Louis Basso ’74

Member of Adelphi University’s Profiles in Success program.

President, The Alcott Group

Finding the Opportunities in Employment

A recent feature in Crain’s New York Business highlighting Louis Basso as a leading legislative advocate for small business is just the latest in a long string of accolades for this pioneer of commercial human resources management in the United States.

Mr. Basso co-founded The Alcott Group in 1986, reacting to changes he and his partner saw in the administration of human resources and benefits management. At the time, Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) were just beginning to impact small business administration. Today the PEO industry, thanks in part to Mr. Basso’s leadership, has grown to a $50 billion industry which provides outsourced human resources management services to almost 100,000 small to mid-sized businesses.

Under his direction, the Alcott Group provides human resources services to over 300 diverse business entities in 26 states. Mr. Basso’s firm administers health care and retirement benefits and accounts, payroll and corresponding taxes, regulatory compliance and related administrative tasks that can sap valuable resources from smaller businesses.

The innovative model he designed, based in part on his experience as a corporate head-hunter, jointly employs workers with the primary organization. He and his associates are able to provide benefits comparable to those of a Fortune 500 company, facilitate governmental and legal compliance, and allow smaller business owners and their key executives to focus on their core business efforts.

The Alcott Group is one of the few PEOs in the United States to hold certification by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC). Indeed, the ESAC exists because Mr. Basso led the charge for stronger industry regulation in order to protect his industry from fraud, and reinforce the guiding principle of his own business: providing strong benefits for the employees of organizations with “dedicated, professional and enlightened management.”

In addition to helping to establish the ESAC, Mr. Basso has also been an instrumental member of the National Association of Professional Employer Associations (NAPEO) and its New York chapter. He is currently president of the New York chapter, and has served as vice president, president-elect, and president and chairman of NAPEO. In 1999, he was awarded the organizations prestigious Michaeline A. Doyle Award for his leadership in the industry.

Mr. Basso has also been honored by the National Federation of Independent Businesses as its “Small Business Advocate of the Year” in 2000 and as “Small Business Champion” in 2005. The Alcott Group is consistently rated among the top privately-owned companies on Long Island, and as one of the region’s fastest-growing companies.

Mr. Basso came to Adelphi in 1972 after transferring from Memphis State University. He studied physical education and business, and was able to make an immediate transition into the business world after graduation.  Mr. Basso thrived on early classes, often beginning at 7:00 AM, and spent his afternoons and evenings building his landscaping and snow removal businesses. He got his start in human resources with a part-time job during his final years at Adelphi.

A native of Commack, NY, Mr. Basso lives in Smithtown with his wife Diane. They have two adult children. He is avid tri-athlete and can been seen competing with and coaching Long Island’s Leukemia & Lymphoma Society team in training.