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Kristen Appleman

Chief Operating Officer

Kristen Appleman serves as Chief Operating Officer at CoAdvantage.

She brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the Human Capital Management (HCM) industry, with expertise in scaling operations, driving innovation, and enhancing client and employee experiences. Prior to CoAdvantage, Kristen was Senior Vice President and General Manager at a leading PEO, where she led client service strategies and complex organizational transformations. She also served as President and Chair of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) from 2022 to 2023.

Kristen holds a bachelor’s degree in Music and an MBA from Florida State University, as well as a Master’s in Human Resource Management from Rollins College.

From the Blog

Explore leadership insights and HR strategies from Kristen and other CoAdvantage experts

What the Slowing Labor Market Means for Small Business Hiring and Retention

After years of overheated competition for workers, hiring dynamics are finally starting to cool, but not in the way many small ...
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8 Ways Payroll Impacts More Than Just Payday

8 Ways Payroll Impacts More Than You Think Payroll may seem like a back-office function, but its influence reaches far beyond ...
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IRS Releases Eligible Jobs for "No Tax on Tips" Deduction 

When Congress passed the “no tax on tips” deduction in July 2025, one of the biggest questions both employees and employers had ...
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The HR–IT Connection: Why Collaboration is Key to Unlocking ROI in HR Tech

Why do HR and IT need to work together on HR systems? HR-IT collaboration is essential for getting ROI from HR technology ...
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AI in HR: What Small Business Leaders Need to Know Now

The buzz around AI in HR is growing, but for many small businesses, the gap between hype and reality still feels wide. ...
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The Hidden Risks of DIY HR: Why Outsourcing HR Is Often the Smarter, Safer Move for Growing Businesses

Plenty of small businesses try to manage HR on their own. Some use off-the-shelf templates, cobbled-together spreadsheets, or ...
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HR Outsourcing for Compliance Peace of Mind

How does outsourcing compliance and risk management help employers?
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7 Payroll Best Practices Every Business Should Know

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Labor Law Spotlight: Employee Privacy Rights and Regulations

Employers have long had a vested interest in monitoring employee activity to ensure that workers are fulfilling their job ...
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What Happens If Employers Violate Labor Laws?

Employers, including small businesses, face a complex challenge when it comes to complying with labor laws. These laws are not ...
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