About Us

Hymes & Associates Consulting, LLC (HNA Consulting) is a human capital management service delivery-consulting group located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The group was established to work with organizations, teams, and individuals to help bridge the gap between what people are currently doing in the workplace and where they need to be to reach peak performance. HNA Consulting works with growing technology and government Information Technology firms to help bridge the gap between what people are currently doing in the workplace and where they need to be to bring about desired results.  Our consulting team consists of human resource executives, industrial-organizational psychologists, corporate trainers, and organizational development practitioners - all working to meet your business objectives. We provide top-level human capital management consulting and training services on a cost-effective basis. Our mission is to work with management teams and individuals to train, develop and coach individuals to peak performance, which, in turn, will increase your bottom line profits by leaps and bounds.  Our consultants are experts in workforce management and human resources best practices. We specialize in developing your human capital! We accomplish this through strategic human resource planning, management and leadership training seminars, leadership development initiatives, and organization development consulting engagements. HNA Consulting is proud to offer expansive resources to clients while still giving them the personal attention expected from a small firm.

Our Approach

At HNA Consulting it is our goal to partner with your organization to provide human resource development expertise and exceptional customer service through our line of professional services. We will train your staff through our Corporate Training Seminars. We will develop the “people” skills in your high-potential managers through our Coaching Program and/or leadership development programs. If it is personality style that you are interested in, we provide an array of personality assessments through our Workplace Assessment Program. We will partner with your management team and provide retreat facilitation, team development meetings, and succession planning initiatives via Organization Development Consulting. If your organization is too small to have its own human resources department, we will function as your human resource experts and provide you with competent HR services through our Human Resources On-call Consulting Program.

About Amy Hymes

Dr. Amy Hymes, PhD is President/CEO of Hymes & Associates Consulting, LLC and Founder of The Development Connection Training group.  Dr. Hymes is an organizational psychologist and highly seasoned business executive specializing in ‘people development’ and has a talent for driving business results through human capital development.  With over 20 years of progressive human resources management and organization development experience gained through independent consultancy; military service; corporate HR management roles; education; and community service, she has directed the development and implementation of many human resources programs.  Her expertise excels in the areas of:  strategic human resource planning; policies and programs covering equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations; staffing and recruitment; compensation administration; performance management; employee relations; and EEO regulatory compliance. Amy has experience providing executive-level coaching on performance management, career development, leadership development, and succession planning initiative. Her skills also involve leading teams and working collaboratively to accomplish organizational outcomes. Her strong relationship management and interpersonal skills helps to build rapport and trust throughout any organization. She has the ability to provide vision and leadership; and the foresight to think outside standard conventions and strategies. Through her consulting engagements, Amy has worked with clients such as General Dynamics-Information Technology, Special Olympics International, Visa USA, Holy Cross Hospital, Nextlink Communications, Marriott International, and a host of others.

Dr. Hymes holds a B.S. Business Administration; M.S. Human Resource Management; and PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. She is a certified Diversity & Multiculturalism Trainer; Certified Trainer/Coach/Consultant in Workplace Mediation; specialized emotional intelligence (EI) facilitator; and leadership development expert.  She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), American Psychological Association (APA), Society for Industrial –Organizational Psychology (SIOP), National Association of Female Executives (NAFE), and many others.

Hymes & Associates is available for consulting engagements, group & one-on-one coaching, corporate training seminars, professional development workshops and keynote speeches for schools, associations, and community organizations on a local, national and international basis.

Amy’s Personal Story:

