The Fireplace Approach

Simple

Seemingly complex people matters often boil down to simpler, essential parts. We see through the noise and get to the signal. We identify logical, right-sized, game-changing solutions. 

Intelligent

Every recommendation is aligned with short and long term strategy for your business, based on a unique blend of deep, diverse knowledge and competent hands-on experience. Let’s take a deep breath and analyze what will most likely get you to your desired results. Any moves we make today, the fun ones and the hard ones, should be grounded in truly understanding the facts, and your long term goals. 

Practical

The 80:20 principle is essential to a growing business’ people strategy: some activities are more meaningful than others when it comes to people experience, and timing matters a lot (not to mention cost). We are committed to designing efficient, effective solutions that will squeeze maximum results from every ounce of effort. 

Human

Luckily, when it comes to your team, what usually brings about the best results for your business is to approach people matters with grounded authenticity, truth, clarity, integrity, and kindness. This isn’t fluff, it’s strategic.

A small rustic cabin at the base of a towering glacier.
Kate Woodbury, Founder & Principal Consultant, Fireplace HR

Kate Woodbury, Founder & Principal Consultant

I’m Kate, the founder of Fireplace HR. I’ve grown my 20-year HR leadership career within high growth, high performing, and values-driven organizations. I’ve intentionally curated a set of experiences that would give me knowledge and hands-on skills across a range of industries and organizational types. This has brought me a deep and broad HR “playbook”, and strong cross-functional business acumen. 

I’m passionate about building and accelerating businesses. I understand that what’s needed to do this is a capacity to deliver high quality people strategy alongside practical, hands-on execution.  

Over the years I’ve gained senior level, strategic experience across all areas of HR, and have come to specialize in leading and building the People function in small to medium size, growing businesses.  In a full-time leadership or consultant capacity (sometimes both), I’ve designed, shaped, and executed people strategies and programs for organizations like: lululemon athletica, VANOC, Electronic Arts, Smash + Tess, ICBC, Conversion, Glacier Business Information, BN3TH, Bosa Properties, and more. 

It’s very important to me to bring simplicity, practicality and humanity to my HR practice. I’m proud to be known as a senior leader with an authentic, honest, and unpretentious approach - and for bringing refreshing clarity to complex and sensitive people matters. 

I’ve designed Fireplace HR to provide premium service with flexibility and minimal overhead. I maintain direct relationships with clients. If a scope of work requires additional resources, I have developed a roster of trusted specialists to add to the project.

Fireplace HR exists to help entrepreneurs build, strengthen, and grow the business of their dreams.