About the Firm
We believe people are the strategy.
First Choice National Consulting Group helps organizations build stronger systems, more effective leaders, and healthier workplace cultures.
First Choice National Consulting Group is a comprehensive business consulting, human resources, leadership development, and diversity, equity and inclusion consulting firm. For over 20 years, the firm has helped commercial organizations and government clients improve workplace productivity, leadership return on investment, organizational structure, policy initiatives, business process improvements, DEI initiatives, strategic initiatives, technology purchases, implementations, and upgrades.
The firm was founded on the belief that every organization deserves access to experienced, thoughtful consulting support. Whether working with a growing startup or an established government agency, First Choice brings a consistent commitment to understanding the client's context and delivering work that is practical, clear, and ready to implement.
Meet the Team
The people behind the work.
Our consultants bring decades of real-world experience across HR, leadership, operations, and technology.
Carrie Neal
Founder & Principal Consultant | Chief People Officer
With over 20 years of experience in human resources, organizational development, and business consulting, Carrie founded First Choice National Consulting Group on a simple belief: people are the strategy. She has guided commercial and government clients through complex HR challenges, leadership transitions, and cultural transformation — always with a practical, people-first approach.
Ellen Sanders
HR Consultant
Ellen brings deep expertise in HR operations, employee relations, and compliance. She partners with clients to strengthen HR infrastructure, develop policies that reflect best practices, and create workplace environments where people can thrive. Her work spans industries including healthcare, nonprofit, and professional services.
Jennifer Tharpe
HR Technology & Digital Transformation Consultant
Jennifer specializes in helping organizations evaluate, implement, and optimize HR technology systems. From HRIS selection to change management, she bridges the gap between people strategy and digital capability — ensuring that technology investments actually serve the humans who use them.
Tonya Henderson-Smith
Senior HR Consultant
Tonya brings over two decades of experience in HR operations, compliance, and strategic talent management. She specializes in leave of absence administration, employment law, benefits infrastructure, and complex employee relations, with a track record of guiding executive stakeholders through high-stakes HR decisions. Tonya holds an MS in Human Resource Development from Villanova University.
Shemika Hill
Global Talent & HR Transformation Consultant
Shemika is a global talent and workforce strategy leader with 20+ years delivering enterprise-wide people solutions across North America, EMEA, APAC, LATAM, and the Middle East. She advises executives on HR transformation, recruiting operations, workforce planning, and people analytics, with a proven track record of reducing time-to-hire by 40% and improving retention by 20-25%.
Who We Serve
Organizations of every size and sector.
- Growing businesses
- Established companies
- Nonprofit organizations
- Government clients
- Leaders and teams navigating change
What Makes Us Different
Consulting built around your reality.
- Customized consulting, not prepackaged templates
- Experienced guidance across multiple sectors
- Practical recommendations built for implementation
- Human-centered strategy that connects people and performance
Certifications & Registrations