Meet Montani

We’re an HR consultancy and then some. Montani is a strategic partner for fast-growing (and wish-to-be fast-growing) businesses that need “people support” in order to reach their peak.

Let’s Partner

What We Do

The Montani team removes HR barriers to organizational growth and handles people operations needs so our clients are free to focus on their own areas of expertise. We work with businesses of all sizes and industries within the U.S., though we have a soft spot for small- and medium-sized organizations led by particularly ambitious and gritty founders. Our affordable services enable clients to scale in the most successful *and healthy* way.

 

Montani provides support for every “peak” of the entire employee lifecycle.

We provide full-service people operations support, including:

• Comprehensive HR Discovery (our fancy phrase for “audit”)

• Human resources management

• Recruitment strategy and execution

• Orientation and onboarding support

• Benefits implementation and management

• Compensation analysis

• Performance reviews and coaching

• Employee engagement and retention

• Training and development for all levels of the organization

• Certified DiSC services and other workshops


We are headquartered in North Carolina but are poised and credentialed to do business in all 50 states. So whether your challenge requires in-person consultation or not, we’re here to help.

View all Montani services

Meet the Founder

Katherine Daniel, SHRM-SCP

For Katherine Daniel, SHRM-SCP, Montani Consulting is the culmination of two decades of experience and success (and slight obsession, to be honest) across the fields of leadership development, employer branding, recruitment marketing, and human resources. In short, Katherine is deeply knowledgeable about all things people operations. Before launching Montani, she kick-started the joint HR and Marketing division of one of the nation’s fastest-growing media companies, spearheading people ops initiatives that led to top recognition for employee workplace satisfaction and company growth from Inc., Fortune, Entrepreneur, and many others.

While working full-time, Katherine managed to serve as a mentor, confidant, and trusted advisor for many HR pros and top executives. Then, in 2021, it became clear: Her next professional chapter would leverage her passion for helping other growth-minded business leaders build high-performing, highly loyal teams made up of people who are encouraged to bring their very best to work every day. She now lives out this passion through Montani Consulting, supporting dozens of businesses, from startups to well-established, all across the U.S. From non-profits and retail companies to those in healthcare, technology, real estate, and food production, Katherine (and team) meet the HR needs of clients wishing to reach their peak in business. 

Katherine embodies the “work hard, play hard” mindset, always gearing up to catch the next live concert on her calendar or to host a get-together at her home in coastal Wilmington, NC. When the work day ends, it’s a safe bet Katherine will either have a new book in her hand or will be tuning in to Jeopardy. Either way, her rescue pup, Alice, is most definitely by her side.

Meet the Team

Suzanne Baker,
SHRM-SCP
Benjamin Whitman,
SHRM-SCP
Emily Saarm
Rebecca Macklin
Carolina Bartolome
Marshall Padgett,
SHRM-SCP, SPHR, PMP
Facebook Linkedin
Facebook Linkedin Phone
© 2025 Montani Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

© 2025 Montani Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

Suzanne Baker, SHRM-SCP

Suzanne Baker finds joy in connecting great organizations with the HR solutions they need – a career that began a decade ago thanks to Montani’s very own founder and principal, Katherine Daniel. Katherine was the first HR leader to take a chance on Suzanne, a broadcast meteorologist by trade who was determined to excel in human resources. Together, the pair continue to help businesses reach their peak through Montani Consulting. 

Over the years, Suzanne has worked with companies of all sizes and industries, earned her SHRM Senior Certified Professional designation, and discovered her HR “sweet spot”: a focus on client relations with healthy doses of benefits administration, data gathering, and process creation. 

A North Carolinian through and through, Suzanne is a proud NC State grad who lives in Fuquay-Varina with her husband, two young babes, and tweenie Dachshund named Lacey. She’s an award-winning baker with multiple NC State Fair Culinary Competition ribbons to her name. In her limited free time (living that working-parent-of-two life, y’all), Suzanne enjoys traveling, trying new bakeries, and getting lost in a good book.

Benjamin Whitman, SHRM-SCP

Benjamin Whitman is passionate about transformational HR and helping people achieve more personal success than they believe possible. He joined Montani after years working for household names like Lowe’s and Walgreens in a hybrid HR and field support role, where he learned the power of exceptional customer service and how this applies to people operations overall. When he’s not challenging HR teams to add as much value to their business as possible, you’ll likely find Ben checking out some local breweries with his husband Greg, enjoying the outdoors with their two rescue beagles, or spoiling his two adorable nieces.

Emily Saarm

Emily Saarm joined the Montani Consulting team seeking to learn from the best in human resources. It’s safe to say she’s not only picked up some industry know-how but is unquestionably a key piece of partnering with Montani’s clients from the initial recruiting stages through onboarding new hires. 

Many aspects of HR spark her interest, but it’s acquiring top talent for clients and creating a unique candidate experience that really has her heart. After all, she firmly believes employees are at the core of every great, growth-minded organization – and we couldn’t agree more. 

When she’s not lending her HR insight to Montani clients, Emily enjoys working out, spending time with friends, and binge-watching the latest reality tv show (#NoJudgement).

Rebecca Macklin

Becca Macklin has worked to improve people operations functions for companies across the legal, medical, and e-commerce industries. Today, she’s thrilled to provide her valuable insight to an even wider range of fields as a Human Resources Consultant with Montani Consulting. 

Becca is experienced in every step of the employee recruitment and onboarding journey. Beyond tackling recruitment goals, her strength lies in collaborating with upper management to develop and execute creative strategies to take employee relations to the next level. 

Becca fills her downtime rooting for the Tar Heels, trying out new restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops, and enjoying the company of her basset hound-lab mix, Jaz.

Carolina Bartolome

Carolina Bartolome has a hand in many of Montani’s HR services – from administrative tasks and project execution to talent acquisition, recruitment, and onboarding. Once a lead teacher of preschoolers, Carolina now approaches her burgeoning career in HR with a student mentality. In addition to teaching, she gained invaluable experience as a professional recruiter in the medical industry prior to joining Montani. 

Carolina hails from Mexico City – she is fluent in Spanish and English – and has lived in several countries worldwide. With the organizational prowess of a teacher, the know-how of an experienced recruiter, and a unique worldly perspective, Carolina has made an impressive impact in her short time with Montani thus far. 

Beyond client work, Carolina lets loose through surfing, baking, photography, working out, and spending time around dogs (her own as well as others she trains).

Marshall Padgett, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, PMP

Marshall Padgett knows a thing or two about leading teams and inspiring others to achieve their best. With 22 years in the United States Army, Marshall honed his expertise in all things HR, from strategic policies and DEI initiatives to the nuts and bolts of recruiting and daily operations. Throughout his career, he wore many hats – mentor, coach, and leader – supporting everyone from senior Army leaders to new recruits and civilian employees. His ability to adapt and lead in any situation is a testament to his talent and commitment.

Marshall is a lifelong learner at heart, holding both a B.S. in Business Management and an M.S. in Criminal Justice. He’s also earned over a half dozen certifications reflecting his passion for continuous growth and service to others. Today, he’s excited to bring that depth of knowledge and genuine desire to help others thrive to Montani Consulting.

A proud Texan who now lives in South Carolina, Marshall stays active in his community as a Palmetto Pathfinder, ensuring veterans get connected to the resources they deserve. When he’s not working or giving back, you’ll find him enjoying life on the lake with his wife, Tina, and their German Shepherd rescue, Titan, and Australian Shepherd rescue, Max – often with a good book nearby or planning their next outdoor adventure.

I'd like to receive free HR advice to my inbox each month!