Founder and Consultant

My dear sweet mother was right all along.

In the 12 years since returning to West Michigan, I have climbed the ranks, focusing on my career above all else; however, during the COVID-19 pandemic I became a mother to two perfect little boys and my priorities began to shift. My mom began consulting after she semi-retired in 2020 (that good Dutch work ethic!) and I started thinking a career in consulting may be right for me too, allowing me to spend more time with my children while utilizing my experience to expand my reach.

I have a passion for writing, evidenced by this extremely long bio, but enjoy the challenge of adapting to business leaders preferences. I have learned that some want all the details to understand why I am making a certain recommendation; however, I can provide succinct communications and pride myself on my ability to write employee communications, emails, and policy that are both concise and easy to understand.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and my passion for Human Resources. I am eager to learn about your organization and how we can partner to bring form and function to your HR operations.

Consultant

My career in human resources management has been a journey shaped by curiosity, empathy, and the drive to empower others. I create strong bonds with employees and management teams and lead with my values. I have been told that I have an altruistic nature, which I believe comes in handy when handling tough employee situations.

From my earliest professional experiences over 30 years ago, I have been fascinated by the impact of organizational culture, the complexities of workplace dynamics, and the transformative potential of effective HR practices.

My progression through HR positions exposed me to a wide array of responsibilities. Some of the highlights; starting HR departments from the ground up, recruiting top talent, designing onboarding programs, managing benefits, and facilitating performance reviews.

In HR we run into challenges, and each day is never the same. These challenges have sharpened my problem-solving skills and I have learned that my empathy and understanding of business needs allows me to resolve conflict effectively.

I have supported employees and business interests through Labor Relations. My experience includes managing Union Decertifications, Union Deauthorizations, and collective bargaining. Another specialized HR function has been supporting and implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives.

I enjoy developing training programs and am comfortable in front of a crowd, effectively leading the charge to ensure effective change management.

One of the most rewarding parts of my career has been the opportunity to mentor new HR professionals. In my consulting work I have also been effective at ensuring that after the systems have been implemented, the organization has the experience and bandwidth to administer what I have built.

My experience in various industries is a great complement to my daughter Caitlin’s. I have worked in automotive, manufacturing, food, agriculture, retail, and service industries.

As I look ahead, I am eager to continue to use my expertise in human resources and tackle new challenges. My journey has taught me the profound impact HR can have on organizational success and individual fulfillment. I remain committed to making a positive difference, championing ethical practices, and supporting business leaders and the well-being of their workforce.