The leadership behind your HR strategy

Melissa Pennington, GPHR, DBA, founded HR On Demand because small businesses and growing organizations deserve the same quality of HR leadership that enterprise companies have access to — without the full-time hire. Over more than two decades, Melissa has led HR functions across healthcare, nonprofits, technology, hospitality, and professional services. She has served as a fractional CHRO and embedded HR executive for multi-company platforms operating across multiple states, building HR infrastructure from scratch, leading org design engagements, and navigating the most complex people situations organizations face. She holds a Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) certification — a credential requiring demonstrated international HR expertise — and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with a focus on organizational transformation, HR technology, and AI implementation in the workplace. Melissa's approach is direct, calm, and solutions-first. She shows up as a true partner — someone who knows your business well enough to anticipate problems before they become crises.