Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cheyanne Schaefer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Cheyanne, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Finding my purpose has been a journey—one that started when I was 16 at my first job. I worked at a small café where most of us were high school students, completely unaware of our rights as employees. We worked long hours without lunch breaks, and anytime we had a moment to breathe, our boss would sing, “If there’s time to lean, there’s time to clean!”
Summers were brutal. The café would get well over 90 degrees, and we’d still be on our feet, running around next to a scorching grill, trying to get orders out as fast as possible. I felt completely worthless in that job, and I knew my coworkers did too. That experience made me start questioning work culture—was this normal? Were other people in my community experiencing the same thing?
That curiosity led me to my passion: employee rights and creating better workplaces. Over the years, I kept working while diving deep into business and human resources. I realized that fostering great workplaces wasn’t just something I cared about—it was my purpose. Now, I’m dedicated to helping small businesses build compliant, thriving workplaces, improving the lives of hundreds of employees along the way.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Most people have a defining moment that changes their life—mine happened when I was 14. My dad, who was my best friend, tragically and unexpectedly passed away in a motorcycle accident. In that earth-shattering moment, my life changed forever.
School, learning, and working were the only things that kept me going. I was angry with God, but I found that the more I buried myself in my studies, the better I felt. Over the next 15 years, I immersed myself in everything related to HR and business. I worked multiple jobs, often putting in 60-hour work weeks. I earned my Master’s Degree in HR, obtained my SHRM-SCP credential, and made significant impacts in every workplace I touched—reducing turnover, revamping onboarding, mitigating workplace risks, and leading strategic planning and learning & development programs across various trades. Through this work, I found healing. I was transforming workplaces while, in many ways, rebuilding myself.
But in the midst of that grind, I had a wake-up call. I had been running from my grief for so long that I had lost my connection with God—and I found myself in an unhealthy marriage. I knew that if I wanted to continue making a positive impact on others, I had to create a positive and healthy life for myself first. I turned back to my faith and prayed for God to lead me down the right path. After years of struggling to find a way out of the marriage, God—and a community of 15 incredible family members and friends—came together to help me start over.
In the past year, I’ve built a whole new life. In addition to my fresh start, I launched my own company, Cascade HR. The best part about Cascade HR is getting to combine my purpose and passion through helping small businesses create thriving, compliant workplaces that foster growth, safety, and positive relationships.
Cascade HR is growing strategically, focusing on quality and impact. Our team of five includes experienced HR professionals, a marketing expert, and an office administrator. As we continue to expand, we’re excited to partner with even more small businesses, helping them build strong, people-centered workplaces full-time. Best of all, I know my Dad and loved ones are proud of how far I have come, and I look forward to continuing to make them proud.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the three qualities that had the greatest impact on my journey are resilience, a hunger for learning, and the ability to build strong relationships. Life will always throw curveballs, and success comes from embracing those moments, learning from them, and pushing forward. While leadership has always been one of my natural strengths, I had to put in the work—continually learning about business and HR to stay at the top of my game. But more than anything, I wouldn’t be where I am today without God and the incredible people in my life. Their faith in me, especially in the toughest moments, has made all the difference.
My best advice? Learn from the mistakes of others. We don’t all have to stumble over the same hurdles. By networking, sharing experiences, and leading with heart, we can help each other grow, avoid costly missteps, and ultimately build stronger, more successful businesses and communities—together.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
At Cascade HR, our ideal client is a small business owner who truly cares about their people, wants to build a thriving, compliant, and positive workplace, and is open to trusting our expertise to support their business. We work best with leaders who value their employees and want an engaged workforce, are growth-minded and open to improving processes, and proactive in avoiding costly mistakes.
HR isn’t just about policies—it’s about people. And people drive profit. That’s why our strategy is focused on building strong, people-first workplaces that fuel business success.
The businesses that see the most success with us are the ones that embrace strategic HR solutions instead of just checking boxes. If you’re a business owner who wants to build something sustainable, minimize risk, and create an environment where both your company and your employees can flourish, we’d love to work with you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cascade-hr.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cascade.hr/
Image Credits
Cheyanne Schaefer, Kaelyn Vanbever, SHRM
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