About Shimer Consulting

Practical HR solutions and leadership development tailored for California’s hospitality, wine, and service industries.

  • 45+ Years of Industry Expertise – Real-world experience in luxury resorts and Napa Valley wineries.
  • Compliance & Culture – Protecting your business while fostering a high-performance workplace.
  • Bilingual HR Leadership – Bridging the gap with full English and Spanish support for diverse teams.

Our Values

  • Integrity First: We lead with honesty, transparency, and accountability in every partnership.
  • People-Centered: We place respect, fairness, and the human experience at the core of our work.
  • Inclusive Leadership: We develop leaders who lead by example with integrity and consistency, fostering inclusive environments where all can thrive.
  • Expertise & Excellence: We deliver practical, high-impact solutions informed by over 45 years of collective HR and leadership experience.
  • Resilience & Adaptability: We help organizations and leaders navigate change with confidence.
  • True Partnership: We collaborate closely with clients to co-create solutions aligned to their culture and goals.
  • Sustainable Impact: We help organizations achieve success that is intentional, resilient, and sustainable.

Vanessa Shimer

Co-Founder & HR Consultant

Vanessa Shimer is a human resources and leadership development professional with more than 15 years of experience partnering with organizations across hospitality, wine, and service-driven industries. As Co-Founder of Shimer Consulting, she helps organizations strengthen people practices, grow confident leaders, and foster resilient, inclusive workplace cultures—drawing on more than 45 years of combined team experience.

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Vanessa immigrated to the U.S. as a toddler and grew up in St. Helena, California, in the heart of Napa Valley wine country. Inspired by her parents’ careers in hospitality and winemaking, she developed a lifelong commitment to supporting people in service-driven industries. Her bilingual capabilities and multicultural perspective enable her to create inclusive HR solutions that truly serve diverse workforces.

Vanessa is passionate about creating workplaces where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed—while ensuring organizations remain compliant, protected, and positioned for sustainable growth.

Bob Shimer

Co-Founder & HR Consultant

Bob Shimer is a human resources and leadership development professional with more than 25 years of experience partnering with organizations across hospitality, luxury resort, and service-driven industries. As Co-Founder of Shimer Consulting, he works closely with executives and leadership teams to strengthen people practices, develop effective leaders, and build workplace cultures that support both business performance and employee success.

Throughout his career, Bob has served as a trusted business partner to executive committees, ownership groups, and corporate leadership teams, bringing a strategic yet practical approach to HR that balances organizational needs with genuine care for people. He is particularly passionate about coaching leaders, developing strong management teams, and helping organizations create cultures where employees feel supported, engaged, and empowered to succeed.