I, Amy Hymes was born the second child of four, to parents James and Angelena Hymes, down in John’s Island, South Carolina, a small rural town in Charleston County. I have an older sister Anita (who is very bossy). She is a child development professional and works as a Civil Service Director for the military in England; a brother Gerald (who is Living La Vida Loca), a younger brother Troy, (who is a little creative minded, a musician/drummer), and an Aunt Easter, (who thinks she’s my sister). She’s a victim services advocate and heads up that program for the Charleston County Sheriff department in South Carolina. My Dad is not an educated man (in the traditional sense); however; he is a very wise and inspirational person with loads of self-esteem. My father is a minister and we grew up as PK’s (preacher kids). We grew up very modest in the Hymes family  (well I guess I should say impoverished), but we had lots of love and support in our family. My parents were able to buy us a home and we never went without the basics. Actually, I didn’t realize we were underprivileged until I went off to college. There, I always dreamed of being a psychologist, but I knew my family could not afford it and did not have the money to send me through 9 – 10 years of school. They were barely scraping together to keep Anita and I in college. As a result, my mother always talked about going to school and becoming a “Computer Programmer” because that’s where the money would be in the future (but, I always had a dream of becoming a Psychologist and helping others). Friends, I’ve gone through a lot of trials and tribulations in my life to get to where I am today. First and foremost, the most devastating thing that can happen to a young person is to lose a parent. Well, our Mother (the rock of our family) died when I was 19 and my support system was crashed forever. After her death, my sister and I struggled financially to finish college (but we did it … through persistence, faith, and the grace of God). But that’s not all, I went through a heartbreak divorce at 29, and had to support my sister through an unexpected horrendous divorce of her own. But we made it thorough, look at me now! When I got that divorce, I thought it was very important to “take back” my maiden name, because I knew I would reach a level of great success and I wanted to give that honor to my family-the Hymes Family. Consequently, I was able to struggle through, complete my undergraduate degree, and then I joined the active duty military (US Air Force). I needed a way to get out of small town USA. From there, I was able to complete my Masters degree (to prepare me for business ownership), then finally (seven years later) a PhD in Psychology. ~ I had reached one of my life dreams. Was it difficult? Oh yes, lots of sacrifices and very long-long nights. Who would have imagined that coming from such humble beginnings that one could still reach massive success! Well, I did, Amy Hymes from small town USA. I

IMAGINED it. I Dreamed. I THOUGHT about it. But most importantly, I BELIEVED! I always had a taste for ultimate success; I visualized and believed. I was actually a dreamer since I was a child, and my mother never made me stop imagining what could be. I would put myself into character from a book that I read and act as if I were living in that spot (even though it was only in my mind).

I always thought I was a quiet person; however, it was always very important to me to “express” myself, especially at home. I was, should I say, “very expressive” (my sister would probably say very stubborn) growing up. I always had a mind of my own and that ‘willful’ and ‘vocal’ manner often got me into serious trouble with my Mom. You see, one thing you need to know about Southern folk is that they have this saying, “spear the rod …spoil the child”. In other words, we got whippings’: for talking back, for being defiant, for not accomplishing chores on time, for not having dinner cooked by the time my Mom got home, etc. etc. etc. I always tried to outsmart that woman, I could do it with my dad (because I was his “baby girl”), but my Mom was always one step ahead of me. I love that woman for that. There was absolutely no wiggle room to get into trouble, or to go down the wrong road with her. We had to be accounted for at ALL times. When I look back on my childhood, I know that my parents did the best that they knew how. Now, I realize that those strict disciplines, life struggles, humble beginnings, and words of wisdom from my dear Mom is what gave me the perseverance to want more out of life and to DREAM BIG.

After my High School graduation, my mother wrote a letter to me and it’s what I’ve used as my inspiration to keep me going everyday for the past twenty-four years. I never got to tell her thank you. Since you didn’t have the privilege to hear my mom’s soft voice and her strong words I want to share that very same letter that she wrote to me with you today for encouragement.

The message: Be persistent in whatever you do!

Written June 15, 1983

Dear Candie:

Time just fly by, it waits on no one. When I think back it seems as if it was only a few years ago when you were in kindergarten with your dainty little self and your hard to manage hair (smile). I have seen you progress from there; thru elementary school, thru junior high school, and now thru high school, graduated with honors. I am so very proud of you and your many achievements.

Candie, I want you to remember that this is just the first milestone in your life. Upon entering College this fall, your father and I, only hope that you take your education very serious. We do know that this is your first time away from home, but we believe in you and we know that all of our many years of teaching you good values, that it will all pay off, and that you will continue to make us proud of you.

Remember, nothing comes easy, be PERISTENT in whatever you do, don’t give up so easy. Being persistent, hard studying and being lady like will all contribute to make you one of the best Computer Programmers in 1987. Always put God first in your life and you will succeed!

Love & Success,

Mommy and Daddy

Today, I stand and say proudly, " I am Dr. Amy Hymes."  I am an Organizational Psychologist, a servant leader, a leadership development expert, and I am living my dreams.  My life is an Ultimate Success and I hope my story can be a testimony to inspire and motivate you to live out your dreams. I look forward to working with you very soon and sharing more. 

Thank you Mom!

Now, how may we serve you in your personal development, training and development, and organization development needs? I have a purpose and passion to reach out to help others succeed!  My goal is simple:  I want to help you reach your dreams and live a positive and abundant life.

It's Possible!

"If you will change, everything will change for you." 

   - Jim Rohn

   Call Today!  Let me put my years of 'people development' expertise to work for you today.

                                                (703) 873-7086  e-mail:  amy@amyhymes.com