Mark Pietrowski
CEO
Mark Pietrowski serves as President and CEO of Pinnacle Employee Services and has over 16 years of experience in the payroll, human resources, and PEO industry. He started his career as an account executive for Lamar Advertising, the nation’s largest outdoor billboard advertising company, where he quickly rose through the ranks from a salesperson in Syracuse, New York to Vice President/ General Manager in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and later transferred to a larger office in Toledo, Ohio.
From Lamar, Mark transitioned to the payroll industry when he joined Paychex, a leading payroll provider. There he sold their human resources programs for 6 years and was honored as District 30’s MVP of the year in 2007. In 2008 Mark went to work for a Syracuse, New York-based PEO where he learned the nuances of professional employer organizations over his six-year tenure.
In 2014 Mark, along with Mike Lucia (CFO/COO), led the management team at Pinnacle in launching Pinnacle Employee Services (PES) with the goal of providing superior service to clients utilizing the industry’s lead technology, robust benefits, and wellness plans, and a well-rounded staff of professionals
Michael Lucia
COO, CFO
Mike brings over 25 years of business management experience to Pinnacle Employee Services. During Mike’s years of service with the U. S. Army, he was given the opportunity to join a Military Pay Company. Mike was assigned to Fort Gordon in Georgia where he spent two years in support of Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom after the attacks of 9/11. After Mikes’s tour of service, he relocated to Florida and served as Payroll Manager for the nation’s #1 integrator of A/V products, while continuing his service as a member of the Florida National Guard. It was through relationships cultivated at (now) AVI-SPL that Mike was recruited to relocate to Syracuse, New York to manage the payroll department for a local PEO, which is where he met Mark Pietrowski.
Mike has knowledge in registering PEOs with New York in order to be an operational PEO, opening bank accounts, contracting with software providers, identifying technology needs. Continually, Mike is responsible for establishing new clients, managing complex reporting for clients, tax payments, and return filings, overseeing the processing of client payrolls, training staff members in software use and payroll compliance.
Beth Eckert, PHR®, SHRM-CP
Director of Human Resources
Beth Eckert is the Director of Human Resources. She brings over 20 years of experience to the team with her extensive knowledge of Human Resources and Payroll. Prior to joining Pinnacle Employee Services, she managed the Human Resources department for mid-size companies in industries including hospitality, environmental remediation, and a global emergency response services company.
Currently, Beth leads the Human Resources and Client Service team at Pinnacle. Her areas of expertise include employee relations, benefits administration, HR infrastructure and policy, and procedure development.
Maggie Hall, SHRM-CP
HR Operations Specialist
Maggie Hall acts as the HR Operations Specialist at Pinnacle Employee Services, bringing 4 years of HR experience to the team. Maggie serves as a resource and mentor to new team members. She also supports clients in areas including on-boarding, policy and procedure reviews and updates, employee relation issues, and guidance on general human resources compliance issues. Before joining Pinnacle Employee Services, Maggie worked as a Human Resources Intern in the Central New York area including a warehouse and a physical therapy company.
Maggie earned her B.A. in Human Resources Management from LeMoyne College. She is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Her areas of expertise include employee communications, handbook development, investigations (harassment, etc.), and training.
Ghyra Cannon, aPHR
HR Business Partner
Ghyra is a Certified Associated Professional in Human Resources with over 10 years of customer service and over 5 years of Human Resource experience. Ghyra is a resourceful team player with thorough knowledge of HR policies and procedures.
Currently, she is a Human Resources Business Partner at Pinnacle Employee Services and servicing over 50+ clients in the area.
Shari Jackson
HR Business Partner
Shari Jackson is a Human Resources Business Partner. She brings 15 years of experience to the team with her knowledge of Human Resources and Payroll. Prior to joining Pinnacle Employee Services, she was the Office Manager for mid-sized companies in the environmental remediation, demolition, and emergency response industries.
Currently, Shari is a part of the growing Human Resources and Client Service team at Pinnacle. She is knowledgeable in benefit offerings, training and development, and team building.
