Hi, I’m Autumn Amescua, and I help companies build workplaces without having to hire a full‑time HR executive. I started Élan HR Solutions back in 2014 after seeing how many small and mid‑sized businesses need solid people strategies but don’t have the budget or headcount for a big HR department. Based in Leander, Texas, I work with purpose‑led teams to tackle everything from hiring and onboarding to employee relations, compensation, and company culture.

My background spans two decades in HR roles across industries like tech, healthcare, retail and entertainment. At SXSW, the music and media festival, I led the HR function and revamped our hiring and onboarding processes—cutting the time to fill new roles from months to weeks and making sure new team members felt welcomed from day one. Before that, I headed HR at Wheatsville Co‑op, rolled out HR and payroll systems for medical companies, and delivered the company’s first Manager’s Guide to Human Resources.

In each role, I focused on practical improvements that make life better for employees and easier for managers—like designing a peer recognition program to strengthen camaraderie, or designing performance management programs that helped managers give meaningful feedback and support growth.

What I love most is partnering with founders and leaders to solve real people problems. Whether you’re hiring your first HR manager, navigating tricky employee relations issues, or trying to figure out pay structures as you grow, I’m here to help. Small businesses are special—you have the agility to create a workplace that reflects your values and supports your team, and my goal is to help you build that kind of environment without unnecessary complexity. I’m an experienced HR professional with a degree in business, but at the end of the day, I believe in plain talk, clear processes, and actions that actually move the needle for your business and your people.

If this sounds like what you need, let’s chat about how Élan HR Solutions!