Her Story
About Shelly
Shelly Simpson is a strategic and values-driven human resources executive who serves as Chief People Officer at Hose Master, a Cleveland-area manufacturing company specializing in flexible metal hose. Reporting directly to the CEO and owner, Shelly leads initiatives focused on talent development, succession planning, organizational development, and building the people infrastructure needed to support long-term growth. She previously served as Vice President of Human Resources at Hose Master and has held senior HR and organizational development roles with Bettcher Industries, Team Wendy, Avon Protection, and Dan T. Moore Company.
Shelly’s career has been shaped by a unique combination of human resources leadership and hands-on manufacturing operations experience. Early in her career, an HR leader encouraged her to step outside the traditional HR function, while a manufacturing plant manager gave her the opportunity to grow into an operations management role. These experiences strengthened her understanding of business operations and reinforced her belief that HR should serve as a strategic bridge between an organization and its people. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration from Ohio University and an MBA in General Business from Tiffin University, and she is a Certified Plan Sponsor Professional with expertise in 401(k) regulations.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Shelly is committed to family, service, and personal well-being. She enjoys spending time with her two children, hiking and being active in nature, and following sports. She also supports Mission 22, an organization dedicated to addressing veteran mental health and suicide prevention. Guided by empathy, transparency, high standards, and operational excellence, Shelly strives to create workplaces where employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to grow while helping organizations build strong foundations for sustainable success.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shelly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I really think that it is I spent some time out of human resources in manufacturing operations, and I really feel like that shaped my view of how HR should interact with an organization And it really drove home that HR is really obviously for both the organization and also the employee. It doesnt have to be just for the employer or just for the business. Its really a liaison between those two entities and really helping to drive the growth for both of them.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A mentor recommended to me that you really have to understand the full business in order to be successful in human resources. You know, whether that's taking a position in a different function or not, but really understanding the business is really something that actually proven very beneficial for me.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say don't be afraid to try something new. I was nervous about leaving HR and going into operations management, but it was really the best thing that I feel like I did for my career. So just take the leap
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges and opportunities in my field are talent acquisition and scaling for business growth. It is essential to find the right people while looking at the whole person—not just their current skill set, but also their aptitude, potential, and desire to grow. I believe people should be given opportunities when they demonstrate the capability and willingness to learn.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are honesty, integrity, empathy, and hard work. I believe these qualities are essential in both my personal and professional life. Success requires a willingness to roll up my sleeves, put in the effort, and remain committed to doing the right thing.
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