Tammie Alnutt
HR Business Partner
Tammie Alnutt joined Pinnacle Employee Services as a Human Resources Business Partner. She brings over 10 years of experience to the team including HR, payroll, and accounting in the food manufacturing and warehouse industries. Prior to joining Pinnacle, Tammie was a Human Resource Manager at a mid-sized facility services company in Central New York. She is knowledgeable and excited to provide exceptions HR services to Pinnacle’s clients.
Kristian Krause, FPC
Payroll Manager
Kristian Krause, Payroll Manager, has ten years of experience in payroll. Prior to joining Pinnacle Employee Services, she managed payroll implementation for another local payroll company. She has experience managing payroll for commercial real estate companies, restaurants, prevailing wages, small to large businesses, and has worked for one of the largest payroll companies in the country. She is FPC certified as of 2021. Currently, Kristian is managing the payroll team at Pinnacle.
Stevie Smith
Payroll Administrator
Stevie joined Pinnacle Employee Services in 2021 as a Payroll Administrator.
Stevie studied Business Administration at Onondaga Community College and brings over 10 years of experience in the payroll field having worked at 5 years at ADP as a payroll specialist, 2 years at ADMI as a payroll administrator, and 4 years at ARM as a payroll and benefits administrator.
Stevie is excited about the opportunity to assist our clients with their payroll needs.
Mackenzie Edinger
Benefits Administrator
Mackenzie Edinger is the Benefits Administrator at Pinnacle Employee Services. Prior to joining the team Mackenzie spent over 7 years at Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists where she worked her way to the Human Resources Assistant. While learning all aspects of the job her main focus was benefits and payroll.
Currently Mackenzie works with all of Pinnacle Employee Services Client’s to offer Benefit support and development. Her areas of expertise are health insurance, customer service and leave of absence including Family Medical Leave Act, Paid Family Leave and Disability.
Laurie Horton
Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist
Laurie joined Pinnacle Employee Services in 2018 as an Account Payable/Receivable Specialist. Laurie studied Business and Accounting at Onondaga Community College and brings over 30 years experience in the accounting field to the PES Team.
Claire Wigler
Employer Solutions Specialist
Claire graduated from the University of Mount Olive with a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management in 2017. During her time at Mount Olive, she was on the women’s lacrosse team. Claire brings here 3 years of experience in Human Resources including an HR internship with American Medical Response and her position as a Human Resource Assistant at Medical Answering Services where she was promoted to Human Resource Generalist in 2020. Claire is a valuable asset to the PES team where she furthers her career as the Employer Solutions Specialist.
Alex Godzak
Employer Solutions Specialist
Alex graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo NY with a degree in Sports Management. During his time at Canisius, Alex spent all 4 years on the men’s baseball team. Alex has always had a passion for sales and enjoys being able to meet new people and assist them with their needs. When Alex isn’t working, you can find him at the gym or on the golf course. Alex will be a valuable asset moving forward in the growth of Pinnacle Employee Services.
Alysha Jasewicz, CPA
Financial Accounting Manager
Alysha is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York. She graduated from SUNY Oswego with her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 2017 and her Master in Business Administration degree with a concentration in Public Accounting in 2019. Prior to joining PES in 2020, Alysha was a Tax Accountant at a regional public accounting firm located in Syracuse. Alysha has experience in several areas in public accounting, including corporate and personal income tax compliance and planning, auditing, and accounting services. Alysha has helped to streamline accounting processes, handles recordkeeping with the accounting department, and helps with ad hoc client needs.
Charlotte Dieroff
Director of Recruiting
Charlotte Dieroff started her career in the food industry, having studied Food Science at Cornell University. She joined International Food Network (now Eurofins) that developed products for the consumer goods market, with key clients including SlimFast, Häagen-Dazs, and McNeil. Charlotte transitioned from hands-on product development to client management and business development before deciding to capitalize on those strengths and make the leap to the recruiting industry. She quickly learned the business and is now bringing that experience to Pinnacle Talent Solutions, focusing on both internal and external placements across a variety of industries including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, architecture, and engineering to name a few.