About · ClearLine HR

The Work

I'm not a portal. I'm not a hotline. I'm not an AI that's confident about the wrong answer.

I learn how your organization actually works — the people, the dynamics, the things that live in everyone's heads but nowhere on paper. I give you real answers. I stay engaged when things get complicated and when things are going well.

The goal isn't to be the person you call when things fall apart. It's to be the reason they don't.

The Why

I didn't end up here because
it's all I know.

I've worked across organizations of every size — from family-owned businesses to enterprises operating across dozens of states. I know what HR looks like when it has a seat at the table, a real budget, and a full team behind it.

And I know how rarely small organizations ever get access to that kind of support.

I choose this work deliberately. Because I've been inside the small organization — wearing multiple hats, doing my absolute best, and still not sure if the work was actually making a difference — or if I was just treading water, doing things the way they'd always been done because nobody had ever stopped to ask why.

I know what it feels like to not know where to turn when something seems off. When something feels risky. When you're not even sure what question to ask.

The right HR isn't a cost of doing business. It's an investment — in your people, your stability, and your ability to grow. One of the better business decisions you can make. And I'll help you see that.

Who This Is For Small to mid-size organizations — often without a dedicated HR department, the in-house expertise, or the bandwidth to handle what's in front of them.

What Gets Better — Assure compliance and reduce risk. — Hire better. Lose fewer. — Better managers make stronger teams. — Processes that actually work — and give you time back. — Focus attention on the business. — Improve the bottom line.

Credentials SPHR · SHRM-SCP

Who's Behind ClearLine HR

The people you'll actually work with.

No intake coordinators. No phone trees. The people listed here are the people you'll hear from.

Nicole Tillman Founder & HR Advisor

Nicole Tillman

Founder & HR Advisor

The person you'll work with directly. Every engagement, every conversation, every time.

Nicole brings 25+ years of HR experience — across manufacturing, nonprofits, construction, franchising, healthcare, and professional services. A direct communication style and a genuine interest in getting it right for your organization.

She builds things. She doesn't just advise on them. You get tools and processes built specifically for your organization — not a binder full of generic templates and a list of things for you to figure out. And she stays until it's working. That's just how she operates.

HR is HR. The principles don't change based on what you make or sell — and neither does the standard of work she brings.

Wendy Zylka Operations Manager

Wendy Zylka

Operations Manager

Wendy brings more than three decades of experience that most people don't find in one person — city government, small business ownership, and family business operations.

She knows what it actually takes to run a small organization because she's done it herself. At ClearLine HR, Wendy keeps things running — for the practice and for our clients. Scheduling, billing, follow-through, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.

When you reach out, Wendy is often the first voice you'll hear. She knows the work, she knows the clients, and she knows how to make sure you get what you need.

Small Business Owner City Government Experience Operations & Billing 30+ Years Experience Follow-Through You Can Count On Licensed Insurance Producer

How I Work

Four things you can count on,
every time.

I learn how your organization actually works before I suggest how to make it better.

I don't do scare tactics. I'm not much of a sugar-coater either. My goal is to help you understand where things actually stand — and what to do about it.

You get what your situation actually needs. Not what's easiest for me to deliver.

I stay until it's working. That's just how I operate.

Speaking

In the room.

Nicole speaks to audiences who are doing the work without the infrastructure — city administrators, small business owners, nonprofit leaders, and office managers wearing more hats than anyone planned.

Past Engagements Include

Minnesota Department of Administration — Office of Equity in Procurement
Association of Women Contractors
Boyum & Barenscheer
MN DOT Small Business Resource Center
MCFOA Annual Conference

Available Topics

HR Without an HR Department State Employment Law Paid Family & Medical Leave Anti-Harassment Training Reasonable Suspicion Supervisor Training What New Managers Get Wrong

Community and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to reach out regardless of budget.

Invite Nicole to Speak →

I handle the HR work
you didn't sign up for.

I didn't end up here because
it's all I know.

The people you'll actually work with.

Nicole Tillman

Wendy Zylka

Four things you can count on,
every time.

In the room.

Start with a conversation.
No commitment required.

I didn't end up here becauseit's all I know.

The people you'll actually work with.

Nicole Tillman

Wendy Zylka

Four things you can count on,every time.

In the room.

Start with a conversation.No commitment required.

I didn't end up here because
it's all I know.

Four things you can count on,
every time.

Start with a conversation.
No commitment required.