Meet the BlueHippo Team
Meet Gillian Ettwein, PHR
Founder & Fractional HR Partner
Gillian is the Founder of BlueHippo HR and a Certified HR Professional with more than 18 years of experience providing fractional HR consulting, strategic HR leadership, and people operations support to small businesses, startups, nonprofits, and growing organizations.
She works alongside founders, executives, and leadership teams to make thoughtful, informed people decisions that support employees, protect the business, and align with long-term organizational goals. Her expertise spans the full employee lifecycle, including talent acquisition and recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, compensation strategy and salary benchmarking, benefits, workforce planning, employee handbooks and policies, HR compliance, and organizational development.
With extensive experience supporting remote and multi-state teams, Gillian helps businesses navigate complex federal and state employment requirements while building practical HR processes that can scale as they grow. She also brings a strong operational perspective to her work, helping clients improve HR operations, implement HR technology, streamline workflows, and create greater clarity and accountability across their teams.
As a Monday.com Certified expert, Gillian combines people strategy, HR technology, and business operations to build systems that make work easier and more effective.
At the heart of Gillian’s work is a belief that HR should feel human. She serves as a trusted fractional HR partner to the organizations she supports, working alongside their teams to solve problems, navigate difficult situations, strengthen workplace culture, and make the best decisions for both their people and their business.
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Tracy, PHR
Director of Operations, HR & People Support
Tracy brings immense organizational and administrative expertise to the BlueHippo team, with over 14 years of experience in the HR and multimedia industries. Her exceptional communication skills and creativity fuel innovative solutions, and her hyper-attentive approach ensures precision in every task. She is well-versed in implementing DE&I initiatives, developing comprehensive HR policies and procedures, conducting in-depth research, and managing data manipulation.
No challenge is too big; Tracy thrives on tackling complex problems, streamlining operations, and creating inclusive, well-structured workplaces.
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Noah, PMP
Senior Project Manager
Noah brings over a decade of experience managing complex projects and workflows in insurance and healthcare IT, working with both large corporations and startups. A PMP®-certified Project Manager, he is skilled in overseeing timelines, budgets, resources, and cross-functional teams, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.
With expertise in managing the full project lifecycle, he has a proven track record of driving efficiency and successful outcomes. Additionally, Noah is a seasoned copywriter and technical writer, with experience across industries ranging from healthcare to heavy machinery.
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Kate, PHR
Operations & Project Manager
Kate loves bringing order to complexity. Give her a lot of moving pieces, a messy process, or something that needs a little extra structure, and she’s happy to jump in and figure it out. With over a decade of experience across entertainment, education, small business, and nonprofit, Kate has worked in HR, Operations, Event Production, and Executive Support, efficiently managing projects while always leading with curiosity and empathy.
Kate is a PHR-certified HR professional and current MFA candidate in Performance Pedagogy. She has a lifelong interest in how people learn, collaborate, and thrive in their workplaces.
When she’s not working or studying, Kate enjoys board games, jigsaw puzzles, and bar trivia with her family - so apparently, she seeks out puzzles even when no one is paying her to solve them. -
Rachael
Administrative Coordinator
Rachael brings a thoughtful, organized approach to supporting the BlueHippo team and our clients. With strong attention to detail and a dependable work ethic, she helps keep day-to-day operations organized, communication clear, and projects moving forward.
She enjoys learning new systems, tackling new challenges, and jumping in wherever support is needed. With a positive attitude and a genuine desire to help others, Rachael is excited to continue growing her skills, building relationships, and contributing to an exceptional experience for both our team and our clients.
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Olivia
Marketing and Engagement Coordinator
Stay tuned to learn more about Olivia!
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Lisette
Executive Assistant & Special Projects
Lissette is a highly efficient and results-driven professional known for her friendly demeanor, strong communication skills, and ability to deliver high-quality work. With extensive experience supporting Silicon Valley companies, she excels in conducting research, updating blogs and social media, coordinating travel arrangements, preparing presentations, and assembling reports. Her keen attention to detail and ability to streamline processes make her an invaluable asset in optimizing business operations and driving efficiency.
In her free time, she enjoys making home improvements and can often be found perusing the aisles of Ikea or Home Depot.
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Regan
Intern
Regan is a motivated college student who brings initiative, curiosity, and a strong willingness to grow. She is eager to gain experience in marketing and assistant work, building on her existing skills while continuing to expand her knowledge. Known for her problem-solving mindset, Regan enjoys taking on challenges, finding practical solutions, and seeing projects through to completion. She values collaboration, appreciates diverse perspectives, and is excited to contribute fresh ideas that support both colleagues and clients.
Grateful for the opportunity to be part of the team, Regan is committed to improving each day and helping the company succeed.
Outside of work, she balances her college studies with time at the lake, creative projects in art, and connecting with friends. -
Yezica
Translation Specialist
Yezica is a seasoned translator with 18 years of experience, specializing in accurately conveying meaning, tone, and cultural nuances across languages. Her expertise spans a wide range of content, from technical manuals and corporate communications to marketing materials and social media advertisements, ensuring linguistic integrity and coherence in every project. She is adept at localization, transcreation, and adapting content for diverse audiences while maintaining brand voice and message clarity.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Yezica enjoys traveling and immersing herself in different cultures and cuisines with her family.
We support Home Fur Good
At BlueHippo, we’re proud to support HomeFurGood, a Phoenix-based nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehoming dogs and cats in need. This organization holds a special place in our hearts, as it’s where our founder, Gillian, adopted her beloved family dog, Beanie.
HomeFurGood’s mission aligns with our values of care, compassion, and community, and we’re honored to champion their work. If you’re looking to make a difference in the lives of rescue dogs and cats, consider donating or visiting their website to find your new best friend!