About
I didn't learn HR from a textbook first. I learned it at 10 p.m.
I've been a business owner for twenty-two years, and I still am. I've made payroll when it was tight. I've hired people I shouldn't have and waited too long to let them go. I've sat alone with the decisions nobody else in the building could make.
What I wanted back then was simple: someone who knew the rules, who'd tell me the truth, and who understood that it was my business and my call. I couldn't find that person. So I became her.
My story, short version.
Along the way, I did something most owners never do: I went inside the corporate world and built a career in HR. I earned my Master of Human Resource Development at Clemson University and my SHRM-SCP. What I learned there changed how I see every business: the companies that win don't just manage their people. They have a strategy for them.
That's what I bring to your table. How you hire, develop, lead and keep your people should connect directly to where you want the business to go. Sure, I'll make sure the paperwork, policies and compliance are right. That's the foundation, and it matters. But it's not the point.
I founded The Dawson Group to be the partner I wished I'd had as an owner: someone senior, fast to respond, on your side of the table, and thinking about your business, not just your HR files.
We're not just outsourced HR. We're your business partner. We learn your goals, your numbers and your culture, then build the people strategy that gets you there.
Today I lead every engagement personally, backed by a senior team. I work with owners and leadership teams across the U.S., from companies of five people to executive teams of 100+ person organizations.
What I believe
People are the lifeblood of your business.
That's not a slogan. It's why I do this work. Here's how I show up for you:
I'll tell you the truth.
Even when it's not what you want to hear. Especially then. You didn't build a business by being handled.
I'll treat your business like my own.
Because I know what it cost you to build it. Every recommendation passes one test: would I do this if it were my company?
It's your business. You make the call.
I'm not here to turn you into a corporation. I'll show you the compliant options and help you run your business your way.
The values I work by: authenticity, freedom, joy, resilience, curiosity and love. Freedom matters most to the owners I serve: the goal is to take the people stuff off your 10 p.m. list so you can get back to running the business.
How I work
Personal. Fast. Honest.
- One-on-one. You work with me, not a call center.
- Fast. I usually reply within two hours during business hours.
- Plain English. No jargon, no 40-page reports you'll never read.
- Practical. The goal is a decision you can act on this week.
Credentials
- Master of Human Resource Development, Clemson University
- SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
- National SHRM conference speaker (Speaking & workshops)
- Authorized facilitator, The Five Behaviors®
- Certified PI Practitioner, The Predictive Index®
- 22 years as a business owner
- Corporate HR leadership
Beyond the day job
Speak Easy
I also founded Speak Easy, an invitation-only peer community for professional women. It started because I know how isolating leadership can be, and how much it helps to sit with people who get it. Same reason I do this work.
Connect with me:
Meet Monika
Monika MacDonald, Chief Operating Officer
Every business owner needs someone who makes sure the plan actually happens. That's Monika. She brings deep experience in HR, operations and leadership, and works side by side with clients on the messy stuff: systems that don't work and teams that don't click.
She loves hands-on coaching, sitting at the desk with your people to build their skills and confidence. She also leads our AI and automation work, building simple, compliant systems that take busywork off your plate.
She's the collaborative partner who makes sure our clients get what they need, and we work side by side on every client.
or email monika@thedawsongroupsc.com
What clients say
Five stars on Google. In their words.
★★★★★
Wendy is a true professional who provides real, practical support. She guided our organization through a comprehensive HR overhaul, including updates to our employee handbook, safety handbook, implementation of personality assessments, time management systems, employee benefits, performance evaluations, and more. … As a nonprofit, having this level of HR expertise and support is invaluable.
★★★★★
The Dawson Group is the best HR group I have ever worked with in my career. Not only are the team members well versed in all the typical HR needs but they know how to think outside the box and match culture and brand needs of companies.
★★★★★
Worked with Wendy and her team on assessing new candidates and evaluating personality types on our current team. With decades of HR experience, Wendy is very knowledgeable and her team was always responsive even during busy periods. Highly recommended!
★★★★★
Wendy and her team did a great job helping us update our handbook and improve our regulatory compliance. We will use their services again in the future.
★★★★★
The Dawson Group's attention to detail allows them to anticipate potential issues, catch small errors before they become larger problems, and maintain a high standard of quality in all aspects of their work. … They are responsive, reliable, and genuinely invested in meeting client needs.
★★★★★
Wendy and her team consistently deliver invaluable support across a wide range of HR needs, including fractional HR services, employment compliance, training, and employee development.
★★★★★
Wendy and her team at The Dawson Group are true HR professionals. They are knowledgeable and help me solve big people issues. They are my go-to HR firm.
No forms. No pitch.
Tell me what's going on.
Text me, call me, or grab 30 minutes on my calendar. I usually reply within two hours during business hours.