Her Story
About Ashley
Ashley Haneline is a Human Resources Manager at Embroidery Solutions SC, a manufacturing company in South Carolina that produces stars for the American flag. She began her career with the organization as an office assistant and gradually expanded her responsibilities into human resources, eventually earning a promotion to HR Manager after demonstrating strong leadership, reliability, and people-centered support. With approximately three years in the manufacturing industry and around six months in her current managerial role, she brings a growing yet impactful background in HR operations, employee relations, and workforce development. Her work is defined by a strong focus on recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and employee development, with a particular passion for apprenticeship programs. Ashley serves as a key apprenticeship sponsor and mentor in partnership with Apprenticeship Carolina, helping new employees transition into skilled roles while earning Department of Labor-recognized certifications. She is also certified as an HR Generalist and Learning and Development Specialist through AIHR | Academy to Innovate HR, and is currently pursuing a SHRM-CP certification. Known for her empathetic and people-first leadership style, Ashley believes that supported employees build stronger, more successful organizations. She has found the greatest fulfillment in guiding people to recognize their strengths, step into their potential, and pursue work that aligns with their purpose. She believes everyone has untapped capacity, and with the right support and encouragement, they can achieve more than they initially imagine. Being able to play even a small role in someone’s growth—watching their confidence build and their vision become clearer—is what continually inspires her.
Ashley believes that with the right coaching, an opportunity to grow, and just having someone say “hey… I believe in you,” someone can transform right before your very eyes. And for Ashley, witnessing that transformation is the most rewarding part of her job.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ashley
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my daughters. Being a single mom that works full-time is hard, because I'm not always there to help with homework or hear how their day was right when they get home from school. But knowing that they're watching me, my accomplishments mean more. My challenges are easier to overcome. And I want to be the best version of myself so I can make them proud.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to find your people. Whether it be on a professional basis, personally, or both - and just lean on them. We all wake up every day, we have to go to work, and we have to pay the bills - but we don't have to do it alone. There are people that can and will want to help you in your journey. And you should absolutely be that person for someone else too.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say, no matter what you think going into the field, you're not as behind as you think you are. As long as you're going into a company that cares about your development, they'll get you those certifications and whatever you need to help you grow. I always had that imposter syndrome and thought, "what am I doing here?" I'd see others around me with degrees and all these plaques on their wall and feel a bit out of place. But at the end of the day, they would tell me that I work just as hard as they do, and I'll get there. Everyone's journey looks a little different, but just be true to yourself, work hard, and remember that you are worth having a seat at the table.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Flag manufacturers are really struggling with overseas bulk productions that claim to be American-made. These flags are threatening to American workers in this trade especially, because it's a lot cheaper to buy the fraudulent ones from overseas. This puts a lot of manufacturing jobs at risk, especially in the textile industry. So that's a big challenge that we're kind of fighting right now. Thanks to the FMAA and NIFDA, there have been some bills and things that have passed over the past few months that make us hopeful, you know, kind of fighting to keep our jobs safe and make sure that the stars and the stripes are made right here at home.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are loyalty, integrity, and accountability. I consider these the foundation of how I conduct myself and the principles that guide my decisions and interactions.
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