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When Leadership Reaches a Tipping Point

February 18, 2026Erin Hungate

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What our clients are saying

“Close HR was a referral from a fellow EO member, so we were confident that Close HR would deliver value as a trusted HR resource. Celito is scaling up rapidly and the meaningful impact Close HR is providing to our culture, team, structure and organizational development is vital for meeting our strategic goals moving forward.”

Sharat Nagaraj
President and Founder, Celito

“Close HR looks for things to bring value to our organization. They’re very proactive in that. Ann treats her clients as if they’re family. It’s not just all about business – she clearly thinks of her clients in a broader sense. I appreciate that.”

Scott HootsCEO, QC Kinetix

“Ann’s level of expertise was phenomenal. Her firmness and the way she presented herself to our staff in several situations was impressive. She helped us groom a path, develop a sound plan. Having that third party guidance, especially during COVID, was extremely helpful.”

Dawn & Bruce HatcherOwner/CEO, Elite Management Professionals

“We’re in the people business, and HR is vital. Ann has that ability to interact with a leadership team really well, and she can also get down in the weeds and have direct conversations with employees when needed. She executed the HR activities that needed to be done. She very quickly shored up and stabilized us at the leadership level and every level. Ann and her team helped us recruit and select our new HR person, and they still stay in touch. There’s no competition – they communicate regularly.”

Daniel CurrinOwner/CEO, Greenscapes, Inc.

“We trust Ann and Close HR Connections. She is a respected resource for me. I’m not afraid to bring things to her, looking for her expertise. She offers a lot of protection, advising us on the correct way, the legal way. We’ll continue to use Ann and her team as fractional HR. They’ve been fantastic.”

Ryan SzwejbkaPresident, Reunion Marketing

“Close HR Connections is a collaborative partner for my small business. They have the knowledge and the skillset to be our fractional HR department, and their values align with our values. We’ve hired seven people in the last year, and we’ve been able to maintain a high retention rate. Close HR advised us throughout the recruiting and selection process, drafting offer letters and assisting us with onboarding. We’ve used them a lot more than I anticipated, but it has been so worthwhile to have someone who can walk me through an idea and explore the potential liability.”

Tina BarnardCEO, Tina Barnard Designs LLC

“Ann is a wealth of HR knowledge that business owners don’t often have but cannot do without. She has helped us grow our business by assisting with staffing needs, employee handbooks, performance evaluations, job descriptions, and more. More importantly, Ann’s faith, her words of encouragement, and her selfless interest in helping others are what makes her stand out from others, and why we continue to call her time after time. “

Michelle MorganFormer Owner, Job Ready Services

“Ann has high integrity and is very passionate about serving her customers. She is the consummate HR professional and her HR Game Planner serves as a great business model for small to medium sized business owners. I’ve referred her to my clients and they have told me that she is a pleasure to work with and did a great job for them. I will refer her again and again and …..”

Dave VogelpohlOwner & President, Excellerate Solutions

“From making sure our business submits proper DOL forms to solid reorganization of our personnel records, Ann has been there for every step of our HR needs. Ann is an honest and caring expert with a great deal of personal integrity, and those are qualities we need in the people we trust with sensitive information. If you have employees, then receiving guidance from both a legal and an HR perspective are critical to balance one another and keep your business compliant. Ann is a great resource and is much appreciated by me and the rest of the team at Secure Network Administration, Inc.”

Joel PippinPresident & CEO, Secure Network Administration, Inc.

“Earlier this year, RB Engineering, Inc. made the decision to consult an HR manager in order to implement best HR practices and develop an employee handbook for our new employees. After a thorough review process, we chose Ann Close because she exhibits both the personal and professional qualities that we desired. Ann’s expert and professional knowledge in the HR field made the development process easy and her detailed work ethic and close interaction allowed us to be comfortable during the implementation process. Ann was able to meet the HR needs of our small business, and we will continue to use her services as our business grows. I recommend her services to other companies looking for HR support.”

