The 2018 Rising Stars of the Profession: Robert Huekler

Robert Huekler is fond of this Mark Twain quote: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Huekler says: "Simply put, go big."

And he has. Colleagues say Huekler is the true definition of what a Human Resources Consultant should be and has deep-rooted HR consulting expertise across the professional services industry, federal and state governments, and the non-profit space.

For one organization, he served as the chief architect for an HR strategy that reduced employee attrition by nearly 27 percent. However, it is how Huekler has gone above-and-beyond that truly makes him stand out.

He is the co-founder of a national pro bono program, StepUp. What started as a volunteer program in just one office, Huekler and his colleagues have designed a national platform that connects practitioners to local non-profits in seven different cities including Hyderabad, India.

"Harnessing the power of pro bono consulting and skills-based volunteerism has been one of my proudest experiences," he says. "Our mission is to provide practitioners the vehicle to develop their consulting skills while building community and making a positive impact across the globe. I am extremely proud to lead this program, especially a forum that provides individuals the opportunity to donate their time and talents to critical organizations. Serving the likes of the United Way, Make-a-Wish Foundation, and Salvation Army, we truly believe we can step up to make the world a better place one client problem at a time."