I grew up in a small town in Idaho, where small businesses weren’t just part of the community, they were the community. I watched people build businesses from the ground up, employ their neighbors, and take enormous pride in creating something of their own. That experience shaped the way I think about work and business to this day. I’ve always believed that the best businesses are built by people who care deeply about what they’re creating and the people they’re creating it with.

My career has been spent almost entirely in small businesses. I’ve worked my way from operations and management into human resources, giving me a firsthand look at what happens when a company grows faster than its people systems can keep up with. Hiring gets harder. Managers suddenly find themselves dealing with employee issues they aren’t equipped to handle. Compensation becomes inconsistent. Policies get thrown together. And eventually, the owner or leadership team is spending more and more of their time managing people instead of growing the business.

The problem is that reaching that point doesn’t necessarily mean a company is ready to hire a full-time HR professional. That’s where we come in.

People Standard was started to give small and growing businesses access to experienced HR support without the cost and commitment of building an in-house HR department. Throughout my career, I’ve built performance management systems, restructured compensation and benefits, developed training and career paths, improved onboarding, managed employee relations, supported hiring, and helped businesses create workplaces where people can actually see a future for themselves. This model supports the longevity of any small business, regardless of size.

We believe HR should make running a business easier, not more complicated. Our goal is to build practical, sustainable people systems that fit the way your business operates, while giving you someone in your corner when the people side of the business gets difficult.

You built your business. We are here to help you build the team.