We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Heyke Kirkendall-Baker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Heyke below.
Heyke, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started sooner or later?
In 2017, as a mother of four children juggling the demands of both work and family life, I sought greater flexibility and autonomy. With this in mind, I embarked on an entrepreneurial journey. With my legal expertise and human resource experience, I launched NW Employer Solutions, an outsourced human resource business. However, my lack of experience as an entrepreneur and human resource professional proved challenging. As the recession loomed, I realized I was not equipped to navigate the storm. Reluctantly, I reentered the workforce, determined to hone my skills and gain invaluable experience. Over the years, I took several courses and immersed myself in various roles within several industries, absorbing knowledge and refining my expertise in business practices and human resources. Finally, with newfound expertise and resilience, I reopen my business in May 2023, armed with lessons learned from both failure and perseverance.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I began my career on a traditional path, attending law school and passing the Oregon Bar I actually began my career on a non-traditional path. I did not attend college until I was 28 years old with 4 children. I was given the opportunity to get my bachelors, I graduated and went directly to law school, placed 4th of 230 students in my first year, graduated, and passed the Bar. Initially, I worked as an employment attorney at law firms, but soon realized that my passion was elsewhere. This realization led me to transition into the human resource department of a major corporation when the opportunity arose. Within a year, my dedication and skills were recognized, and I was offered a promotion to District Manager within the same corporation.
Over the next five years, I honed my management skills, leading teams ranging from 20 to 120 people across the entire state of Oregon. In 2015, my team and I achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the #1 District in the state for our corporation, surpassing targets in profit, sales, team engagement, and customer service.
In 2017, drawing on my legal background, human resource expertise, and management experience, I ventured into entrepreneurship and founded NW Employer Solutions, LLC. Our company provides a comprehensive range of human resource services tailored to the needs of businesses. From project-based services such as crafting job descriptions and employee handbooks to offering full-service human resource support as an outsourced HR department, we strive to empower employers with the tools and expertise necessary to navigate the complex landscape of employment laws and regulations.
Recognizing the growing demand for compliance solutions, I also launched Parity Software, LLC. This venture specializes in providing employers with robust analysis and reporting tools to ensure compliance with the Oregon Equal Pay Act, addressing a critical need in today’s evolving regulatory environment.
What sets NW Employer Solutions and Parity Software apart is our unwavering dedication to assisting employers of all sizes, industries, and locations in meeting their employment and human resource requirements. Whether it’s navigating legal complexities, optimizing workforce management, or promoting diversity and inclusion, we are committed to providing practical solutions that drive success and mitigate risk for our clients.
While my entrepreneurial journey has had its challenges, including navigating through economic downturns, each setback has been an opportunity for growth and learning. Today, I am proud of the resilience and perseverance that have allowed me to rebuild and expand my businesses, empowering employers to thrive in an ever-changing landscape.
NW Employer Solutions and Parity Software strive to be a trusted partner in achieving human resource and compliance objectives.
What sets us apart: our expertise (effective management, and legal/human resource expertise), our dedication to helping businesses be successful, and our personalized service.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Amidst the ever-changing landscape of entrepreneurship, I believe my journey with both businesses–NW Employer Solutions and Parity Software, stand as a testament to resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to our mission. As an example, I will summarize our journey of Parity Software, with which we have faced–and continue to face–numerous challenges.
In 2017, when Oregon passed the Equal Pay Act, I recognized a glaring gap in the market. Employers lacked an efficient and affordable solution to ensure compliance with the new legislation. Although it was unchartered territory, my husband and I embarked on a journey to fill this void. We created Parity Software, LLC a groundbreaking program designed to provide employers with the tools needed for consistent analysis and reporting, ensuring adherence to the Equal Pay Act’s requirements.
Recognizing that I was a newcomer to the entrepreneurial scene, I participated in an entrepreneurial program, which concluded with a “shark tank” style competition. Parity Software clinched the top spot, validating the significance of this solution.
In 2019, I took the bold step of launching Parity Software, LLC. The initial months were promising, with the company quickly securing eight clients. However, just as momentum was building, the world was thrust into the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Overnight, our clients found themselves grappling with unprecedented challenges, their focus shifting from pay equity compliance to mere survival.
At that time, I made the difficult decision to halt sales and waived charges for Parity Software, recognizing that our clients’ immediate needs took precedence. My unwavering commitment to pay equity, however, remained unshaken. Instead of succumbing to the prevailing uncertainty, my team and I doubled down on our efforts to enhance the software’s functionality.
Finally, in December 2023, we relaunched Parity Software. Our resilience not only kept the venture afloat but also positioned it for greater success. The turning point came recently when Parity Software secured its most significant client to date, a testament to our unwavering dedication and the software’s undeniable value.
I believe that this journey epitomizes the resilience required to navigate the tumultuous waters of entrepreneurship. Through unwavering determination, adaptability, and a steadfast commitment to our mission, we turned setbacks into opportunities, ensuring that Parity Software not only survived but thrived. We still face many challenges on the horizon because this is a new and unknown product, but we hope to ultimately close the pay gap for comparable work.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2017, filled with ambition and a vision to revolutionize outsourced human resource services, I launched NW Employer Solutions, LLC. The endeavor was born from a desire to provide comprehensive HR solutions to businesses of all sizes, promising efficiency, expertise, and unparalleled service. However, despite my enthusiasm, the journey was fraught with challenges from the outset.
Lacking the seasoned experience necessary to navigate the intricacies of entrepreneurship, I found myself grappling with the complexities of managing a growing business. With my determination, I pressed on, striving to carve a niche for NW Employer Solutions in a competitive market landscape.
Then came the unexpected blow of the recession and personal life issues, casting a shadow of uncertainty over my business success. Faced with dwindling resources and a dwindling client base, I confronted the harsh reality that my business model was ill-equipped to weather the storm of economic downturn. Reluctantly, but pragmatically, I made the difficult decision to re-enter the workforce, temporarily shelving my entrepreneurial aspirations in favor of gaining invaluable real-world experience.
During my hiatus from entrepreneurship, I immersed myself in diverse professional environments, seizing every opportunity to broaden my skill set and deepen my understanding of the intricate dynamics of entrepreneurship and human resources. With each new role, I gleaned invaluable insights, honed my expertise, and forged meaningful connections within the industry.
Armed with a wealth of newfound knowledge and a renewed sense of purpose, I resolved to resurrect NW Employer Solutions, this time stronger with the wisdom garnered from past trials and tribulations. Recognizing the need for adaptability in an ever-evolving business landscape, I meticulously crafted a revised business strategy, emphasizing flexibility, innovation, and client-centricity. In May 2023, I left a stable, high-level position within a respectful organization, and I relaunched NW Employer Solutions.
As I approach the one-year anniversary of the relaunch, I realize that I am much more successful this time around. We are continuing to grow, and I hired my first employee. Through resilience, resourcefulness, and unwavering determination, I believe that I transformed adversity into opportunity, charting a new course for NW Employer Solutions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nwemployersolutions.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParitySoftware/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/heyke-kirkendall-baker-3879878
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7107429604469968896