Phil Castle, The Business Times

Ed Krey recounts the comments he’s heard from business owners to whom he’s provided human resources services. If only they’d taken advantage of those services earlier, their experiences running their ventures would have been different.

It’s a response Krey says he not only appreciates but also one that goes to the heart of the mission for his Grand Junction consulting firm. And that’s lending support that makes running a business a far easier, less costly and ultimately more enjoyable proposition.

In expanding service lines and staffing, Lighthouse HR Support provides a range of resources spanning the employment process, he says. “We feel like we’ve got a lot of things covered under our HR umbrella.”

Lighthouse HR combines under one brand operations that previously included Employer Representatives, Background Research and Krey Benefit Solutions.

Krey purchased part of the operation in 2006 providing unemployment insurance claims management services and group benefits. He’d worked as an unemployment insurance hearing consultant as well as designed and implemented employee benefits.

His wife, Kathy Krey, retired as a Mesa County School District 51 counselor and in 2013 purchased Background Research to provide employee screening and monitoring services.

Kelly Murphy joined the operation in 2018, bringing nearly 30 years of HR experience as well as a plan to offer additional services to meet the needs of businesses. 

Karen Zimmerman and Lindsay Woodrich joined the firm more recently, adding to a staff that also includes Mari Duree and Benny Mestas.

Ed Krey says it’s challenging for businesses with an HR manager or even an HR department to stay apprised of changing laws and regulations and handle the myriad employment issues that arise. It’s far more challenging for small businesses with owners who have neither the expertise nor time. The situation has worsened, he says, with the recent increase in unemployment benefits fraud as well as a shallow labor pool that’s made recruiting and retention all the more important.

Murphy says Lighthouse HR Support tailors its services to provide as little or much as needed.

With no packages to purchase, businesses pay only for those services they need, Murphy says.

Those services can start with recruiting and pre-employment screening, including assistance with applications and interviews as well as employment and education verification and criminal and credit checks. Continuous monitoring for criminal activity and professional licensing also is available.

Ed Krey says the firm uses a national platform and software that makes it easy and secure to order background checks.

Other services offer assistance with performance reviews, disciplinary actions, termination meetings and exit interviews. The firm also helps employers create and review personnel handbooks. 

Live and web-based presentations offer training on such topics as conflict management, diversity, harassment prevention and management.

Murphy says the firm offers an assessment tool and develops plans to fill gaps in HR services.

Still other services offer assistance with unemployment insurance, including ways to reduce the risk of claims as well as claims processing, management and representation.

While the situation since has improved, Ed Krey says there was a surge in 2020 in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims and identity theft cases. It’s critical for businesses to respond to fraudulent claims as well as review quarterly charge statements to avoid increased premiums, he says.

In addition, Lighthouse HR Support offers services related to group benefits, including health, vision and life insurance. Even if businesses can’t afford to pay for benefits, group purchasing extends lower costs to employees, he says.

Lighthouse HR Support also provides a Compliance Connection newsletter about federal and state employment laws and regulations. Murphy says the newsletter conveys what can be complex information in ways business owners can understand and apply.

Moreover, the firm responds to what it terms HR 911 calls to quickly deal with questions about how to handle situations.

If the firm doesn’t have an answer, it seeks additional resources or offers referrals, Murphy says. “If we don’t know something, we’re not going to say we do.”

That’s part of what Ed Krey says is a core value of integrity that hasn’t changed over the years.

What has changed, he says, is expanding services and staff and improved technology to better serve businesses as well as promote growth for Lighthouse HR Support. 

“There are tremendous opportunities with all the service lines.”

He hopes more business owners take advantage of those services and change their experiences in running their ventures.

For more information about Lighthouse HR Support, call 243-7789 or visit the website located at www.lighthousehrs.net.