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Virtual HR partnerships for founder-led organizations

Structure, without losing heart.

Modern HR Collaborative partners with growing organizations to build thoughtful, people-centered HR systems, so you can stop carrying it all yourself and lead with clarity and confidence.

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Founded by Steph Ledbetter, MA · 20+ years in HR · Fully virtual, nationwide · In person in Lincoln & Omaha

People are the heart of what we do.

Connection · Nimble · Polish · Grounded

Steph Ledbetter, founder and CEO of Modern HR Collaborative

Meet the founder

“Structure and compliance don’t have to feel corporate or impersonal. They can be clear, supportive, and aligned with the relationships that make your organization strong.”

Steph Ledbetter, MA · Founder & CEO

With more than 20 years in HR, Steph founded Modern to help founder-led teams move from informal, founder-carried people management to intentional, sustainable structure, while protecting the culture that makes them unique.

Sound familiar?

You built something remarkable. HR shouldn’t be what holds it back.

Most of the leaders we partner with didn’t start a business to manage handbooks and hard conversations. They started it to do meaningful work with good people. We help you protect both.

Is this you? Let’s talk

You’re the founder, the CEO, and somehow still the HR department.

People questions land on your desk because there’s nowhere else for them to go.

You’ve grown past handshake policies.

What worked at eight people is starting to crack at twenty-five, and everyone can feel it.

You want structure that doesn’t feel corporate.

You need compliance and clarity, without losing the culture that makes your team special.

A hard conversation is coming and you want it handled well.

You want an experienced partner beside you, so it’s done with clarity and dignity.

The Modern HR Virtual Operating System™

Five pillars. One partnership that grows with you.

Every partnership level includes support across all five pillars. The difference is how involved Modern is in leading the work alongside you.

01

Talent & Onboarding

Hiring practices, interview structure and onboarding that sets every new person up to belong and succeed.

02

Employee Relations

Steady, dignity-first guidance through the conversations and situations that keep leaders up at night.

03

Performance & Development

Clear expectations, review frameworks and growth conversations that build accountability without fear.

04

Compensation & Organizational Alignment

Pay, roles and structure that make sense to your people and support where the business is going.

05

Compliance & HR Infrastructure

Handbooks, policies, SOPs and FMLA, ADA, FLSA and EEOC guidance, built to protect you as you grow.

Partnership levels

Choose the level of partnership your season calls for.

Three partnership levels, each designed to build real structure, not quick fixes.

Tier One

Foundation™

A trusted HR advisor to leadership, building the core structure responsible people management needs.

Monthly strategy meeting

See what’s included

Tier Two

Leadership Growth™

A more engaged partner developing stronger leaders, structured performance systems and greater accountability.

Bi-weekly partnership meetings

See what’s included

Tier Three

Strategic Partnership™

HR embedded with your leadership team, guiding structure, workforce planning and long-term people strategy.

Weekly leadership meetings

See what’s included
Compare all levelsNot sure? Book a consult

In the Lincoln or Omaha area? Ask about fractional HR: the same tiered support, with an in-person touch. Learn more

How we work

A clear path from first call to steady partnership.

See the full process

01

Connect

A complimentary consult to hear where you are and what’s weighing on you.

02

Assess

We review your current HR landscape: what’s working, what’s missing, what’s at risk.

03

Partner

We recommend the partnership level that fits, and build your first priorities together.

04

Grow

Steady rhythm, real-time guidance, and support that scales as your organization does.

Schedule time with us

Pick a time. We’ll take it from there.

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Speaking

Bring Steph to your stage, team or conference.

Keynotes, workshops and panels on people-first leadership, culture and building HR structure that scales.

Explore speaking