ABOUT HR HAPPENS
HR Happens helps growing organizations navigate the people side of business with practical expertise, thoughtful strategy, and a human approach.
We believe strong organizations are built when people are supported, leaders have the confidence to lead, and HR decisions are grounded in both good judgment and good business.
Better workplaces start with better people practices.
Mark Heyman, JD, Founder & Senior Consultant
HR expertise, with a very human perspective.
THE PERSON BEHIND HR HAPPENS
As owner and consultant at HR Happens, Mark Heyman brings more than 25 years of experience across human resources, labor and employment law, and organizational development, spanning both the private and public sectors.
Mark began his career practicing labor and employment law, serving as Deputy Legal Counsel to the Vermont State Employees Association and as an Assistant Clerk in the Vermont House of Representatives during the 1996–97 legislative session. He then moved into HR consulting, spending ten years as co-owner and later owner of Cope & Associates, Inc. and Cope HR. He went on to serve as HR Director and General Counsel of OnLogic, a global industrial PC company headquartered in Vermont, before returning to consulting to found HR Happens.
Having worked across a wide range of roles and industries, Mark helps small and growing businesses navigate the challenges that come with managing people, building stronger workplaces, and staying compliant as they scale.
Mark holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont (1992) and a JD from Suffolk University Law School (1995).
“Lead with integrity. Act with fairness. Always move forward.”
WHY WE ARE HERE
OUR MISSION
To provide adaptive, comprehensive HR expertise and solutions that develop resilient teams, enrich work cultures, and align people strategies with organizational goals.
OUR VISION
To be the most trusted partner in providing innovative HR solutions that strengthen our clients’ greatest resource - their people
What we believe shapes how we work.
HOW WE WORK
Our values aren’t words for the wall. They influence the advice we give, the decisions we recommend, and the relationships we build with our clients.
01
People are at the heart of the work.
We treat each other and our clients in a fair and respectful manner and expect the same. We understand “fair” always involves a balancing of competing interests.
PEOPLE-CENTERED
02
Keep moving forward.
We strive to always focus on what lies ahead. We seek to make decisions that move our clients and our company forward. We learn from the past, but don’t let it drive our decisions.
SOLUTION-DRIVEN
03
Tell it like it is.
We care about you, and your employees, so we tell it like it is. We seek out and are open to feedback. We know transparency builds trust and fosters a culture of accountability.
TRANSPARENCY
04
Do the right thing-even when it’s the harder thing.
We are closely held and accountable to each other and our clients. We make decisions based on what is in our clients’ best interests and our collective goals. We hold fast to our personal and professional integrity in everything we do.
INDEPENDENCE & INTEGRITY
Meet the Team
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Mark Heyman
Founder & Senior Consultant
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Bailee Burnes
HR Consultant
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Michele O'Day
HR Consultant
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Emilie Schweikert
Sr. Organizational Development Consultant
Meet Emilie → -
Martha Monty
Director of Operations
Clients Include
