We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brittany Rohner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brittany, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The DREMR Company, LLC was founded in 2020 with a mission to put the “human” back into Human Resources. The idea of DREMR began well beforehand, over 15 years ago, when I realized that corporations really struggled to sustain authentic cultures and team environments where employees felt safe enough to be authentically themselves. We’re all human, and we do our best when we feel at our best, whether at home or at work. My mission with DREMR was to equip organizations with the guiding tools and strategies to treat every HR challenge with compassion, fairness, and authenticity so that every employee feels valued, resulting in less turnover and an improved bottom line. Businesses need a partner that listens to their goals and provides financially sound, employee-centric solutions to drive the organization forward. That is our mission, that is DREMR.

Brittany, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Of course!  My name is Brittany Rohner, SHRM-SCP and I am the CEO/founder of The DREMR Company, LLC, a management consulting practice founded to help organizations put people at the core of their success. I also serve as a senior consultant with Your Partner in HR, a Cleveland-based HR consulting firm. Regardless of my title, over the 15 years spent in this field, my focus has been to implement systemic changes to unleash potential and improve bottom line performance.  My experience has been global, having spent time abroad during my career to drive globalization of performance management and compensation programs, HRIS technology, and global compliance. Prior to starting DREMR, I helped companies develop HR strategies and programs that transformed the HR function from back office to actual business partner.  I am most proud of the work I was able to do in my executive HR leadership positions, earning the Cleveland-based organization’s that I worked for recognition locally and nationally as a top workplace.

I am a proud northeast Ohio native and continual learner.  My undergraduate degree is from of The University of Akron,  College of Business Administration. I went on to do my Master of Science in Positive Organizational Development and Change at Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, graduating in 2013. Ongoing education and growth is so important to me so to be able to serve my clients to the best of my ability, so post graduate school, I completed my SPHR-SCP and Certificate in Training and Development through Kent State University in 2020. However, nothing compares to the learning and growth that comes from being a mother to my two amazing boys, who are DREMR’s namesake, my greatest joy and at the heart of everything I do.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

My biggest referral source has been my professional network that I cultivated over the last 15 years. I’ve built my business through referrals received from connections made by long-time friends, fellow graduates from my grad school program, individuals I’ve helped find job placements, and my mentors. My advice to any new or sole proprietor business owner is this: cherish your genuine friendships and don’t underestimate the value of a support system. You are better off having 16-20 quality human beings in your contacts that you can call on at any point rather than having 1600 people in a database. 16-20 people who have worked hard to make a name for themselves and have become trusted and respected professionals in their fields. And to all of these people – I cannot thank them enough for being willing to share my name. I also wouldn’t be where I am today without having amazing, retained clients who not only continue to partner with me but also refer DREMR out to their network. Working with my clients is an honor and over the years, I’ve come to realize that am constantly learning and improving thanks to them.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

It was the evening of December 24th; I was an eager twenty-something in my first year as a new HR coordinator post college graduation. I was diligently typing when one of my colleagues passed by my office shocked that I was still at work. I still remember the look on his face when he said, “It’s CHRISTMAS Eve. Go home. Your family is more important than this.” But I didn’t leave, I just remember saying to myself as I continued typing, “I’ll do this for now, but 20 years from now, I better be out on my own.” I’ve never been a 9-to-5’er and constantly poured all of myself into my work . I still do actually because I love what I do – this field is my passion. But with unchecked balance, my work commitments literally took precedence over anything else, which over time, resulted in professional and financial successes and a very deep level of burn-out.

Fast forward and several promotions and big job changes later, by corporate America’s standards, I was absolutely “making it.” But inside, I was so conflicted. I could feel I was losing sight of what I truly wanted for my career, my family, my life.

The wake-up call came during the summer of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. After being up for almost 72 hours straight because I could not find a way to shut down, I called my therapist for help. I admitted that I was spiraling and if I didn’t stop and change something quickly, I was going to end up in the hospital or worse.

I knew that something had to give – so I took the leap to bet on myself and jumped into the dream of entrepreneurship with the unwavering support of my family. When I founded DREMR, my goal was to create a life that allowed me to succeed professionally and personally. However, my definition of success has evolved since my younger years. Back then, success meant impressive titles and accolades, often at the expense of my well-being. Now in my late 30’s, I’ve redefined what it means to “make it.”

It means throwing the concept of work-life out the window and blending it all together in this amazing, wonderful life. It’s making muffins for the class picnic while scheduling discovery calls. It’s financial security without compromising mental health. Success is working with incredible clients and business partners with shared values. It’s drawing from my experiences to enrich others’ journeys and contributing to the world in a way that aligns with my strengths. This journey demands hard work, an unwavering commitment to learning, and a willingness to explore unfamiliar territories. But the rewards are immeasurable.

I’m thankful to be where I am today and am grateful for the network of support I have had on this journey. If you’ve faced similar internal struggles and have been questioning – “can I really do this?”-  know that you absolutely can. You can change and chart your own course. You and your dreams are worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thedremrcompany.com/
• Instagram: @thedremrco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanyrohner
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thedremrcompany/

Image Credits
Mal McCrea Photographer www.malmccrea.com @malmccrea.photo