About Us
Welcome to Align HCM
Align HCM is a team of human capital management solution experts who are passionate about helping customers thrive with their HCM solutions.
If you are a prospective client, we’d be thrilled to help you no matter where you are in your journey. Contact us for a free, no-obligation assessment.
If you are a potential employee, contact us to learn how we invest in people and offer the best culture in the industry.
Proud Partners with Dayforce, HiBob, Paylocity, & UKG
Align HCM has experts in all of the leading HCM platforms and has deep partnerships with the software vendors to ensure clients get the skills and support.
The Align HCM Leadership Team
Maher El-Abdallah
Co-Founder & CEO
Maher El-Abdallah
Co-Founder & CEO
Maher El-Abdallah feels incredibly lucky that he gets to spend his days working with people he loves doing work he cares about.
He brings his positive attitude to everything he does, and it shows. Maher loves creating results for his clients. By really listening to customers, he can get inside of their pain points and challenges and devise creative solutions to help them overcome the obstacles in their way. He's been helping clients since 2001, spending his entire career cultivating experience in and enthusiasm for the Human Capital Management industry.
In a world where most people avoid the phone, Maher is always happy to jump on a call, catch up, and see how he can help. His friendly spirit often turns his business relationships into friendships.
You can always find him busy at work or play, smiling every step of the way.
Email: maher@alignhcm.com
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Mike Emsley
President & COO
Mike Emsley
President & COO
Mike Emsley is a high-energy, data-driven problem solver who gets satisfaction in helping his clients and colleagues reach their full potential. It’s his love of finding solutions and supporting personal and professional growth that has led him to a long career in workforce management and performance improvement.
Mike served as vice president of business development and vice president of cost transformation solutions at Bain & Company, where he led alliances for the performance improvement practice and helped build new digital capabilities.
Prior to that experience, he was a digital expert associate partner at McKinsey & Company, chief operating officer at Workforce Insight, and vice president of professional services at Workbrain.
Mike brings all of that experience in workforce management, business development, and digital capability building to Align HCM where he acts as president & chief operating officer.
As president & chief operating officer, Mike manages growth, solution development, client experience, and talent development. He designs and implements systems that promote organizational effectiveness and ensure that customer experience and quality remain high as Align HCM grows.
Email: mike.emsley@alignhcm.com
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Ben Harrison
SVP, Sales & Marketing
Ben Harrison
SVP, Sales & Marketing
Ben Harrison is a people-first leader who believes that exceptional customer value starts with empowered, high-performing teams. With more than 25 years at the intersection of strategy, sales, and people leadership, he brings an infectious energy and a genuine passion for helping clients achieve their goals.
What truly motivates Ben is seeing his customers succeed. He loves diving deep into understanding their unique challenges and pain points, then working collaboratively to architect solutions that drive real business results. For Ben, there's great satisfaction than watching a client transform their HCM solutions and unlock new levels of efficiency and employee engagement.
Ben specializes in building go-to-market strategies that put customer needs at the center. He's known as a persuasive communicator and trusted advisor to C-level stakeholders, bringing value-driven insights and customer-centric execution to every conversation. His approach is always consultative—he listens first, understands the business impact, and then delivers solutions that make a meaningful difference.
As SVP of Sales & Marketing at Align HCM, Ben focuses on scaling the organization's reach while ensuring that every client interaction reflects the company's commitment to exceptional service and customer success. He believes strongly in developing leaders who share his customer-first philosophy and in creating cultures where both employees and clients can thrive.
Ben's leadership philosophy centers on a core belief: elevate people, scale impact, and win together. He's passionate about developing future-ready leaders and embedding scalable processes that support long-term customer relationships and sustainable growth.
When he's not focused on driving customer success, you can find Ben shuttling his three kids to their various extracurricular activities, traveling with his family, carving down the slopes while snowboarding, or actively involved in his local church community.
Email: ben.harrison@alignhcm.com
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Barbara Tonelli
Chief HR Officer
Barbara Tonelli
Chief HR Officer
Barbara Tonelli serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer at Align HCM, bringing more than 25 years of experience in the Human Capital Management industry. Recognized for her strategic mindset and operational discipline, she has guided organizations through significant growth, transformation, and cultural evolution. With deep expertise spanning talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, and workforce development, Barbara plays a pivotal role in shaping Align’s people vision and ensuring the company continues to thrive as a destination employer.
A proud holder of both the Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation and the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, Barbara combines strong HR leadership with the structured, results-driven focus of a seasoned project executive. This blend allows her to architect high-performing people programs that support scalable growth, drive engagement, and reinforce Align’s commitment to excellence.
As a senior executive, Barbara oversees all facets of the people strategy, including talent acquisition, performance and development, employee experience, and leadership effectiveness. She works closely with the executive team to ensure Align’s values are reflected in every aspect of the employee journey. Her forward-thinking approach enables the organization to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving consulting and technology ecosystem, while maintaining a culture that feels personal, authentic, and deeply connected.
Throughout her career, Barbara has been driven by a single guiding belief: when people feel energized, supported, and connected to a sense of purpose, organizations flourish. At Align, she champions a culture where employees—known as Aligners—can do the best work of their careers. She fosters an environment that values innovation, inclusivity, accountability, and fun, ensuring every team member feels recognized and empowered to reach their potential.
A signature achievement in her tenure is the creation of Align Academy, a cornerstone of Align’s people development strategy. Barbara is proud to have built this comprehensive learning and coaching program, led by a dedicated team of coaches who support both new and experienced Aligners. Through structured onboarding, thoughtful curriculum design, and ongoing coaching touchpoints, Align Academy ensures that team members are consistently supported, challenged, and given meaningful opportunities to grow in their profession. Align Academy reflects Barbara’s belief that continuous development is essential to individual success and organizational strength.
Barbara is known for her warm leadership presence, her ability to build trust, and her dedication to making Align a place where people genuinely want to work. Her passion for culture, coupled with her proven expertise in HCM, continues to strengthen Align’s foundation as a high-performing, people-first organization.
Email: barbara.tonelli@alignhcm.com
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