William Wilson: Making Excellence Look Easy
Behind every accurate paycheck that each Piedmont team member receives is a commitment that goes far beyond numbers. This commitment reflects trust, accountability, and pride in doing the work the right way every single time. Meet William Wilson, Payroll Specialist III, whose precision, reliability, and behind the scenes dedication make a meaningful impact across the organization. In his role, William ensures team members are paid accurately and on time while maintaining compliance with company policies, union contracts, and payroll regulations. Earlier this year, William was presented with Piedmont Airlines’ President’s Award. This level of excellence comes from someone who leads by example, consistently setting the standard for living Piedmont’s core values of caring, compliance, communication, and community.
William’s day-to-day responsibilities include processing retroactive pay, overpayments, and special check requests, as well as assisting team members and managers with pay discrepancies, direct deposits, and W-2 inquiries. His attention to detail and steady approach help keep payroll running smoothly across the company.
After more than four years with Piedmont, William has built a strong foundation in payroll, expanding his expertise to handle complex matters while collaborating closely with teams across the organization to ensure accuracy, alignment, and timely resolution.
What first brought William to Piedmont was a recommendation from a close friend, but it was the company’s collaborative culture, people-focused mission, and long-term growth opportunities that made him confident it was the right place to build his career.
William believes his greatest contribution to Piedmont’s success is ensuring payroll accuracy, compliance, and trust for team members. While payroll often operates behind the scenes, he understands its direct impact on employee morale and confidence. In an operational environment like aviation, employees need to trust that their pay is accurate so they can stay focused on safety and performance.
Collaboration plays a key role in William’s work. He partners closely with Benefits, Compensation, Station Leadership, and Team Member Services, sharing information openly and stepping in to help resolve urgent or complex issues. One example of this teamwork came when William worked with leadership and Team Member Services to resolve time sensitive payroll issues affecting multiple employees. By working across departments, gathering key details, and understanding system impacts, the teams were able to resolve issues quickly, reduce frustration, and maintain compliance.
Being honored as a President’s Award winner is deeply meaningful to William and reinforces that the care, consistency, and professionalism he brings to his work truly matter.
“It is incredibly validating and humbling to know that my peers and leaders recognize the impact of my work,” William shared. “This award reflects not just results, but the reliability and care I put into supporting our team members every day.”
The recognition became even more special at the President’s Award ceremony, where William celebrated alongside his team members and loved ones. The evening began with William being announced as the first recipient, creating a moment he will always remember. He described the experience as both inspiring and humbling, as he was surrounded by talented individuals whose contributions helped shape Piedmont and had the opportunity to hear their stories of dedication and service.
“Being recognized alongside them made me feel proud of the work I’ve done and grateful for the support of my leaders, teammates, and colleagues who have helped me grow throughout my career,” William shared. “Receiving the President’s Award was truly an honor and one of the most meaningful moments in my career at Piedmont. Payroll is often a behind-the-scenes function, so being recognized at that level reinforced that the work my team and I do has a real impact on our employees and the company. More importantly, it motivated me to continue supporting others, taking on new challenges, and striving for excellence in everything I do.”
William credits much of his growth at Piedmont to the leaders, teammates, and cross functional partners who have supported and challenged him along the way. Today, he strives to pay that support forward by leading with empathy, building strong relationships, and helping others succeed.
William’s dedication to supporting others has not gone unnoticed. His leader, Sheena McFadden, nominated him for this recognition, sharing, “Caring Will demonstrates genuine care for every team member’s financial well-being. He manages each payroll cycle with precision and empathy, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time. Beyond his core responsibilities, Will goes above and beyond — assisting team members with personal needs such as finding healthcare providers and regularly checking in on their well-being. His actions reflect a deep commitment to treating others with respect and compassion.”
Today, William brings that same spirit of support to his role, helping team members feel valued, cared for, and set up for success. As a President’s Award recipient, William exemplifies what it means to live by Piedmont’s core values of caring, compliance, communication, and community while making a meaningful difference in the lives of those around him.