Executives
Executives
John W. Allen
President, CEO
As G&A's President and CEO, John W. Allen oversees the daily operations of the company and is heavily involved in the strategic outlook and growth of the firm. Before co-founding G&A with Chairman Tony Grijalva in 1995, John was a consulting partner with Grant Thornton, where he worked with emerging-growth companies and cultivated his management consulting and financial expertise.
A PPACA-certified and licensed life and health insurance agent, John is actively involved in the Houston business community, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Houston Chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. He earned both his bachelor's degree in accounting and his master's degree in management consulting from Brigham Young University.
Tony Grijalva
Chairman Emeritus, Board member
G&A Partners Chairman Emeritus, Tony Grijalva is a CPA with extensive experience in management consulting, business management and international trade. Prior to co-founding and organizing G&A, he gained financial and managerial expertise as division CFO of a multinational firm headquartered in Wisconsin. In Houston, he worked for Grant Thornton where he met John W. Allen in the management-consulting department of the firm.
Tony is an active member of the Houston business community and is heavily involved in numerous civic endeavors. He is Chairman Emeritus of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, former Director of the Center for Houston's Future and the Texas Executive Business Council, and he currently serves on the boards of the Greater Houston Partnership and Christus Foundation for Health Care. Tony has received numerous awards for business and civic activities. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Anthony R. Grijalva
Chief Marketing Officer
Anthony Grijalva Jr. is the Chief Marketing Officer for G&A Partners. He is responsible for leading all demand-generation and brand-awareness activities for the company. With a passion for G&A becoming an experiential organization, he also spearheads the experience management division for both clients and employees.
Prior to joining G&A in 1997, Anthony earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, where he majored in marketing. He has also attended specialized executive coursework at The Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
John G. Allen
Chief Revenue Officer
John G. Allen is the Chief Revenue Officer for G&A Partners. Under his leadership, G&A's sales organization has experienced consistent new business growth year-over-year. Prior to this role, John was the Executive Vice President of Sales for G&A. He spent the early part of his career working for JPMorgan as a banker for its energy corporate and private banking groups before joining G&A in 2009.
John earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas. He is actively involved in his church, the Boy Scouts of America, and youth sports in his community.
Aaron Call
Chief Operating Officer
Aaron Call joined G&A Partners in 2009, following G&A's acquisition of Core Innovative Solutions, an HR services firm based in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has been involved in the PEO industry in various capacities, and has extensive experience overseeing nearly every function within the corporate office, including all back-office operations, sales, marketing, and vendor relations.
Aaron earned his bachelor's degree in business management from Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Management. A resident of Utah for almost all his life, Aaron is an active member of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and various other community development organizations.
Stephen Calvert
Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel
Stephen Calvert joined G&A Partners in 2020 as its Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel. In this role, Stephen heads the company's legal department and oversees all of G&A’s legal matters throughout the country and internationally.
Before joining G&A, Stephen was in top legal positions, including General Counsel and Chief Counsel roles, for large public and private companies in different industries and states, including transportation, energy, utilities, and government contracting. He started his career at the law firm of Baker Botts in Houston as a trial and labor and employment lawyer. Stephen received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and his law degree from the University of Houston. He spends his free time with his family, church, sports, and music.
Lloyd Closson
Chief Technology Officer
Lloyd Closson joined G&A Partners in 2017 as an independent contractor leading the company’s software development team. He was promoted to the role of Chief Technology Officer in 2019 and now leads the creation and implementation of world-class human capital management (HCM) applications for the company's external and internal clients.
Lloyd is an experienced CTO with a demonstrated history of building diverse distributed teams and leveraging modern technologies to deliver software that exceeds business and strategic objectives. He earned both his bachelor’s degree in business administration and his master’s degree in information systems from Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management.
When Lloyd is not working, he can be found cheering on his children at all of their activities.
Pat Murphy
Chief Financial Officer
Pat Murphy is a seasoned leader with nearly 30 years of experience in strategic operations, finance, and accounting. As G&A's Chief Financial Officer, he plays a pivotal role in ensuring the company's financial health and stability, driving strategic growth initiatives, and spearheading expansion into emerging markets.
