About Us
We are a team of experienced HR professionals with more than 80 years in human resources gained initially at large corporations and through our work consulting with small businesses. Our passion is helping business owners overcome challenges, gain confidence, and grow their business beyond what they thought was possible. We partner with you to deliver HR solutions that meet your needs. Learn more about our team’s experience below.
Anita Nygaard
SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-SCP
President
Anita Nygaard is an award-winning HR strategist who has devoted more than two decades to improving employee relations and elevating performance across a wide spectrum of organizations. She has consulted with more than 350 small and medium-sized businesses since 2004. Anita is consistently recognized by corporate leaders as an innovative thinker who sees the whole picture, understands the complexities of the situation at hand, and intuitively knows how to guide leaders through their people’s challenges for the benefit of both the organization and individuals involved.
Her HR management and consulting experience spans corporate, field and multi-state operations for mid-sized to Fortune 500 organizations in banking, telecom and high tech. She has provided expert counsel to companies in areas including employee relations, organization development, benefits, compensation, worker’s compensation, government compliance, and employee recognition.
Credentials
- M.S., Organization Development, University of San Francisco
- B.S., Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University
- Current Certification: Senior Professional in Human Resources, California HR Professional and SHRM Senior Certified Professional
- Instructed through Chapman and Brandman Universities to prepare HR professionals for federal and state certifications.
- Member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- Member of the Professionals In Human Resources Association (PIHRA)
- Executive Committee Member of ProVisors
Lauren Mead
PHR, PHRca, SHRM-CP
HR Consultant
Lauren Mead has provided expert Human Resources consultation to a variety of businesses for more than 16 years. She specializes in working with small to mid-size and multi-state companies to clarify policies and processes, coach managers on employee relations, recruit talent, administer benefits and deliver training.
Lauren is a results-oriented professional who has worked with companies across varying industries including: engineering, technology, financial services, call-centers, construction and manufacturing. The life stages of these organizations have ranged anywhere from start-ups to fast-growth companies as well as established businesses undergoing significant organizational changes.
She earned a bachelor’s of science degree in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and has held a certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) since 2007. In addition, Lauren is currently certified as a California HR professional (PHRca), and as a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) certified professional.
Rita Conley
MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Sr. HR Consultant
Rita has provided Human Resources and Leadership consultation to a wide spectrum of business for more than two decades. She has supported Fortune 500 clients and worked with industries spanning: Technology, Banking, Aerospace, Higher Education, Retail, Insurance, Professional Services, Automotive, Manufacturing, Health Care and Hospitality.
Her professional accomplishments include: coaching executives, spearheading organizational change management, establishing core competencies, creating leadership development plans, creating the employee lifecycle, developing employee and management training programs, restructuring or establishing human resources processes and procedures, setting human resources goals and metrics, vendor management, increasing employee engagement and retention, and revamping the hiring process.
Rita earned her undergraduate degree at Cal State Long Beach and Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Redlands. She holds leadership coaching certification from Linkage International. Further she holds Certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) from the Human Resources Certification Institute and as a Senior Certified Professional (SCP) from the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM).
She is an active member of SHRM and NHRA-OC. She’s also an active member of the North Tustin National Charity League (NCL).
Sasha Elkins
MBA, M. Psych., SHRM-CP
HR Consultant
Working for a large PEO, Sasha recognized that HR was her passion. She also noticed that clients were not receiving the service they needed. In particular, small businesses were not getting proactive HR support. She knew there were smaller HR consulting businesses that provided proactive support and amazing service more effectively and economically than these large corporate entities.
Sasha became an independent HR consultant to focus on providing proactive HR support for businesses in California to increase employee engagement, productivity, minimize risk and help owners achieve their business goals with an employee management strategy. With over 12 years’ experience in business consultation, 5 years directly in HR outsourcing, she has worked with companies across Southern California to advise employers on the unique challenges businesses face daily.
She applies positive reinforcement to foster desired behavior and strategizes with business owners to promote core values for the team that move the needle in the right direction, all while remaining in compliance. Sasha earned an MBA and a Master’s in Psychology to strengthen her skill set and approach the field of HR from both business and psychological perspectives. She is also currently certified as a SHRM Certified Professional and sits on the Board of Directors for the SHRM chapter in the IE as its Membership Chair.
Sasha most enjoys helping small businesses in California grow with the added benefit of having accessible, knowledgeable and affordable consultation in Human Resources.