Paula M. Singer, PhD., CEO/Chief Strategist | Laura Lockard Francisco, VP/Strategist | Lorraine Kituri, Senior Strategist
Paula M. Singer, PhD., CEO/Chief Strategist
Email: pmsinger@singergrp.com
Paula believes in excellence.
In fact, it’s her commitment to settling for nothing less than maximum results for each client that has led to The Singer Group’s exceptionally successful track record for a long list of organizations across the nation.
To help clients reach for a higher level of success, Paula offers a unique combination of big picture perspective and high-level strategic thinking paired with the specific project focus required to ensure objectives are met on time and on budget.
Paula’s extensive expertise in strategic planning, change management, organizational development and leadership coaching, as well as her in-depth experience in every aspect of the human resources function, has enabled her to play a key role in helping organizations develop innovative solutions that allow for greater effectiveness in achieving their missions.
Her highly interactive and collaborative way of working has shaped and guided The Singer Group’s fresh and participatory approach to human resources and organizational development, and is the foundation for the close working relationship that allows clients to feel comfortable stretching beyond their current comfort zone and into their full potential. Before founding The Singer Group, Paula held a variety of positions in private sector and non-profit organizations. She has served as Manager of Human Resources for a subsidiary of the Bendix Corporation, worked in the corporate HR department of Commercial Credit Company and was Executive Director of a public sector union in Maryland.
Paula received her doctorate in Human and Organizational Systems from the Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, CA, as well as her Master of Arts degree in Organization Development. She also earned a Master of Administrative Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.
Paula is a respected and frequent speaker and is active in a number of professional organizations, civic groups and activities. Paula has been honored as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women three times (1997, 1999, 2001) and was a member of Leadership Maryland’s class of 1999.
When Paula is not collaborating with her clients and staff, she travels extensively and enjoys spending time in remote locations where she can recharge for the next challenge.
Curriculum Vitae available upon request
“All the experience in the world can’t substitute for caring deeply about the client and the work.”
- Paula Singer
Laura Lockard Francisco, SPHR, VP/Strategist
Email: lfrancisco@singergrp.com
Laura is a strategic and creative powerhouse.
Her broad range of experience in developing innovative solutions geared toward tangible results has made Laura indispensable to The Singer Group’s clients in the face of complicated problems and tough challenges.
With a special expertise in developing and conducting custom salary surveys, market-pricing analysis, internal equity assessments and compensation and classification programs for county and city governments, library systems and other public and non-profit organizations, Laura consistently delivers the new thinking and new tools that enable clients to achieve the greatest result possible. In fact, Laura is responsible for designing many of The Singer Group’s proprietary position assessment instruments and job evaluation processes.
As highly regarded speaker and thought leader in her field, Laura shares her knowledge with organizations and associations across the nation. Her collaborative style and relationship-centered approach make Laura an especially dynamic and effective facilitator and she is regularly called upon to present project communications and findings to her clients’ employees, boards and management teams.
Before joining The Singer Group, Laura served as editorial director and program manager for Hanifin Associates, an environmental education and communication organization. She also held the marketing and editorial position at Black and Veatch, an international environmental engineering firm.
Laura was certified as a professional in Human Resources (PHR) by the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM). She has taken graduate classes in Human Resources and Organization Development at The Johns Hopkins University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Richmond.
When Laura is not busy evolving her own skill set and the field of HR, she spends her time supporting the human resources function within her own family, especially inspiring her child to reach for his full potential.
“Creativity and HR are not two words that are typically heard together. I believe that creativity in problem solving is the foundation of strategic thinking and that our strength is in bringing new insights and innovation to the field. Our clients deserve nothing less.”
- Laura Francisco
Lorraine Kituri, Senior Strategist
Email: lkituri@singergrp.com
Lorraine understands people.
This, along with the progressive thinking she brings to every project, has made her an invaluable asset to The Singer Group’s clients who rely on her strategic ability and counseling background to ensure their programs both serve the organization and support the individual.
In fact, her experience as an interviewer and her background in counseling psychology has made her the go-to resource for conducting focus groups, executive searches and stakeholder interviews, as well as for providing support to new and promoted employees during their transitions.
Additionally, Lorraine’s ability to manage complicated projects with an eye toward overarching objectives has allowed her to deliver solutions that not only achieve results today, but set organizations up for greater success tomorrow.
Her broad experience developing performance management and compensation studies, as well as marketing pricing analysis, internal equity assessments, program evaluations and more, combined with her experience creating effective assessment tools, is sound proof of her strategic + tactical = success mindset.
Above all, Lorraine’s skill in forming strong connections and working relationships with everyone involved in a project, combined with her ability to put opinion aside to expertly and objectively analyze data, has resulted in significant cost savings for the organizations she has served.
Lorraine received her Master of Science degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Baltimore. She also earned her Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the United States International University-Africa.
When Lorraine is not consumed with finding the innovative solutions that are hidden within the numbers and the people behind them, she likes to spend her time with her family – as far away from data as she can get.
“When strong analysis is combined with creativity and a deep understanding of human beings, the resulting solutions are exponentially superior.All our truly needed to bridge the gap to greater success.”
- Lorraine Kituri