Before joining G&A Partners, Pat started his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, held various cross-functional senior leadership positions at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield/Elevance, and most recently served as the chief financial officer at Marathon Health.
Pat earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University with a double major in finance and accounting. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two kids, where he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, watching his kids’ activities, going on golf trips, and rooting for the Indiana Hoosiers. Pat is also dedicated to his community, serving in board leadership positions for several local organizations.
Michelle Mikesell
Chief People Officer
Michelle Mikesell joined G&A Partners in 2020 as the Vice President of Corporate HR and was promoted to Chief People Officer in November of 2021. Based in Houston, Michelle plans, develops, drives, and implements HR strategy and operations to support the continuous growth of the company. Her passion is to innovate and build programs and practices around culture strategy and HR leadership, ensuring G&A remains one of the top places to work in the cities where it operates.
Prior to joining the G&A family, Michelle led HR teams with a “people-first” approach. Over the course of her 25-year career she progressively advanced operations in sales and services for her companies.
Michelle has a Bachelor of Science degree from Metropolitan State University of Denver and a Master of Arts degree in communications from the University of Denver. She is certified in Lead Right and Change Cycle Series and holds the distinction of Society of Human Resources Management-Senior Certified Professional.
Michelle, her husband, and two of her three children are lifelong Denver Broncos fans while her third child cheers on the Houston Texans instead. (Team allegiance for her four grandchildren is still up for grabs, but she says it’s leaning toward the Texans.)
Leadership
Leadership
Kim Traylor
Vice President - HR Services
Kim Traylor joined G&A Partners in 2013 following G&A's acquisition of ProSource Management Solutions, a professional employer organization (PEO) based in Houston. As G&A's Vice President of HR Services, Kim couples her extensive knowledge of the PEO industry with an exceptional customer-service mentality to provide G&A Partners' clients with expert counsel in all HR and administrative matters.
Before joining G&A, Kim held several executive positions in the hotel industry and then spent 10 years as the Director of Food and Nutrition Services for Memorial Hermann Health System. In 2000, she left Memorial Hermann to start ProSource and served as the firm's co-founder and COO.
Kim earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston’s acclaimed Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management.
Alex Osborne
Vice President – Client Success
Alex Osborne is the Vice President of Client Success. He oversees the management of our client relationships and is responsible for the overall satisfaction of G&A client accounts. Alex's objective is to help create a proper alignment of our client's business objectives with the service offerings and technologies provided by G&A Partners.
Before joining G&A in 2011, Alex worked in the healthcare services industry, providing unique services and technology solutions to healthcare facilities throughout the country. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Utah and a Master of Business Administration degree from Western Governors University.
Alex is passionate about positive community involvement, especially when it comes to activities regarding his children.
Erin L. Rafferty
Vice President - Payroll Operations & New Client Onboarding
Erin L. Rafferty, CPP, is the Vice President of Payroll Operations & New Client Onboarding for G&A Partners. She joined G&A in 2012 and has more than 23 years of extensive operations experience in the PEO industry. Erin has made it her mission to provide her clients with a phenomenal customer-service experience that includes best-in-class payroll accuracy, process refinement, and efficiency.
Erin has a Certified Payroll Professional credential from the American Payroll Association (APA). During a five-year period, Erin held multiple officer roles for her local APA chapter, including becoming a member of the Board of Directors, President-Elect, and President. Her leadership abilities and commitment to staying abreast of compliance legislation that impacts payroll, benefits, human resources, and taxation have been recognized by her peers on many occasions. This dedication to providing world-class payroll services also makes her a go-to payroll subject matter expert.
When Erin is not hard at work for G&A Partners, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Josh, and their three children, Maddox, Delaney, and Savanna.
Liz Grail
Vice President - Human Capital Management (HCM) Division (iSolved)
Liz Grail is the Vice President of Human Capital Management (HCM) Division (iSolved) for G&A Partners. A proven leader with extensive knowledge of PEO operations, Liz has more than 30 years of experience in the HR outsourcing and staffing industries. Since joining G&A in 2012, Liz has held several leadership roles and brings her strategic vision and extensive experience to oversee and optimize HCM operations.
