Meet The Executives’ Club

January 1, 2025

ALL OF OUR ACTIVE MEMBERS ARE, ONE-BY-ONE,

MOVING TO OUR NEW MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY…

2025 Executives' Club Members

Current Members of The Executives’ Club of Fargo-Moorhead are listed chronologically, by their joining date, beginning August 14, 2015

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T V W Y
Photo of Darcy Pope Fuchs
Darcy Pope Fuchs
Founder and President (retired) Payroll Express, Inc. | Overland Payroll, Inc.
Hometown: Bowman, ND
BOWMAN HIGH
ND State College of Science
MEMBER 29 | AUGUST 29, 2015
Executives’ Club GOLD Sponsor
Executives’ Club Lifetime LEGACY Member

Darcy is a Bowman, ND native, graduated from ND State College of Science and worked in the dental industry for nearly a decade following college. In 1995, she founded Payroll Express, Inc. to manage the Human Resources for small to mid-size businesses, becoming the “off-site HR department”; handling everything from hiring, benefits, and performance reviews to exits and terminations. And, yes, accurate and on-time payroll too. In 1998, she founded Overland Payroll, Inc., to manage the payroll and human resources for construction and seasonal businesses.

Along with her husband, Todd, and the rest of the team, Payroll Express became the region’s premier small business HR service and within years, built new offices “the stable” on Sheyenne Street in West Fargo. In 2020, Darcy and Todd sold Payroll Express, Inc. to a local staffing agency and have been enjoying the freedom of retirement ever since. Congratulations on your success – and THANK YOU for all of your generous contributions to our Club!

Social Media Post; November 13, 2020

26 years after pulling a Forbes Magazine article about PEO’s (Professional Employers Organizations) out of the trash (for the 3rd time) and starting her own, Miss Darcy has “fired” husband Todd for the last time. It’s been a fantastic ride, with a lifetime of memories. As of November 1, 2020, Payroll Express is in another’s hands to guide it to the next chapter; and Todd and Darcy may finally go on one of those long vacations (maybe over 7 days) they have always dreamed of.
From humble beginnings in our spare bedroom, to the halls and Legislative Committee rooms at the State Capitol, to the “big office over our garage”, and finally to the Payroll Express Stables on Sheyenne Street; we (mostly she) built it together through good times and some not-so-much-fun times.
26 years of early mornings, late evenings and so very many Saturdays, Miss Darcy worked in her steadfast perfectionist way to build our business to a solid, regionally-recognized company; where she served on the Board of Directors and represented our industry as the President of our National Organization (PACE).
To our Clients: without so many wonderful, small business owners who put their trust in us to provide them the very best payroll, HR and benefits to their most valuable asset, their employees. We so very much appreciate each and every one of you.
To sell at this point in our lives was a convergence of a willing and very capable buyer who reached out to us; a global pandemic that caused us to think of plans & back-up plans, along with a family health scare that reminds us all that tomorrow isn’t promised. Sometimes we have to follow the signs as laid out before us.
As I step back from Payroll Express, following my “resignation” prior to the sale, I am so very, Very, VERY proud of the business Miss Darcy worked so hard to build. From that first small client to the 500+ worksite employees that look for her signature on that paycheck, it’s been a hell of a ride! My heart is full of pride.
We sold to Preference Employment Solutions, an awesome, local, employee owned organization (ESOP) with many complimentary services they will be able to extend to our current and their future Payroll Express clients. Their entire team of employee owners seem super-excited about this acquisition and I’m certain our staff will find their new home at the beautiful office building in South Fargo to be a welcoming and uplifting place to go to work each day, knowing they will be employee owners too. Miss Darcy will continue throughout the transition, and her future with the combined companies will be decided later next spring.
As for me, I will miss the day-to-day dramas, new client-signing celebrations, our 4:30 beer thirty’s, and of course, seeing our local clients every 2 weeks while delivering payroll. But as I go on to other endeavors (perhaps learn to cook and do laundry), I know that the groundwork and foundation that Darcy laid down oh so many years ago, will live on through the future of Payroll Express/Overland Payroll/ Preference Employment Solutions.
Carry on David Dietz and your team, carry on, for come every Friday 500+ worksite employees will be looking at their phones or mailboxes for your tidings of great news – and your signature on their paychecks!”
Cheers, and God Bless,
Todd Fuchs Nov 13 2020
Photo of Zach Paxton
Zach Paxton
President and Owner Custom Graphics, Inc.
Hometown: Marshall, MN
marschall Senior High
Moorhead State University
Member 33 | September 8, 2015
Executives’ Club GOLD Sponsor

 

While growing up, Zach worked alongside his father at Paxton signs from 5th grade through college. Taught by his grandfather and dad, Zach learned how to hand letter vehicles and signs. In 1985, Zach installed the first version of a computer based vinyl cutter for his dad. Eventually, Zach ended up moving to Moorhead to attend MSU and pursue a degree in small business administration with a minor in accounting. Between graduating high school and attending college, Zach’s grandfather taught him how to bend neon. By bending neon in the late hours of the night, Zach was able to pay for some of his college. Eventually, Zach was recruited by his father’s cousin Paul Paxton, to work at Custom Graphics. In 2016, general manager Zach took over the family business after the untimely passing of founder Paul Paxton. Since that time, Zach has lead Custom Graphics to expand further into the digital printing and signage industry.

Outside of Custom Graphics, Zach is a husband and father of four children – three daughters and one son. Zach has been married to his wife Shelley for 20 years. Their two eldest children Lea and Jordan each got married in the past year, Dana works at Custom Graphics in Customer Service while Annie, their youngest, is in middle school.
  • Favorite Childhood Movie? – ET, Star Wars, Goonies
  • Favorite Restaurant? – Pizza Ranch or Fryin’ Pan
  • Hobbies: – In Zach’s free time, he enjoys being involved with his church and is currently the children’s ministries director. – Zach also enjoys spending time backpacking and camping with his wife Shelley.
  • Fun Facts: – Zach’s birthday is on Christmas Eve! – He is secretly good at drawing Looney Tunes characters!
Photo of Dan Parker
Dan Parker
Franchise Owner Any Lab Test Now
Hometown: Rugby, ND
Rugby High
University of North Dakota
Founding Member 63 | December 11, 2015

 

How are you managing your drug free workplace program? You need a simple solution to manage your pre-employment drug testing, random testing program, reasonable suspicion, post-incident and back-to-work drug and alcohol testing. It is easier for you, your business, your candidates, and your employees if that one resource can also help you with heavy metals and other occupational exposure testing services, as well as background screens and even employee wellness programs. ANY LAB TEST NOW® is your solution.

Employer Testing services include, but are not limited to:

  • Drug and Alcohol Testing: Pre-employment, Random Screening, Post-Accident, Suspicion
  • DOT Testing
  • Background Screening
  • Nicotine/Cotinine Testing
  • Heavy Metal Testing
  • COVID19 Testing (Rapid Antigen, RT-PCR, Antibody)
  • Specimen Testing options:  Urine, Hair, Nails, Saliva, and Breath