HR & Talent Consulting

Samantha Schneider is the founder and Principal of AmpersandPeople, Inc. She is an established People Leader with over 20 years of experience in recruiting and human resources working with a variety of industries, and was recognized as one of BLOC’s 100 Most Impactful Women & Allies for 2025. Samantha holds a Bachelors in Organizational Communications from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Tania has 18 years of experience in HR operations, including onboarding, project management, and recruiting coordination. She focuses on support and program creation, building customized training & branded communication materials for clients, and ATS management. Tania has a BS in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services from University of Arizona.

Tactical lifecycle recruiting leader with 17 years of success supporting progressive initiatives that directly impact the company’s competitive ability to attract, engage and retain top talent. Skilled client engagement manager capable of bringing forth successful talent solutions. Maintains vast network to maintain recruiting pipeline. Madelyn has a BA from Humboldt State University.

Charmain has focused on employee engagement helping companies scale up & down, supporting M&A, opening new locations, and has participated in high volume hiring. Her work experience covers all business units and she has experience supporting exempt & non-exempt employee populations. A warm smile helps her engage with employees with on and off boarding, leave, immgration, benefits administration, compliance activities and more! In addition, she has supported diversity & outreach programs.

As an engaging, responsive, and hands-on executive, Steve brings a broad & diverse human resources background that spans across all HR areas. Throughout his career, he has achieved top-performing, highly inclusive workforces by aligning people, operations, & processes. He also excels at executing value-added, cost-effective HR initiatives that positively impact employee performance, engagement, & retention. Steve has a BS from Georgetown University and an MBA in Finance/Marketing from USC Marshall school of Business.

Kate DeSanti has a great passion for customer service and 10 years of experience in Recruiting and HR administration in start-up environments. Kate focuses on giving clients support with recruitment operations, workplace & candidate experience. Kate has a BS in Human Resources Management and Services from University of Central Florida.

In her role Nadia focuses on full cycle Recruiting, process and program creation, as well as Talent Branding. Nadia brings extensive experience as a Human Resources Leader, specializing in Talent Management and HR/Talent Operations with an emphasis on creating and implementing programs that lead to a positive candidate and employee experience. Nadia graduated with a BA from Arizona State University.

Janelle Hall is a Sr. Consulting Manager for AmpersandPeople. She brings 10 years of experience in recruiting coordinating, university relations/intern program management, & recruiting.  With her skill set, she focuses on full-cycle recruiting, talent operations & candidate experience with our clients. Customer service is at the forefront of everything she does. Janelle has a BA in Social Science, Cross Cultural Studies from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Kerry Kelly is a licensed California attorney. She is a highly collaborative working leader who expertly balances critical, pragmatic problem solving, with a sense of urgency in strategic and tactical decision making. Kerry has a great depth of experience in employment law and HR matters, as well as general company operations. She  is able to apply her understanding and skills to provide efficient, cost-effective solutions. Kerry has a JD degree from Santa Clara University School of Law.

Based in Brooklyn, NY Adrianna’s professional background spans across investment banking, media & entertainment, and startups. She holds a BA from North Carolina State University and an MA in Applied Physiology from Columbia University.

Lisa is a total team player and has valuable experience working in Recruiting Operations with tech & life science companies. She creates unique candidate experiences and executes new employee onboarding with a positive and joyful attitude.  Her superb organization skills and attention-to-details goes hand in hand to provide recruiting support for clients and candidates. Lisa holds a BS from the University of San Francisco.

Doug can be found in San Diego, near the ocean! When not out sailing he helps our clients recruit engineering, product, UX, medical and hard to find talent. With years of deep sourcing experience, he enjoys the hunt. Doug has a BA from Indiana University Bloomington.   

With 10+ years of full life-cycle recruiting, Katie's experience spans multiple functions including Executive, Technical, G&A, and Video Game development staffing. She has proven success with high volume hiring, req load management and resource planning which makes her a valuable member to any recruiting team. Given her extensive background in the video game and visual effects industry, her passion is to help companies grow their workforce in order to push the boundaries of product development, with new experiences and cutting edge technology.  Katie holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The University of San Diego.

Maria has an eye for data and detail while working with organizations to define and create HR initiatives that drive employee engagement and organizational performance, leading to effective change management and overall business success. She has experience working with small growing businesses as well as larger organizations spanning across the globe. Maria has a Master’s Degree from San Jose State University and her work has been published in the International Journal of Stress Management.