Liz is responsible for ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of company processes, driving continuous improvement, and supporting G&A’s overall vision for HCM.
Grace Jaen
Vice President – Health and Welfare
Grace Jaen joined G&A Partners in 2012 as the regional manager of its San Antonio, Texas, office. In her current role as Vice President of Health and Welfare she spearheads operations for employer-sponsored insurance programs and 401(k) plans to help G&A's clients maximize investments in their employee benefit plans.
Before joining G&A, Grace served as the Director of Human Resources for a manufacturing firm and then discovered her passion for employee benefits as an insurance broker for a national organization.
Since G&A Beneficial's inception, she has helped employers understand the impact the Affordable Care Act will have on their organizations, and has earned a number of health care certifications, including the Certified Healthcare Reform Specialist (CHRS) and Professional, Academy for Healthcare Management (PAHM) credentials.
Grace graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with degrees in economics and criminal justice and a minor in public policy.
Josh Farber
Vice President – Outsourced Accounting Services
Josh Farber is the Vice President of Outsourced Accounting Services. As the leader of G&A’s accounting business unit, he develops customized accounting strategies that scale as clients’ businesses evolve, enabling clients to focus on their mission while confidently making intelligent financial decisions.
Prior to joining G&A in January 2021, Josh’s career progressed from an auditor in public accounting to leadership roles in private-equity-owned growth organizations to Chief Financial Officer. He has built a career around developing simple solutions for complex challenges and enabling lean teams to operate at a very high level. He thrives on working with entrepreneurs and business executives to streamline their back-office needs.
Josh earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Kentucky and has an undergraduate degree in accounting from Morehead State University. He is also a certified public accountant.
A proud husband and father of four children, Josh is an avid golfer and a Big Green Egg barbecue enthusiast.
Matthew Walus
Vice President – Sales, Midwest
Matt Walus is the Vice President of Sales for the Midwest Region. He leads new business development efforts in and around the greater Chicago area and is responsible for the expansion and growth of G&A Partners' business throughout the region.
A 25-year veteran of the PEO industry, Matt founded and operated a regional PEO company, and managed successful sales teams for another national PEO, before joining G&A in 2018. He earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from Dartmouth College, where he was also a four-year member of the football team.
Today, he is involved with numerous community service programs through his church, and he is an active cyclist.
April Snavely
Vice President – Sales, West
April Snavely joined G&A Partners in 2019 following the acquisition of the accounts of a California-based PEO. As the Vice President of Sales for G&A Partners in California, she leads new business development efforts in the region and has helped establish the company as a leading provider of outsourced HR solutions for California business owners.
April brings a wealth of industry experience to G&A Partners, including a proven track record of success earned over nearly 20 years working for large, national PEO companies. She attended college in Southern California, studying business administration, and was also a member of both the basketball and softball teams.
When not working, she spends time with family and is actively involved with youth sports in her community.
Chad Simpson
Vice President – Sales, North Texas
Chad Simpson is the Vice President of Sales for the North Texas region. In this role he leads new business development efforts in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and is responsible for the expansion and growth of G&A’s business throughout the region.
Chad joined the G&A sales team as a sales leader in 2014 after a successful career at two national PEOs. Prior to entering the PEO space, Chad built and profitably exited a franchise-funding consultancy. He earned his bachelor's degree in marketing with a minor in economics from Western Kentucky University.
An active member of his church, the Knights of Columbus, Chad sits on the board of a local nonprofit.
Jason Grochowalski
Vice President – Sales, Central Texas
Jason Grochowalski is the Vice President of Sales for Central Texas. In this role he leads G&A’s new business development efforts for Austin, San Antonio, and South Texas. Jason has been a President's Club award winner multiple times and has led his team to multiple top-revenue performances throughout his tenure at G&A Partners.
Before joining G&A Partners in 2014, Jason spent 13 years in the HR outsourcing industry. He graduated from Boston University with a degree in Business Administration from the Metropolitan School of Business.
