Mara Palmer

Keynote Speaker | HR Consultant | Workplace Culture Strategist
Where Compliance Meets Culture
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Workforce Solutions with Proven HR Strategies
Mara equips your organization with strategies to build stronger, people-centered workplaces.

✓ Employee Engagement
✓ HR Strategy
✓ Payroll/Benefits Optimization

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Meet Mara: Champion of Human-Centered Workplaces
Mara Palmer, PHRca, is a keynote speaker and founder of The ElevateHR Project

She's known for her emotionally impactful and practical approach to workplace transformation.

With over 18 years of HR, payroll, and compliance experience, Mara blends humor, insight, and real-world case examples to guide organizations from "checkbox culture" to true cultural alignment.

Her signature talk, From Compliance to Culture: Building Workplaces That Work for People, challenges leaders to foster psychological safety, redefine risk in human terms, and lead with empathy.

Mara is currently completing her Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, expected Spring 2026, and holds a PHRca certification.

A working mom and former PASCOHR board member, she volunteers with SHRM at both the national and regional levels.

Her mission was born from personal experience—after a layoff handled with zero empathy, she made it her mission to help small business avoid the same mistakes and elevate how they lead. We exist to create workplaces that work for people both legally and emotionally.


Download Mara's Media Kit

Do you have a workplace people want to stay in?
Mara brings real-world HR wisdom, humor, and insights to help you create a culture that attracts, retains, and empowers.

H R  M A G I C

Why Partner with Mara?

18+ years in HR, payroll & compliance

Proven expertise grounded in nearly two decades of hands-on HR, payroll, and compliance leadership.

Practical, emotionally resonant insights

Audiences walk away with real strategies, not just ideas, shaped by experience and empathy.

Volunteer leader at SHRM National & Regional levels

Recognized HR leader actively shaping industry standards through national and regional SHRM leadership.

Certified PHRca, Master’s in I/O Psych. (in progress)

Certified HR professional with advancing expertise in human behavior & organizational psychology.

Dynamic, humorous, and relatable storytelling

Mara captivates audiences with engaging stories that make complex concepts memorable and actionable.

Planning Your Next Event?

Download Mara’s Speaker Kit to explore how she helps organizations move from policies to people-first cultures

See How Leaders Like You

Are Leading with More Purpose and People-First Impact

— Graham Carson, Owner, Graham Carson Electric

“Working with Mara and The ElevateHR Project was a game changer for my business. As a small electrical contractor, I knew I needed to get serious about policies—but what I didn’t realize was how much culture mattered too. Mara didn’t just build us a compliant, California-specific employee handbook—she helped me define expectations, reinforce accountability, and set the tone for how we treat each other and our clients.
She made the process simple, but more importantly, meaningful. The result is a stronger, more united crew—and I finally feel confident knowing I’ve got the structure and support to lead my team the right way.”

— Eric Baker, Owner, PARS Lighting Products Company

“When I took over PARS, I inherited a legacy business with great products—but no real compliance structure in place. California’s employment laws can be overwhelming, and I quickly realized I needed help navigating it all the right way. Mara and The ElevateHR Project stepped in and helped me rebuild our entire HR foundation from the ground up.
She didn’t just focus on compliance—she helped me prepare for growth by putting the right hiring processes, employee policies, and culture-building strategies in place. With Mara’s guidance, I now feel equipped to lead a business that’s not only compliant, but ready to thrive. I trust her and The ElevateHR Project completely.”

Signature Keynote: From Compliance to Culture

Building Workplaces That Work for People

Mara challenges leaders to move beyond checkbox HR, fostering psychological safety, empathy-driven leadership, and cultures that retain talent.

✓ Redefining Risk in Human Terms
✓ Fostering Psychological Safety
✓ Leading with Empathy & Clarity

When People Thrive, Results Follow.

Let Mara help you turn uncertainty into strategy and build a workplace culture that works for everyone.
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Where Compliance Meets Culture

Get In Touch

Email:
mara@theelevatehrproject.com
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