Katie has over 20 years of experience leading teams to design and deliver exceptional compensation and benefit programs across both public and private organizations. Over these years, she has been able to design creative and relevant performance management systems and tools, deliver complex compensation programs, and drive employee engagement through recognition programs. She has supported and advised public company boards, responding to each unique need and expectation. Katie is a unique compensation professional with the ability to both think and design strategically, but also to roll up her sleeves and do whatever tactical work needs to be done. She has a BA degree from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Drexel University. 

Danica Elliott currently provides Human Capital services for Private Equity and Venture Capital firms across all industries, focusing on pre-investment organizational due diligence, executive-level talent assessments, executive coaching programs, and post-acquisition Human Capital support. Previously, Danica worked with Frazier Healthcare Partners as Director of Human Capital on the Growth Buyout Human Capital team and later led Human Capital for Frazier’s Life Sciences private and public early-stage drug discovery portfolio. Prior to Frazier, Danica worked in management consulting, and she also ran a marketing consulting company for many years that provided strategic solutions for growing businesses at all stages. Danica has an MBA from the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, a BFA from SUNY New Paltz, and certifications in executive coaching and several assessment tools.

Erin’s HR career spans over 20 years in various industries, including entertainment and hospitality, giving her experience in most areas of the profession-and an appreciation for dynamic, loosely structured  environments. Her specialties include employee relations, coaching and communications, org design, process improvement, and policy design. Erin enjoys developing creative and practical solutions to meet business and people needs. Erin has a BA from the State University of NY at Buffalo and currently resides in Nashville, TN.

Laura Crick is a seasoned HR professional with over 10 years of experience in the fields of employee relations, benefits and compensation benchmarking. Her passion for understanding and optimizing the employee experience has been a driving force throughout her career. Laura holds a BS from UC Davis.

Christie has experience in full-cycle recruiting and recruiting operations at tech and life sciences companies ranging from seed stage to fortune 500. She has a passion for finding great talent and crafting excellent candidate experiences. Christie holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin.

DJ has nearly 15 years of experience in the People space. From some of the most reputable Fortune 100s to visionary growth-stage companies, DJ has held impactful leadership roles within Total Rewards and People Operations during some of the most revolutionary periods for People professionals. DJ's expertise with best-in-class tech stacks, analytics + reporting processes, and broad domain expertise in all things People have allowed him to assess, recommend, implement, and embed vital and exemplary solutions for his clients. His passion for DEIB provides a unique and ever-so-important additional layer of perspective, ensuring all practices are pressure-tested through an equitable lens. DJ is based in Dallas, TX, and he holds a BBA from Stephen F. Austin State University and an MBA from The University of Texas.

Becca’s expertise in client relations comes from her real estate and interior design background. She’s committed to reaching goals and consistently delivering exceptional results. As a creative collaborator and dedicated team player, Becca prioritizes her clients' needs above all else. Whether it's crafting innovative solutions or providing unparalleled support, she exceeds expectations and fosters lasting relationships. Becca holds a BA from San Francisco State University.

Ashley Carson is a mission-driven HR executive turned consultant with 20+ years of experience leading People & Culture functions across startups, healthcare, and biotech. She now partners with early- to growth-stage organizations through HR consultancy, fractional leadership, and project-based work, building scalable people systems, strengthening leadership capability, and shaping high-performing cultures. A systems thinker with a bias for action, she is known for challenging the status quo and delivering practical, lasting solutions.

As an HR Partner with 20+ years of experience, Moddy specializes in bridging the gap between HR strategy and business objectives.  Moddy is adept at developing and implementing HR initiatives that drive performance, enhance employee engagement, and support operational growth. Her expertise includes talent management, performance management, and change management with a proven track record of success. She is passionate about fostering a positive and inclusive work environment, and is committed to building a strong relationship with stakeholders at all levels. She has a unique ability to understand and address the needs of both employees and the business. Moddy is a proactive and results-oriented HR professional, always striving to find solutions to complex challenges and contribute to the overall success of the organization. She has experience in retail, software, manufacturing, and most recently in biotech/med devices.  

Karrie is a dedicated professional known for exceptional client relations, a solutions-driven mindset, and a collaborative approach. With a strong background in sales, real estate, and marketing, she brings organization, creativity, and people-focused strategy to every role. Karrie has built her career on clear communication, thoughtful research, and consistent results. Her experience managing high-value real estate transactions strengthened her ability to handle complex workflows, support dynamic teams, and build trusted relationships. Thriving in fast-paced environments, Karrie streamlines processes, enhances efficiency, and contributes to positive team culture. Warm and approachable, she ensures every interaction is thoughtful and personalized. Passionate about helping others reach their goals, she is committed to creating seamless experiences and meaningful connections throughout the hiring journey.