO industry through innovation, operational excellence, advocacy and service to small and mid-sized businesses.
“The NextGen Leadership program recognizes a diverse set of PEO leaders who already play an important role in advancing our industry’s priorities. Because of their leadership, more Americans are benefiting from PEOs than ever before,” said NAPEO President and CEO Casey Clark. “The PEO community is stronger because of these individuals.”
NAPEO’s NextGen Leadership program highlights rising professionals across the PEO ecosystem who demonstrate leadership within their organizations and a strong commitment to advancing the industry’s mission of supporting America’s employers and workforce.
The NextGen Leadership Class of 2026 includes:
- Andrew Bartholomew, operations director at Helpside, Lindon, UT
- Christopher Myers, chief executive officer at Comploy, Thornton, CO
- Billy Miller, president and chief operating officer at Spirit HR, Oklahoma City, OK
- Jacob McIntosh, government relations manager at TriNet, Dublin, CA
- Emily Duncan, vice president of business operations at Questco, The Woodlands, TX
- Elisabeth Shaw, chief human resources officer at PrestigePEO, Melville, NY
- Ashley Martinez, vice president of operations at ESAC, Little Rock, AR
- Scott Silva, associate at Silva Capital Solutions, Inc., Marietta, GA
The 2026 class was chosen from an applicant pool of nearly two dozen accomplished industry leaders whose expertise spans across operations, executive leadership, government relations and HR strategy. A panel of veteran association leaders selected the class. Participants in the NextGen Leadership program will engage in leadership development opportunities, industry education and networking designed to strengthen collaboration across the PEO community and prepare the next generation of industry leadership.
“We are proud to recognize the many contributions these leaders have already made and their meaningful impact on their businesses, our industry and the communities we serve all across America,” Clark added.
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About NAPEO
The National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) is The Voice of the PEO Industry™. PEOs provide payroll, benefits, workers’ comp, regulatory compliance assistance and other HR services to more than 230,000 small and mid-size businesses employing more than 4.5 million people. NAPEO represents the interests of the PEO industry on behalf of a membership that includes both PEOs and companies that provide services to PEOs.