Your Proposed Project Team

Our work for you would be under the general direction of Karen O'Hara, who will allocate those resources needed to serve your company. To assist you in assessing the qualifications of the time that will be available to serve your firm, following are brief descriptions of each individual's resume.

Depending on the scope of the work to be performed and staff level needed to complete the required tasks; we assign staff with the appropriate skills and experience to help ensure that they will work well with your employees.

Our style is to take the initiative to bring useful and innovative ideas to your attention. In addition, we are flexible: depending on your needs, we are available to do as much or as little as you request. The following are the members of your project team:

Karen O'Hara, MBA:
CEO and Senior Consultant, she has over 20 years experience as a management consultant and trainer. Karen helps organizations meet their unique HR and legal compliance needs by providing a full service human resources department, either on or off site. She works closely with clients to assess their needs, then provides a stimulating forum for them to build skills, improve performance and enhance company morale. Her specialties include recruiting, sexual harassment prevention, illness and injury prevention programs, pay system design, affirmative action plans and executive coaching. Karen believes the primary responsibility of a consultant is to provide results-oriented, cost effective programs, which align with and contribute to the organization's goals. She provides "one-call" or "one-click" access to the latest HR innovations so you can spend your valuable time on other matters, like managing day to day business operations.

Irene Chun, SPHR:
With over 15 years of human resources experience, Irene has been directly involved with virtually every aspect of human resources administration. Some key areas of her expertise include: employee relations, benefits administration, policy and procedures, harassment investigations, recruitment and staffing of exempt and non-exempt positions as well as administering safety programs. Additionally, Irene brings a working knowledge of payroll processes to our team. Irene believes that success in today's marketplace depends largely upon the degree to which the human resources function is allied as a strategic business partner.

Janelle Arsich, PHR:
As our Operations Manager and HR Generalist, Janelle ensures that everything runs smoothly throughout the organization. She has 10 years of experience in the Human Resource field as well as several years in business administration. Janelle’s focus is on recruiting, legal compliance, employee surveys, background and reference checks, benefits administration and seminar logistics, to name a few of the many services she provides to our clients. Janelle is proficient in and loves working with all Microsoft Office applications. She's always cheerful, and is self-motivated, always putting forward a positive team effort, and willingly does all tasks with enthusiasm.

Laurie Rodriguez, BA:
Laurie has held key HR management positions and has provided extensive human resources support to both small and large operations. Laurie brings 14 years of hands on experience in the areas of employee relations, recruitment and retention, affirmative action, diversity, training and development, succession planning, media and public relations, health and safety, and best practices for human resources infrastructure. Laurie specializes in workplace Health and Safety. Her expertise includes Regulatory Compliance, Injury and Illness Prevention and Workers Compensation Management. Laurie uses fun creative approaches to engage management, employees and safety committee members in the injury prevention process. Laurie is a certified facilitator and expert instructor for organization leadership and employee training programs including Management Coaching, Employee Safety, Employee Satisfaction and Retention, True Teamwork, Labor Relations, Career Cultivation Planning and Harassment Prevention.

Mary Miscisin, MBA:
Mary is our teambuilding and communications skill building expert. She presents to thousands of people each year, to help improve their skills in the areas of conflict resolution, teamwork, supervisory and people skills. Her entertaining participatory style makes learning concepts easy and fun. Mary holds a Masters degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Psychology and Communication from California State University, Stanislaus, where she taught for several years. She is a certified practitioner of Neuro-Linguistics and a skilled trainer of the True Colors Communication Method. She is the author of the widely-read book on the subject, Showing Our True Colors.

Jan Braun, MS, MA:
Jan’s favorite aspect of human resources management is in the creation and implementation of an HR presence in small companies.  She focuses on understanding how to best support the company’s needs based on their business needs, establishing goals, and teaming with management to meet those goals.  She has over 19 years experience in key HR and Operations management roles in the biotech, leasing, and insurance industries.  Her specialties include recruiting, staffing, compliance, benefits administration, employee relations, safety, training, compensation, and performance administration.  Jan is also an NLP Master Practitioner and is a training assistant for NLP training classes.

