team

Meet Dawn St.Fleur, Jr. HR Consultant and native of Long Island, New York. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management. She has resided in Atlanta for 21 years with her husband and two daughters. Dawn comes to Essex Consulting with more than 16 years of leadership and management experience in a professional Senior Living environment. She looks forward to providing exceptional service to our partners as a proven problem-solver skilled at prioritizing and managing projects proficiently. Her experience, strengths, and ability to coordinate activities to achieve a common goal will prove valuable to all she serves.

Gia is a graduate of Old Dominion University, where she received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.  After graduation, she launched a career in social justice with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. However, after frequent participation in the new hire orientation process, she became increasingly interested in staffing and recruitment, which eventually led her to pursue a career in the Human Resources (HR).

Gia has 10 + years of extensive HR operational and strategic experience in Supervisory and Generalist roles, with large companies in multiple industries, such as:  government, non-profit, and aerospace. She has gained significant experience in various areas such as Employee Relations strategies, HRIS Administration, Labor Relations, Recruiting strategies for large scale ramp ups, Managing complex leave & reasonable accommodation cases, and Employee Engagement.  She is known for making the business “her business” and providing people driven solutions. Gia holds professional memberships with the Society for Human Resource Management and National Association of African-Americans in Human Resources.  She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.  

While not working, Gia loves spending time with her husband & son, family & friends, expanding her palate as a food connoisseur, exploring farmer’s markets, and she is a bargain-enthusiast.  

Katrina Hefner, is a strategic HR leader with over two decades of experience delivering transformative people strategies that drive organizational success across Fortune 500 companies and as an independent consultant. As the founder of Addy & Al’s since 2019, she has built a successful HR consulting and event management company, providing fractional HR leadership to organizations including The Essence Group and CT & CC. Her innovative approach to employee engagement has delivered exceptional results, including an 82% boost in employee survey scores and a 90% increase in workforce satisfaction through strategic DEI programs and leadership development initiatives.

Her corporate experience spans influential roles at industry-leading organizations, including Senior HR Business Partner at Change Healthcare, where she successfully implemented HR strategies during mergers and acquisitions while preserving 85% of top talent during organizational transformation. At AIG, she led HR strategy for over 700 employees across multiple business units, achieving 95% alignment of performance metrics with organizational objectives. Her tenure at JPMorgan Chase as Assistant Vice President & HR Program Manager showcased her ability to scale talent acquisition strategies nationally, managing over 20,000 employees across six states while achieving a remarkable 41% reduction in employee turnover.

Her educational foundation includes a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Troy University and a Bachelor’s degree in Justice & Public Safety from Auburn University at Montgomery. She maintains current certifications including SHRM-CP, Training & Development from Development Dimensions Institute, and Certified Coaching Skills from Neuro-leadership Results Coaching Systems.

Beyond her professional achievements, she is deeply committed to community service, serving as Foundation Chair for the Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Buckhead Atlanta Chapter, and holding leadership positions with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., while actively mentoring youth through various advocacy programs.

Mario Willis is a graduate of St. John’s University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He brings over ten years of HR and operations experience, leading teams in the construction, retail, and non-profit industries.   

Mario has experience designing and executing human resources strategies related to talent acquisition, culture & wellness, and performance management.  Mario is committed to supporting leaders and team members to deliver on our mission by creating thriving work environments and cultures, translating to success for organizations.  

Rebecca Suarez is a graduate of Rutgers University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology. Previously she worked hiring, onboarding, and training new employees. Currently she is the HR administrative assistant with Essex Consulting and enjoys assisting her colleagues with their HR needs. She is learning more about HR and cannot wait to expand her knowledge.  
While not working, Rebecca loves spending time with her husband, two kids and family. She enjoys going to sporting events and cheering on her favorite teams.  

Sabrina Neal, is an Sr. Manager, HR Business Operations with Essex Consultant, LLC. She is a certified mediator and holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Labor Relations from the New York Institute of Technology. She brings over 20 years of HR experience from both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors making her knowledge of the industry well suited to lead in her field. 

Sabrina served as the Director of Human Resources for California’s largest Labor Local, SEIU 2015 representing over 400,000 long-term care workers with an internal staff of more than 200 employees.  Her scope of responsibility included designing an actionable strategy to recruit, develop and strengthen a diverse workforce. She was a thought leader on policies, benefits and practices that supported equity and inclusion, while implementing tools and services to improve employee performance. In her role as Director of Human Resources for SEIU 2015, Sabrina was instrumental in creating a diverse workforce through recruiting, retention, and employee development initiatives.

Prior to joining SEIU Local 2015, Sabrina led as the Vice President of Human Resources for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, an after-school youth development program and camp.  In this role, Sabrina providing HR support and leadership for over 300 youth development professionals. In this role, Sabrina enhanced the performance management process and managed a restructure of the club staff.

In her spare time, Sabrina enjoys, creating memories with her husband, friends and family, discovering new restaurants, and traveling.

Sarah Nikula has a diverse background spanning nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Sarah is an enthusiastic Human Resources professional with extensive experience supporting organizations through every stage of the employee lifecycle. Her expertise includes employee relations, handbook development, recruitment, leave administration, workers’ compensation, and unemployment claims management.

Sarah has held senior-level HR roles, bringing both strategic insight and practical, hands-on experience to her work. She is known for her comprehensive understanding of HR functions, her collaborative style, and her commitment to creating positive, compliant, and engaging workplace environments.

She earned her Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Sacred Heart University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Centenary University. Her educational background, combined with her broad professional experience, equips her with a well-rounded perspective on organizational dynamics and employee engagement.

Genuinely passionate about her field, Sarah brings her full energy and expertise to every client engagement—always striving to deliver meaningful, values-driven solutions that align people strategy with business goals.

While not working, Sarah loves getting lost in a good book, golfing, or baking new desserts for her husband to try.