You work with the leaders, not a queue.
When you engage Best Practices HR, you work directly with people who have sat in the executive chair — across HR, compliance, finance, and financial services. No queue, no handoffs.
Shawn Ellert, MS
Founder & Principal Consultant
Executive HR · Compliance · Operations
Shawn turns complex people, compliance, and operational challenges into clear decisions and forward motion. She works alongside leaders to create structure, strengthen accountability, manage workforce risk, and connect people strategy to business performance. Whether guiding an organization through an audit, resolving a sensitive employee matter, or building the foundation for growth, Shawn brings practical executive judgment and a steady focus on results.
- Builds practical HR and compliance systems that leaders can confidently use
- Guides organizations through audits, certifications, and high-risk workforce matters
- Connects people, operations, and financial discipline to improve business performance
- MS, Organizational Leadership — Purdue University · SHRM member
Keri Colson, MBA
Senior HR Consultant
Organizational Development · Culture · M&A
Keri helps organizations grow, change, and move through disruption without losing the people who make progress possible. With more than 15 years of strategic HR experience, she works at the intersection of culture, organizational development, leadership behavior, and business transformation. Keri brings energy and clarity to complex transitions, helping leaders turn ambitious ideas into people strategies that employees understand, support, and sustain.
- Shapes people strategies for startups, acquisitions, turnarounds, and high-growth organizations
- Guides M&A due diligence, culture integration, and organizational change
- Develops stronger leaders, healthier teams, and more resilient workplace cultures
- MBA, Human Resources Management · Certified Executive Life Coach · SHRM member
Zachariah Ellert, MSA
Accounting & Finance Consultant
Banking · GAAP Reporting · Internal Controls
Zachariah brings order, accuracy, and insight to the numbers leaders rely on. His experience spans banking and multi-entity accounting, including senior accounting work with United Fidelity Bank. He helps organizations strengthen financial reporting, improve close processes, build realistic budgets, and establish controls that support confident decisions. Zachariah pairs rigorous accounting discipline with a practical understanding of financial-institution reporting, controls, and audit readiness.
- Banking-sector and multi-entity accounting experience
- GAAP reporting, reconciliations, budgeting, and month-end close
- Internal controls, audit readiness, and financial-process improvement
- MS, Accounting — Ball State University · CPA candidate — expected 2027
Jeanette Jones, MPA
Senior HR Consultant
HR Strategy · Compliance · Employee Relations
Jeanette brings calm, clarity, and seasoned judgment to HR situations where the stakes are high. Drawing on more than 30 years of leadership experience, she helps organizations solve employee-relations challenges, strengthen managers, reduce compliance risk, and build people practices that can withstand growth and change. Jeanette combines strategic perspective with hands-on execution, moving organizations from uncertainty to practical, sustainable solutions.
- Navigates complex employee-relations, compliance, and workforce challenges
- Led a first Department of Labor audit resulting in findings of full compliance
- Reduced turnover by 10% and retained 90% of top talent during a major restructuring
- MPA and BS — Ball State University · Award-winning HR leader
Credentials & affiliations
SHRM members
Active members of the Society for Human Resource Management.
Established 2020
An independent HR, compliance, and fractional finance advisory firm serving Central Indiana.
55+ years combined
Senior HR, finance, and financial-services experience across regulated and high-growth sectors.