{"id":18171,"date":"2026-03-19T10:17:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T14:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/?page_id=18171"},"modified":"2026-03-19T10:18:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T14:18:51","slug":"case-study-make-a-wish-vermont-northeast-new-york","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/case-study-make-a-wish-vermont-northeast-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Case Study: Make-A-Wish Vermont &#038; Northeast New York"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.0&#8243; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;50px|0|23px|0||&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;||10px||false|false&#8221; transparent_background=&#8221;off&#8221; padding_mobile=&#8221;off&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_width=&#8221;off&#8221; width_unit=&#8221;on&#8221; global_module=&#8221;3056&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-content\/uploads\/Business-Hero-3.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Business-Hero-3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;off|tablet&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;10px||5px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|0||0|false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;5px||5px||true|false&#8221; transparent_background=&#8221;off&#8221; padding_mobile=&#8221;off&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_width=&#8221;off&#8221; width_unit=&#8221;on&#8221; global_module=&#8221;3434&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title meta=&#8221;off&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; title_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; title_text_color=&#8221;#46a510&#8243; title_font_size=&#8221;36px&#8221; background_color=&#8221;rgba(255,255,255,0)&#8221; parallax=&#8221;on&#8221; parallax_method=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;30px||||false|false&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; border_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; parallax_effect=&#8221;on&#8221; module_bg_color=&#8221;rgba(255,255,255,0)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; title__hover_enabled=&#8221;off|desktop&#8221;][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;5px|||&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;50px|0|50px|0&#8243; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;&#8221; transparent_background=&#8221;off&#8221; padding_mobile=&#8221;off&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_width=&#8221;off&#8221; width_unit=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;3_4,1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>Background<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Make-A-Wish (MAW) Vermont &amp; Northeast New York is a nonprofit organization that serves eligible wish kids with life-threatening medical conditions and their families by granting their heartfelt wishes. They serve a community spanning 20,000 square miles throughout Vermont and 15 counties in Northeast New York, and employ 10 full-time staff members across both states. After many years of handling HR issues internally, followed by a poor experience with a national payroll provider and then a corporate merger, they needed an HR partner that could handle compliance and employee management efficiently.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Finding a Solution<\/h3>\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\"><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">MAW needed HR consulting services that could:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Help with hiring, onboarding, and terminations<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Update their employee handbook and ensure multi-state compliance<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Create electronic employee documents and notices<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Handle remote worker compliance issues such as labor posters<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>A Better Way: HR Consulting from GTM Payroll Services<\/h3>\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\"><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">GTM&#8217;s HR consulting services met MAW\u2019s needs and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\"><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">GTM began managing their payroll processing in 2023, and then MAW began utilizing GTM&#8217;s HR outsourcing services after a merger between MAW Vermont and MAW Northeast New York was announced.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Solution<\/strong><br \/><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">MAW President and CEO James Hathaway began outsourcing all HR functions to GTM, including creating offer letters and electronic employee documents, assisting with onboarding, updating the employee handbook, and advising on terminations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">&#8220;After the merger, we were over our heads in regulations in New York,&#8221; said Hathaway. \u201cGTM\u2019s expertise prevented us from falling into hidden compliance traps.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>An extraordinarily efficient experience<\/strong><br \/>Outsourcing all or part of your HR functions to experts is an increasingly attractive and time-saving option as organizations, like MAW, try to manage the complexities of ever-changing legal compliance regulations, manage and retain talent, and implement HR best practices that align employees with business goals.<\/p>\n<p>Nonprofits and smaller businesses may have little or no human resources infrastructure and may not be able to justify an HR member on staff. Mid-sized companies may need additional HR resources and assistance to free up time for their team without hiring another full-time HR professional.<\/p>\n<p>By utilizing GTM&#8217;s HR consultants, employers can quickly effect changes through targeted human resources support solutions tailored to their needs. GTM&#8217;s HR clients improve infrastructure by implementing better payroll technology and best practices in HR processes, freeing up valuable time and resources.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You can get into trouble fast with so many compliance regulations,&#8221; said Hathaway. &#8220;GTM has been supportive and professional, and their speed of service is unmatched.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>HR services<\/strong><br \/>GTM has been managing a broad range of responsibilities, including hiring paperwork, onboarding and offboarding assistance, electronic documents and notices for employees, and processing wage theft forms.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We would not have been as successful in getting everything up to speed as quickly without GTM,&#8221; said Hathaway.<\/p>\n<p><strong>HR compliance support<\/strong><br \/>MAW needed an employee handbook that was current and compliant with federal, state, and local laws, with separate sections covering the two states where their employees work. GTM also conducted a remote employment audit to ensure labor poster regulations and Form I-9 compliances were being met.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">\u201cI know with GTM I have an experienced, knowledgeable team I can rely on,\u201d said Hathaway.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Expanding the Relationship<\/strong><br \/>Because of MAW\u2019s positive experience with GTM\u2019s HR services, they recently became a member of GTM\u2019s Professional Employer Organization (PEO). This now gives them access to HR support, payroll processing, employee benefits, compliance assistance, and more, all under one umbrella.<\/p>\n<p>This helps MAW mitigate risk, reduce costs, and save time, so they can focus on running their organization.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><br \/>With GTM Payroll &amp; HR, organizations like MAW work with experienced, accomplished professionals who deliver expert solutions, including HR consulting and employee handbook services. By developing HR strategies that align with business goals by leveraging their experience, knowledge, and tools, GTM delivers value beyond expectations.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">&#8220;I\u2019m a big believer in GTM,&#8221; says Hathaway. \u201cI\u2019m more than happy to provide referrals; they have made us look good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;hr services sidebar free consult&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; text_font=&#8221;||||&#8221; header_font=&#8221;||||&#8221; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;left&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||14px|||&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; border_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; global_module=&#8221;10883&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #58c10a;\"><strong>Free Consultation<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-10845 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Free-Consultation-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"business men talking\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;\/business\/hr-consulting-services-request\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;Learn More&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;hr services sidebar button learn more&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#5dc024&#8243; button_border_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_border_color_last_edited=&#8221;off|desktop&#8221; global_module=&#8221;10898&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; button_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; button_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; button_bg_color__hover=&#8221;#5dc024&#8243; button_border_color__hover=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Background Make-A-Wish (MAW) Vermont &amp; Northeast New York is a nonprofit organization that serves eligible wish kids with life-threatening medical conditions and their families by granting their heartfelt wishes. They serve a community spanning 20,000 square miles throughout Vermont and 15 counties in Northeast New York, and employ 10 full-time staff members across both states. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1008\" style=\"margin: 8px 10px;\" src=\"http:\/\/172.81.119.2\/~gtmcom5\/business\/wp-content\/uploads\/ssae16-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"SSAE-16 Compliant\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/>GTM is the only SSAE-16 compliant, independent payroll service bureau in New York\u2019s Tech Valley because we firmly believe in protecting our clients and partners and their confidential information.\u00a0 The SSAE-16 \u00a0compliance\u00a0is an internationally recognized standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)\u00a0that is recognized as a mark of service quality.<\/p><p>Driven by a commitment to expertise and industry leadership, GTM voluntarily undergoes a rigorous examination and assessment process for SSAE-16 compliance.\u00a0 This enables GTM to provide assurance to existing and potential customers that the effectiveness of controls at GTM are relevant to the security, availability, and processing integrity of the system used to process customers'\u00a0information, and the confidentiality and privacy of that information.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"folder":[],"class_list":["post-18171","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18171"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18177,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18171\/revisions\/18177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=18171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}