Top Qualities: Personable, Expert, High Integrity

Ron BittlerOwner & President, RB Engineering, Inc.

“Ann Close’s “HR Game Plan” convinced me she was the place to start when our growing business needed HR help. And she understood well our needs, business environment, and the growth we were experiencing. She came up with a flexible plan that allowed us to start small and tackle items according. Ann and her team are professional, knowledgeable, and caring–a huge help I would recommend to anyone.”

Stephen HathawayChief Operator Officer, Viztek LLC

“As a small business owner, the furthest thing from my plan was an HR manager. Yet bringing Ann Close onto my team as a consultant showed me how easy the hiring and employee management process could become, took a LOT off my plate, kept me compliant with all the government regulations I didn’t even know about, and was affordable. The biggest benefit, in my opinion, was the hiring process — Ann was able to come in, screen applicants, handle the paperwork, check backgrounds and pre-interview. Essentially I just had to come in for a final interview, and she did the rest. With a small staff and wearing multiple hats, this was an enormous benefit for me and I recommend Ann and her company without hesitation and with great enthusiasm.”

Lisa R. HigginbothamOwner & President, 5Star Awards, Inc.

“I’ve been in my industry now for 16 years and when I started my business I did not realize how little I knew about behind the scenes HR policies and procedures. Ann explains things in layman’s terms and advises me with sensitivity to growing a small business and my employee’s interests. She is an invaluable resource and has my business’ best interest at heart. She understands that our business success is her success. I would recommend her service to anyone in need of HR support.”

Brian CoxOwner & President, Hard Rock Concrete Cutting, Inc.

“What prompted me to reach out to Close HR Connections initially, was our need for HR support and Ann’s knowledge and experience. The most helpful aspect of the services provided at Close HR Connections initially, was writing an HR handbook, however, Ann’s expertise has been dealing with difficult employees. I highly recommend her!”

John BilosCOO, Neuro Community Care, LLC

“The first factor that prompted me to reach out to Close HR Connections is the knowledge that Ann has in providing the right solutions for your business. Second is the professionalism in which she operates her company and last is her truly caring in helping your business be the best it can be and have the best employees. The most helpful aspect of the services provided by Close HR Connections was putting together our employee handbook. If you want it done right call Ann!”

Steven LipstonePresident, Lipstone Insurance Group

“The driving force in our company which prompted me to reach out to Close HR Connections was continuous changes in the DOL guidelines for employers. The most helpful aspect of the services Close HR Connections provided was the review of our policy and procedures to be sure we are in compliance with the ever changing guidelines. Close HR Connections is very knowledgeable about the Human Resource aspect of a business. They are prompt and follow through with their promises.”

Deborah CameronCFO, Task Electric, LLC

“The driving force which prompted me to reach out to Close HR Connections is that I needed an expert in HR. My company was growing and I needed a systematic way to hire, review, and manage my personnel. The most helpful aspect of the services provided by Close HR Connections is that Ann has a deep and extensive knowledge of HR. Her expertise is invaluable to us as we navigate the many aspects of managing our staff. You will be very happy with the services!”

Karen AlbrightPresident, BodyLase

“The driving force that prompted me to reach out to Close HR Connections was that our company was growing and HR was getting more complicated. We handled issues by searching the web and finding ways to deal with things. Reached a point where we needed a HR consultant to assist and make sure we were on the right track. What was the most helpful aspect of the services Close HR Connections provided was that Ann was readily available to assist with situations when they came up. She was a calming factor to Leadership. Ann and her team approach HR in a compassionate and caring manner. Very knowledgeable about HR laws and regulations. Responsive and ready to deal with challenging situations.”

Helaine BilosPresident, Neuro Community Care, LLC

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200 Cascade Pointe Lane, Suite 106

Cary NC 27513

919.238.3107

info@closehr.com

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