The People First Story
Where a Name Becomes a Mission
P1. Priority One. People First. Three ways to say the same thing — and one belief that drives every search we run.
The Name Behind the Firm
Why “People First”?
The name People First HCM didn’t come from a branding exercise. It came from a career — specifically, from years spent leading human resources operations as a U.S. Army Major, where the phrase “Priority One” is not marketing language. It is a command imperative.
P1 — Priority One — became People First. It reflects founder Shawne’s core belief, developed through years of military HR leadership: that the most mission-critical asset in any organization is its people, and that the systems built to manage them — HRMS, HCM — deserve the same rigor and discipline applied to any other strategic priority.
That belief now drives a specialized executive search firm that exists to match the right HRMS and HCM professionals with the Sun Belt companies who need them most.
Priority One
In the Army, Priority One means the mission comes first. People are always the mission.
Veteran-Owned
Founded by a U.S. Army Major who led HR at the Director and VP level — under real pressure.
Dimensional Search
Part of the Sanford Rose Associates International network. National reach. Local expertise.
The Founder
Meet Shawne Armstrong
★ U.S. Army Major (Ret.)
Shawne Armstrong
Founder & Managing Director, People First HCM
Shawne’s career in human resources spans the military and corporate worlds. As a U.S. Army Major, he led HR operations at the director and VP level — managing complex people operations at scale, under pressure, with zero margin for error.
After transitioning out of the military, Shawne brought that same rigor to corporate HR, gaining deep expertise in HRMS and HCM platforms — including Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM, UKG, and Ceridian Dayforce.
That expertise is what he channels into People First HCM — a specialized executive search firm that places HRMS and HCM professionals across the Sun Belt, building the kind of teams that transform how companies manage their people operations.
“I spent years as a U.S. Army Major leading HR at the director and VP level — managing people operations at scale, under pressure, with zero margin for error. Now I channel that same discipline into finding the HRMS and HCM talent that helps Sun Belt companies transform their people operations.”
— Shawne, Founder & Managing Director
Our Mission
People First in every search. Every placement. Every relationship.
We don’t measure success in job orders filled. We measure it in the careers advanced, the organizations strengthened, and the trust earned on both sides of every placement.
A Veteran-Owned Business Serving the Sun Belt
People First HCM is a proud veteran-owned business. The values that define our firm — discipline, integrity, mission-focus, and commitment to the people we serve — were forged in military service and carried forward into every search engagement. When you work with People First HCM, you work with a firm that treats every commitment as an order and every client as a mission.
Our Network
The Dimensional Search Network
People First HCM operates as part of Dimensional Search — the franchise network of Sanford Rose Associates International, a Top 10 U.S. executive search organization with 175+ offices and over 450 years of combined search experience.
That national infrastructure amplifies our local Sun Belt expertise, giving our clients access to a collaborative network of search professionals and our candidates access to a broader pipeline of opportunities.
Learn About Dimensional Search175+
Offices Nationwide
450+
Years Combined Experience
Top 10
U.S. Search Firm
100+
Offices Launched in Under 2 Years
Ready to Put People First?
Whether you need exceptional HRMS talent or you’re ready for your next career opportunity in the Sun Belt — let’s have a conversation.
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