Jason and his wife Ariela enjoy exercising and watching movies with their three children, Kylie, Anna, and Jaxon.
Sandra Osborn
Vice President – Sales, Colorado
Sandra Osborn is the Vice President of Sales for Colorado. She leads new business development efforts in the region and has helped establish G&A Partners as a leading provider of outsourced HR solutions for Colorado business owners.
Sandra has more than 20 years of experience leading sales for PEO companies both national and regional in size. Her wealth of industry experience includes the founding of two PEOs—one in Denver and another in Tampa, Florida. Sandra joined G&A in 2018 to lead the Denver sales team and has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts.
She enjoys spending time with her two sons, Zak and Josh, and her two rescue dogs, Indee and Igloo.
Josh McIntosh
Vice President – Sales, Florida and Mid Atlantic
Josh McIntosh is the Vice President of Sales for Florida and the Mid-Atlantic region. In this role he leads new business development efforts in Florida and the Mid-Atlantic region and is responsible for the expansion and growth of G&A’s business throughout the area.
A multiple President’s Club winner, Josh joined G&A Partners in June 2022. He brings more than 10 years’ experience in the PEO industry, where he started as a sales representative and worked his way to executive roles for some of the nation’s leading PEOs. Born and raised in Florida, Josh attributes his success in every market within the state to his focus on educating and consulting with clients. Josh earned his bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from Flagler College.
A proud husband and father to two children, Josh is a certified John Maxwell Leadership coach, speaker, and trainer.
Mary Beth Carroll
Vice President – Sales Enablement
Mary Beth Carroll joined G&A Partners in 2022 as the vice president of sales enablement. In her role, Mary Beth is responsible for developing and executing a sales enablement program aimed at onboarding and training new hires within the sales team and enhancing the skill sets of existing sales team members.
A veteran in the sales field, Mary Beth began her career as a sales representative and eventually became a top sales enablement leader. Her experience includes 10 years of sales training specifically in the PEO industry. Mary Beth thrives on partnering with sales leaders and representatives to help them meet and exceed their goals.
Based in Minneapolis, Mary Beth holds a business degree. When she’s not designing sales enablement programs, Mary Beth enjoys spending time with her family, traveling around the world to learn about other cultures, and attending music concerts.
Jose Laurel
Vice President – Recruitment Process Outsourcing
Jose F. Laurel is the Vice President of Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) for G&A Partners. Jose’s professional experience spans more than 28 years in PEO management and international business. Since 2007, Jose has served in various capacities as a member of G&A Partners’ leadership team.
Prior to joining G&A, Jose was country manager in Latin America for Westinghouse International. He later became a principal of Mir Fox & Rodriguez, a Houston-based professional services firm. In that role he established and operated a business consulting practice targeting mid-sized and multinational corporations.
His areas of expertise include strategic planning, workforce optimization strategies, and talent acquisition. Jose is based out of the G&A corporate office and resides in Houston.
Andrew Scott
Vice President – Risk and Safety Management
Andrew Scott joined G&A Partners in 2005 and is the Vice President of Risk and Safety Services. Based in our Houston office, he is responsible for all areas of risk management, including insurance program design/placement, safety, and claims management, and has helped countless clients improve loss performance through improved safety programs and claims management.
Andrew has over 35 years of risk management experience serving in a variety of capacities for both insurance companies and general industry. Prior to joining G&A, he worked as the Director of Risk Management for a national temporary staffing firm and helped reduce their insurance expenses by nearly 50%.
A graduate of Texas State University, Andrew is an avid sailor and also enjoys photography.
Jared Zuckman
Vice President – Sales, Northeast
Jared Zuckman is the Vice President of Sales for the Northeast region. In this role, Jared is responsible for business development efforts in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and surrounding areas and is responsible for the expansion and growth of G&A Partners' business throughout the Northeast.
Jared is a perennial top performer with 16 years of experience in the human capital management and PEO industry. Prior to joining G&A Partners in 2023, Jared led expansion efforts into the Northeast for a national PEO.
A graduate of Indiana University, Jared enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.
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