HR. Tailored to Hire. Grow. Thrive.
HR and recruiting needs are not always smooth sailing. We are here to change that.
About
Tidewater
Tidewater HR Advisory was founded on a belief that every business deserves access to great HR — the kind that’s strategic, responsive, and genuinely invested in your long-term success.
We know that growth happens fast, and your people strategy has to move with it. We help small to mid-size businesses and existing HR teams, who need extra horsepower, scale faster and smarter. Whether you’re hiring your first team, navigating compliance, developing emerging leaders, or rethinking how HR supports your expansion, Tidewater HR Advisory helps you find the talent and build the structure, tools, and confidence to keep up with your momentum.
Our approach is rooted in partnership, practicality, and purpose. We become your sounding board, your strategist, and your “first call” when you hit those inevitable HR moments. We don’t just advise from the sidelines. We roll up our sleeves, become part of your team, and help you make the people decisions that shape the future of your business. Because when your people strategy thrives, your business thrives.
Feel like you’re stuck in a riptide? Let Tidewater HR help you change the tide.
Services
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Recruiting & Staffing Solutions
We deliver direct hire talent that saves growing businesses time and transforms teams. By focusing on your values and unique needs, we connect you with the right person the first time.
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Fractional HR & Advisory
For growing organizations that don’t require a full-time HR leader but need immediate HR support or strategic guidance on critical initiatives. From advisory to project execution, we deliver the right expertise, exactly when you need it.
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Leadership Coaching
As your business grows, so must your leaders. We provide tailored coaching and training that equips emerging leaders with the skills, confidence, and mindset to step into bigger roles.
For Businesses Looking to Hire.
Recruiting & Staffing Solutions
Staffing shouldn’t feel like sorting through a pile of mismatched resumes. While many recruiters cast a wide net and hope for a catch, we take a more intentional approach. Our process is collaborative and precise—we take the time to understand your business, your culture, and the kind of impact you need from a new hire.
We also bring a sharper sense of urgency. Instead of leaving you to chase down updates, we proactively drive the search, knowing every open role, or even an upcoming one, affects your business momentum. No matter the position, we deliver qualified candidates who are not only skilled, but aligned with your company’s vision.
The result: you save valuable time, avoid hiring missteps, and gain a game-changing addition to your team who can make an immediate impact.
We support all industries but have industry experience in the following:
Executive Placement
Attorney Partner & Associate Placement
Legal Professionals
Real Estate
Sales
Finance & Accounting
Marketing
Human Resources
Office Management & Administration
Retail
Tech
Hospitality & Restaurants
Start-Ups
For Businesses Looking to Grow.
Fractional HR & Advisory.
We partner with organizations that don’t require a full-time HR leader but need immediate HR expertise to move priorities forward. Every engagement is tailored with you, striking the right balance between strategic guidance and hands-on execution. We believe in setting you up with systems for long-term success.
Our project work spans the full spectrum of HR, some examples include designing culture initiatives, improving employee engagement, onboarding experience, HR compliance audits, HRIS implementation, performance management and disciplinary action processes and supporting sensitive investigations and employee relations issues.
With a flexible fractional model, we deliver senior-level HR leadership without the cost of a full-time HR Exec. The result = it helps your business scale while freeing up critical time for you to focus on growth.
Our clients include startups and small to mid-sized businesses seeking a trusted partner for both advisory and project-based HR support or interim HR support to help with HR role transitions.
Leadership Coaching
Leadership challenges often surface when organizations hit a growth stage. Suddenly the founder or executive team can’t carry everything, and the next layer of leaders needs to rise. Our coaching is designed to meet that moment. We customize every engagement to your business, focusing on the leadership capabilities that matter most for your people, culture, and growth trajectory.
Unlike one-size-fits-all programs, our approach blends strategic coaching with practical tools. We help new and emerging leaders strengthen communication, navigate conflict, build high-performing teams, and lead with clarity and accountability. When needed, we also incorporate leadership assessments such as DISC and other trusted partners to deepen self-awareness and accelerate growth.
The result: leaders at every level are better equipped to drive results, support your culture, and free your executive team to focus on scaling the business.
For Businesses Looking to Thrive.
Meet Emily Channell
Founder & Principal
After more than a decade in Human Resources, I’ve seen what happens when businesses outgrow their HR systems before they even realize it. What starts as a few simple questions “How do we hire the right people?” “How do I handle this employee issue?” quickly turns into the realization that the business needs real HR strategy to keep growing.
I’ve built HR departments from the ground up for scaling organizations and supported leaders through those “what do I do now?” moments that every business owner faces. Along the way, I found myself becoming the person business leaders in my network called when they didn’t know where to start. And in my own experience searching for and working with countless HR services, recruiters and leadership resources I found a lot of generic advice, but not enough care, urgency, or strategic depth.
“That’s why I founded Tidewater HR Advisory: to be the trusted partner leaders can call when they hit those inevitable HR moments and need clear, practical guidance.”
Tidewater HR Advisory gives small and mid-size businesses (and HR teams ready to scale) access to thoughtful, high-impact HR guidance without the cost of the corporate HR department. My approach is grounded in partnership and purpose: understanding your business, your people, and your goals, so together we can build the systems, leaders, and culture that help you grow and thrive.
I’m grateful you’re here and I look forward to helping you grow your business where your people and performance thrive together.
-Emily
Let’s Connect
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