HR Companies & HR Consultants in Annapolis, MD

FosterThomas is a human capital management (HCM) consulting firm based in Annapolis, Maryland, that helps employers handle the people-related side of their operations, including payroll, HR systems, employee benefits and staffing.

The company presents its offering as global in scope and casts its consultants as the specialists who guide organizations through HCM strategy at a time when much routine HR and payroll work is being automated. Its stated aim is to help clients get more from their workforce programs while reducing risk and supporting growth.

The firm treats any HCM overhaul as a substantial commitment of money, staff time, effort and know-how, and it urges organizations to identify potential obstacles early and involve experienced advisors before issues surface. Rather than selling a fixed package, FosterThomas shapes each engagement around the particular business or organization it is serving.

That approach makes it a candidate for buyers who need outside help planning, deploying or running HR and payroll initiatives, as well as those who simply want ongoing expert support.

Service areas

• Payroll management and consulting: outsourced payroll processing and record maintenance, plus advisory work on payroll practices
• Product implementation and consulting: support for rolling out HCM technology, including work connected to mergers and acquisitions
• Staff augmentation: recruiting and supplemental staffing provided by HR and payroll specialists
• HR and benefits advisory: benefits brokerage and advisory alongside general HR consulting
• GovCon Solutions: a dedicated offering for the government contracting market, as its name indicates

Payroll is the area the firm describes in the most detail. On the administration side, its team can run payroll cycles; enter and keep current the records for new employees, departures, benefit elections and other personnel changes; combine timekeeping data with payroll; build and send payroll files; audit payroll reviews; and produce reports at the close of each period.

On the consulting side, FosterThomas documents recommended payroll procedures and offers training, guidance and ongoing help. The company stresses regulatory compliance, careful accuracy, the use of modern payroll technology to make processes more efficient, and support that is both responsive and proactive.

Beyond payroll, the firm's implementation practice helps organizations introduce new HCM products smoothly and assists with the workforce systems questions that arise during mergers and acquisitions. Its staff augmentation unit supplies recruiting expertise, while its HR and benefits group pairs benefits advisory and brokerage with broader human resources consulting and describes its work as driven by technology.

The company has also developed its own delivery framework, which it calls the FT3 Model, and publishes client success stories and company news on its website.

FosterThomas was founded by Tom Bedard. Its current executive team includes President Patrick Hill, Chief Operating Officer Nicole O'Brien, Chief People & Partner Officer Heather Sandell and Director of Finance Brett Bedard, with Meredith Manwiller serving as Global Practice Leader. For Maryland buyers comparing HR providers, the firm stands out for combining hands-on payroll operations, HCM technology implementation, staffing support and benefits brokerage under one roof, along with a specific practice aimed at government contractors.