A Familiar Industry, A New Chapter - Learning Without Scars

The heavy equipment industry has a way of sticking with you. Years ago, I had the opportunity to serve as Vice President of Human Resources at Kirby-Smith Machinery. Like many good stories in this industry, that chapter started with relationships – specifically, being introduced to Ron Slee, someone whose leadership, industry knowledge, and commitment to learning left a lasting impression on me.

If you’ve spent any time in heavy equipment, you know this isn’t just a business. It’s a relationship-driven, trust-earned, sleeves-rolled-up industry where reputations matter and word travels fast. That environment helped shape me as an HR leader and continues to influence how I work today.

Why I’m Back (In a New Way)

Fast forward to now.

In my fractional HR practice, I am focused on working with founder-led and privately held businesses – many of them in equipment, construction, manufacturing, and distribution – that are hitting an inflection point:

Growth is accelerating, but systems haven’t caught up
Leaders are stretched thin and wearing too many hats
HR has become “important,” but not yet “strategic”
Culture, accountability, and leadership consistency are starting to matter more than ever

That’s where fractional HR leadership fits.

Not a full-time hire
Not a reactive HR vendor
But an experienced executive partner who helps owners and leadership teams think clearly about people, structure, and leadership, before problems turn into expensive distractions

What I Do Today

Through 6 Degrees or Less, I support organizations with:

Fractional HR leadership (strategic, hands-on, practical)
Leadership and executive coaching for owners and senior leaders
People advisory services during growth, transition, or change

My work is grounded in real-world experience – supporting operations-heavy businesses where uptime matters, margins matter, and leadership credibility matters.

Why “6 Degrees or Less”

6 Degrees or Less is essentially the combination of two things – nearly 30 years of HR experience, combined with nearly 30 years of relationships that matter.

In industries like ours, trust isn’t built through branding – it’s built through people, shared experiences, and doing what you say you’re going to do. I believe the best work happens when the distance between people is short, conversations are honest, and leadership is human.

Looking Ahead

I’m excited to reconnect with the heavy equipment community – not as a vendor, but as a partner, learner, and supporter. I look forward to sharing insights, learning from others, and contributing wherever I can.

If you’re a founder or leader navigating growth, transition, or that familiar moment of “we’ve outgrown how we used to do things,” I’m always open to a conversation. No pitch, just a practical discussion about what’s working, what’s not, and what might come next.

If we’ve crossed paths before, it’s great to reconnect.

If we haven’t yet, I look forward to the conversation.

Onward,

Seth McColley
Founder and Principal, 6 Degrees or Less