Management Team
John Jeffrey Plakans, President
A 15 year veteran of the payroll and HR industries, Jeff's experience in creating payroll and HR solutions that have an efficient and user-centric focus is born of his own evolution as a business owner. As the president of Payrolls Plus, Jeff helped guide the company's explosive pattern of growth. In late 2005, Jeff helped oversee the merger between Payrolls Plus and software company Payroll Associates to form PayChoice, a national payroll provider.
A serial entrepreneur, in 2006 Jeff also founded Commonwealth Cash Management, to focus on the unmeet bookkeeping and business management needs of small business owners, entrepreneurs and athletes/entertainers. Today Commonwealth Cash Management enjoys a sister relationship with Commonwealth Payroll & HR.
From 1994-1998, Jeff served as COO of Creative Energy Corporation of Virginia. There, he focused on developing efficient sales and operational interaction modeling to cope with robust growth while maintaining a highly customer-oriented sales and service program.
Jeff has always been passionate about fostering strong client loyalty to his companies. As a result, his companies share a truly unique, flexible service program, where the utmost in security and Web technology is combined with personalization and dedicated personnel to deliver the ultimate client experience.
A 1992 graduate of the University of Maryland, Jeff lives with his family on the North Shore of Massachusetts. In his spare time he enjoys coaching youth football, and was a driver in the formation of the Marblehead Flag Football League.
Chris Murray, Principal, VP Partner Development
Chris started his career in payroll as a district manager for ADP; he was a President’s Club recipient in 1999. Lacking synergy with the philosophy of a National Firm, Chris joined local payroll company Payrolls Plus in 2000. He experienced great success with Payrolls Plus by keeping the focus on the customer experience. He was critical to the rapid growth of Payrolls Plus, serving roles in Business Development, Sales Management and as Client Development Director. After the merger in 2005 when Payrolls Plus became PayChoice, Chris was named the National Sales Manager.
In 2010 he joined Commonwealth Payroll & HR as Principal and VP of Partner Development, getting back to the roots of Customer-centric payroll service.
A graduate of Colgate University, Chris lives with his family in Marblehead, MA.