Hi, I'm Kate. I spent 13 years as an HR Manager helping companies figure out their people stuff across retail, hospitality, pharma, manufacturing, and more. Now I do that on my own, working directly with the people who actually run the business.
For over 13 years, I have been the person leaders turn to when people issues need to be handled thoughtfully, or when they want to build the right foundation before problems arise. Working across multiple industries has given me a broad perspective and a practical understanding of what works, what does not, and what actually sticks.
I founded HR by the Sea to offer a more direct and personal approach to HR consulting — one without the layers, politics, and overhead that often get in the way of meaningful progress. When clients work with me, they do so directly. No handoffs, no generic process, just thoughtful guidance, honest communication, and real partnership.
I intentionally keep my client list small so I can provide focused, high-quality support. I believe in doing a few things exceptionally well and giving each client the attention they deserve.
No fluff, no filler services added to make a list look longer. These are the areas where I have done the work long enough to know what matters.
Hiring is one of the highest-leverage things you do, and most companies wing it. I help you build a process that is consistent, fair, and actually finds the right people instead of just the available ones.
Get startedCulture is not a ping pong table or a values poster. It is how people actually treat each other when things get hard. I help you understand what yours really is and figure out where to go from there.
Get startedMost employee handbooks are either copied off the internet or written by a lawyer who has never managed anyone. I write policies that are clear, fair, and something your team will actually read.
Get startedWhen roles are fuzzy and accountability is unclear, good people burn out trying to fill the gaps. I help you get the structure right so people know what they own and can actually do their jobs.
Get startedMost managers were promoted because they were great at their job, not because they were ready to lead people. I help them make that transition without losing the team's trust along the way.
Get startedAnnual reviews that surprise people are a failure of management, not a feature of it. I help you build something that gives people real feedback all year and actually helps them grow.
Get startedI keep things straightforward because I think that is what working with a real person should feel like.
Before I propose anything, I want to hear what is actually going on. Not just the surface stuff. We spend time together until I really understand the situation and whether I can help.
I am not coming in with a pre-packaged solution. I work with you to figure out what will actually fit your team, your culture, and the reality of your day-to-day.
Everything we build is yours to keep and run on your own. I am not interested in creating dependency. I want you to not need me anymore because things are genuinely working.
Each of these industries has its own compliance requirements, workforce dynamics, and people challenges. Having worked across all of them means I understand yours before you even explain it.
High turnover, seasonal hiring, hourly workforce management, and frontline manager development. I have helped retail organizations build the kind of people infrastructure that keeps good employees around longer.
Guest-facing environments where culture and service are inseparable. I understand the staffing pressures, the pace, and the particular challenges of building consistency across locations and shifts.
Highly regulated environments where compliance is not optional and documentation matters. I bring the precision and process rigor that pharma organizations require while keeping the human side of HR intact.
I have worked in union environments and understand the dynamics that come with them — contract interpretation, grievance handling, labor relations, and building trust across the floor. It is a distinct skill set and I have it.
This is not a firm. There is no bench of consultants behind me. It is just me, which is either a concern or the whole point depending on what you need.
Not advising from the outside. I was the person in the room. I have written the policies, sat in the tough conversations, made the calls. That experience comes with me to every engagement.
No handoffs. No junior consultants doing the work while someone senior takes the credit. When you call, I pick up. When something needs doing, I do it.
A lot of consultants tell clients what they want to hear. I think that is a waste of everyone's time and money. You will always get my honest read on the situation, even when it is not comfortable.
Retail, hospitality, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing — including union environments. Each one comes with its own rules, rhythms, and people dynamics. That range means I am not bringing a one-size solution into your very specific situation.
I offer a free 30-minute call to anyone who wants to figure out if we are a good fit. No sales pitch, no follow-up pressure. Just me and you having an honest conversation about what you are dealing with.