When Does an Organization Need HR?

HR Letters

Every growing organization eventually hits a point where managing people, compliance, and culture gets too complex to handle without HR support of some kind. Managers need help handling employee issues, and as you add people, new employment laws start to apply. Recruiting and retention become growing challenges. And soon, HR starts taking more time than … Read more

What Is Fractional HR and When Does It Make Sense?

What is Fractional HR?

As organizations grow, so do their people challenges. What started as a small team that could “figure things out as we go” now needs consistent hiring processes, clear policies, and better ways to manage and support employees. HR issues can start to take more time, and they’re landing on the owner’s or president’s desk (maybe … Read more

When Should an Organization Make Its First HR Hire?

First HR Hire

If you’re reading this, you might be feeling the strain of not having a dedicated HR professional, but you’re also not sure if you’re ready for a full-time hire. Maybe you’ve got leaders juggling HR tasks. Maybe hiring feels inconsistent, employee questions are taking more time, or you’re starting to worry about compliance as you … Read more

Cindy Torres Essell (Chief People Officer, Heinen’s): Frontline Flexibility, Feedback & Cheese Dip

Is building a truly great workplace about perks and policies? Or about showing up and listening to the people who make the work happen? Meet Cindy Torres Essell, Chief People Officer at Heinen’s, the family-owned grocery company serving communities across Northeast Ohio. Cindy’s path to leadership didn’t follow a straight line, but each chapter shaped … Read more

Austin Merk (President, Universal Oil): Taking Big Swings, Defining Culture & Chili Cookoffs

Meet Austin Merk, President of Universal Oil, a nearly 150-year-old, 100% employee-owned organization. Universal Oil is a distributor of fuels and industrial lubricants serving customers across construction, manufacturing, and transportation, right here in Cleveland. In this episode, Austin shares what it looks like when a new leader takes the helm of a long-standing company and … Read more

The Best Supervisor Training Programs for Your Organization in 2026

Supervisors

When employees move into supervisory roles, it’s common to realize they need new skills to lead effectively. Supervisors may be navigating the shift from peer to manager, learning how to communicate expectations, or figuring out how to handle conflict constructively. Here’s how to explore supervisor training options that fit your organization’s goals and resources. For … Read more

Kevin Clayton (Chief Impact & Equity Officer, Cleveland Cavaliers): Diversity, Drive & Donovan Mitchell

Kevin Clayton

What if your DEI work came with a revenue target, developed your next leaders, and grew the business at the same time? Kevin Clayton, Executive Vice President & Chief Impact and Equity Officer at the Cleveland Cavaliers, joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to show how DEI has become a core business strategy. Kevin breaks down … Read more

PEO vs. Fractional HR: Which is Right for Your Growing Company?

PEO vs. Fractional HR Consultant

For companies approaching or surpassing the 50-employee mark, HR quickly becomes more complex. You’re now facing requirements like the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and more detailed compliance reporting. If you don’t have an in-house HR leader, you’re probably contemplating your next step. (Check out our article comparing internal, … Read more

Lisa Damour, PhD (Psychologist & Author): Defining Mental Health, Embracing Good Stress & Lessons from “Inside Out”

Lisa Damour

Is stress really the enemy at work, or is it the strength training your team needs to grow? In this episode, Dr. Lisa Damour, psychologist, bestselling author, and co-host of the Ask Lisa podcast, explains why stress is natural, why recovery matters more than trying to remove stress, and how leaders can spot problems early … Read more

Jessica Jung (President, Oswald Companies): Magnetic Culture, Game-Changing Insurance & Superpowers

Jessica Jung

In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Jessica Jung, President of Oswald Companies, to talk about her path to leading one of the country’s top insurance firms. Jessica shares how rolling up your sleeves can model the kind of leadership people want to follow, how to find … Read more