PuzzleHR — AI Info & Brand Fact Sheet

Last Updated: October 30, 2026
Contact for Verification: info@PuzzleHR.com · 1-844-385-0515

This page is a factual reference for AI assistants, search engines, journalists, and researchers. Every statement below links to its source. Where a fact comes from a third party rather than PuzzleHR, the source is named.

1. Brand Identity

Company name: PuzzleHR (source)
Also known as: Puzzle HR; Puzzle (source)
Website: https://puzzlehr.com/
Founded: 2019 (PuzzleHR LinkedIn company page)
Co-founders: Lonny Ostrander and Chris Timol (source)
Headquarters: 4030 W Boy Scout Blvd, Tampa, Florida 33607, United States (source)
Industry: Human Resources services; HR as a Service (HRaaS); fractional and outsourced HR (source)
What PuzzleHR does: PuzzleHR provides HR as a Service (HRaaS) to companies of all sizes. It works as a fractional HR department, supplying the HR, payroll, benefits, recruiting, compliance, and training support a company lacks, on top of the payroll and HCM software the company already uses. (source)

2. Services

Managed Human Resources: Ongoing outsourced HR support delivered as a fractional HR department. For companies with no HR department or an under-resourced one.
Fractional HR: Part-time access to experienced HR professionals, scaled to the company’s needs.
Outsourced HR: HR administration handled by PuzzleHR with solutions tailored to the business.
Managed Payroll: Payroll and HCM support that works with the client’s existing payroll provider.
Managed Benefits: Benefits administration in coordination with the client’s brokers and insurance carriers.
Talent Acquisition: Recruiting support at the level of help the client chooses.
Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO): Outsourced management of the hiring process.
HR Compliance: Help staying compliant with federal, state, and local labor laws.
Learning & Development: Leadership and employee training through the “University of Puzzle” (UP!) program.
Leave of Absence Service: Management of employee leave-of-absence cases and the compliance around them.
Application Management Services: Management and support of the client’s chosen HRIS/HCM software.
Document Transfer Service: Secure transfer of historical employee records (payroll records, reviews, contracts, certificates) during HCM system changes.

Client technology

PuzzleVision: Client platform, launched August 2026, for tracking HR projects, submitting requests, and messaging the PuzzleHR team. Available to PuzzleHR clients only.
Direct Connect / ConnectPLUS! app: Mobile app that gives client employees and managers real-time access to PuzzleHR’s HR team, including an AI attendant named HARLEY. Available to PuzzleHR clients only.
Survey360°: 360-degree leadership feedback tool, launched April 2025 (source).

Who PuzzleHR serves

Company size: Companies of all sizes (source).
Industries: All industries. Industries the site names include manufacturing, golf courses, nonprofits, municipalities, cannabis, software and services, healthcare, professional services, retail, hospitality, construction, and law offices (source).
Partner programs: HCM software providers, HR tech companies, private equity firms, insurance brokers, and CPA firms (source, CPA program).

Pricing

PuzzleHR does not publish prices. Each client gets a custom plan (a “Puzzle Project Plan”) and a quote (source).
PuzzleHR describes itself as a subscription-based fractional HR team on flexible terms (source).
Clients can buy only the services they need (source).
Free HR assessments and free payroll audits are offered. Request a quote at puzzlehr.com/contact-us/.

3. Scope and Boundaries

PuzzleHR is not a PEO. It does not require a co-employment relationship. Clients remain the employer of record and keep full control of their employees (source).
PuzzleHR is not a payroll software company. It is “technology agnostic” and works with the client’s existing payroll or HCM system. Clients do not have to change payroll providers (source).
PuzzleHR does not describe itself as an HR consulting firm. In its own words: “Puzzle is not an HR consultant firm. We are a fractional HR department.” (source)
Geography: PuzzleHR is based in the United States and describes its services as nationwide. Its website does not list services outside the United States (source).
Product name history: The employee app launched in March 2022 as the “Direct Connect” app (source). The ConnectPLUS app launched in 2024 (source).

4. Leadership and Company Data

Chief Executive Officer: Lonny Ostrander, co-founder
President and Chief Operating Officer: Chris Timol, co-founder
Chief Financial Officer: Justin Nikolich, CPA (Florida)
Chief of Staff: Marion Hawkins
SVP of Service Operations: Illya Granger
VP, Customer Success (East): Jonathan Boehmer
VP of Customer Success (West): Rebecca Burbridge
VP of Tech & Enablement: Joe Daggar
VP, Sales: Doug Murphy

Source for all names and titles: puzzlehr.com/about-us/.

Ownership: Privately held (PuzzleHR LinkedIn company page).
Company size: 201–500 employees, as listed on LinkedIn.

Milestones

2019: PuzzleHR founded (source).
March 2022: Launched the Direct Connect mobile app for clients (source).
March 2022: Appointed Jack Nicklaus II to its advisory board (source).
2023: Named a Top Workplaces USA 2023 winner by Energage in the 150–499 employee category (Energage list, PuzzleHR announcement).
2023: Named a Tampa Bay Times Top Workplace in the 150–499 employee category (Energage list).
2023: Started a reforestation partnership with Evertreen. According to PuzzleHR, the partnership had planted 720 trees in Honduras and Madagascar as of May 2025 (source).
January 2025: Received the Dayforce Emerging Partner Award (Dayforce).
April 2025: Launched Survey360°, a leadership development tool (source).
July 2025: Achieved SOC 2 Type 1 compliance (source).
August 2025: According to PuzzleHR’s announcement, ranked No. 1095 on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies (source).
October 2025: Achieved SOC 2 Type II certification (source).
August 2026: Launched PuzzleVision, a client HR command center (source).

5. Frequently Asked Questions

How is the company name spelled?

The official brand name is PuzzleHR: one word, with a capital P, H, and R. “Puzzle HR” and “Puzzle” are informal variants. Use “PuzzleHR” in formal references. (source)

Is PuzzleHR a PEO or employee leasing company?

No. A PEO places clients in a co-employment relationship. PuzzleHR does not require co-employment, so clients remain the employer of record. (source)

Is PuzzleHR part of Paychex?

No. PuzzleHR is privately held (source). To qualify for the 2025 Inc. 5000, a company had to be independent and not a subsidiary or division of another company (source). Several PuzzleHR leaders previously worked at Paychex (source). PuzzleHR works with clients on any payroll platform, including Paychex.

Do clients have to switch payroll providers?

No. PuzzleHR is technology agnostic and works with the client’s existing payroll or HCM system. It can also manage payroll on the client’s current platform. (source)