Melanie Olson, MA, PHR:
Melanie Olson has held key HR management positions and has provided extensive human resources support to both small and large businesses including experience working with not for profit organizations. Melanie brings over 9 years of experience with virtually every aspect of human resources administration. Some key areas of expertise include: development of the human resources function to incorporate best practices, employee relations, policy and procedures, internal investigations, retirement plan and benefits administration, managing organizational change, and leave of absence administration. Melanie believes that involving human resources as a strategic partner will successfully guide businesses through today's changing market and workplace. Melanie has worked to develop the role of human resources as a champion for employees as well as a champion for employers.

Nicole Sikich
As our HR Coordinator, Nicole works as a supportive and cooperative Human Resource team member providing service and administration activities to HR Consultants. Nicole is responsible for evaluating, interviewing and recommending applicants to HR Consultants. She performs file audits, background and reference checks, as well as conducts new employee orientations and safety meetings to foster a positive attitude toward organizational objectives. Nicole also manages sensitive and confidential matters and protects the security of information, data, and files. She received her degree in Business Administration from Simpson University.




Cassey Lavilla :
As our Office Assistant, Cassey is always ready and willing to lend a hand to anyone who needs help. With over four years of administrative support experience, Cassey is able to complete and provide assistance with a wide range of projects such as recruiting, job descriptions, handbook edits, employee file audits and routine office tasks. Cassey's willingness to learn and her "can-do" attitude give her the opportunity to exercise her versatility, while maintaining patience and a smile during a busy work day. Cassey is a graduate from Sacramento State University and holds a Bachelor's degree in Family & Consumer Sciences.

Tiffany Harris :
Tiffany Harris is a dual licensed agent in life and health and fire/casualty insurance. She has established and maintained strong relationships with community officials and multiple insurance providers throughout Sacramento and the Central Valley. Tiffany has over 18 years experience in the insurance industry working for a fortune 50 insurance company. Tiffany has experience in every aspect of the insurance industry from sales management, community relations, corporate event planning and marketing. Some key areas of her expertise include: general Liability, small business insurance, restaurant insurance, professional liability and worker's compensation.

Tiffany has a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

Santa Rosa Office (877) 747.8646 ext. 712

David Israel, MM/HRM:
David is a lifelong Sonoma County resident and has been a fixture in local business since 1985. With over 25 years’ experience in business operations in companies ranging from small locally-owned business to national corporations, David is a strong believer in the advantages that can be enjoyed in having motivated, well-trained employees and a well-organized human resources compliance program. David has groomed and developed a number of successful managers and leaders as a mentor and trainer. His experience in Human Resources encompasses the creation and delivery of programs in such areas as safety and accident prevention, performance management, harassment policies and procedures, best practices, and employment law compliance assistance.

David works closely with Sonoma County businesses to identify opportunities that best serve to help you take full advantage of your human assets, improving financial results while minimizing potential risk.

David has a B.S. in Business Management and a Masters in Management/Human Resources, both from University of Phoenix. He also is a graduate of the Leadership Excellence Program at the Rollins College/ Crummer Graduate School of Business.

San Diego Office (858) 344.5399

Tom Swedberg:
Tom Swedberg, SPHR, has more than 30 years experience as an executive, HR thought leader, strategist and coach. Tom's experience includes leadership roles in HR and Strategic Planning with leading high technology, biotechnology, software development, and financial services companies. Tom has gained valuable insights about what leaders and organizations can do to become more successful and applies this insight in his current role as leader of the San Diego office.

Tom is co-founder of Credit Union Self-insured Group of California, one of the most successful self-insured Workers' Compensation programs in the State and is co-founder of Credit Union Health Benefits of America, a self funded health benefits collaboration for Credit Unions throughout the U.S.

Tom has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Minnesota and also earned a MBA at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a graduate of Western CUNA Management School for Credit Union executives. Tom is a licensed Accident, Health and Life Agent (0G69791); is certified in the Birkman Method for individual and organizational assessment; and is a Crucial Conversations Certified Trainer.