Building Effective HR in Manufacturing with Laura Varn
Eps. #161 Tuesday, February 10th, 2026
In this episode, Dr. Shari Simpson speaks with Laura Varn about the unique challenges and opportunities of building HR from the ground up in the manufacturing sector. Listeners will learn about the importance of establishing a strong culture, the role of HR in startups, and practical strategies for engaging hourly workers. Laura shares insights on how to create a people-first environment that fosters growth and compliance while addressing the specific needs of the manufacturing workforce.
Listener Takeaways:
Understand the critical role of HR in shaping company culture from the start.
Learn how to effectively engage hourly workers in a manufacturing setting.
Discover practical strategies for implementing benefits that resonate with employees.
Explore the importance of leadership visibility and communication in HR initiatives.
Gain insights into the value of stay interviews and pulse surveys for employee feedback.
Hit “Play” to gain valuable insights that can transform your HR practices!
Guest(s): Laura Varn is the founder of Laura Varn and Associates, specializing in helping organizations build practical HR foundations that support growth, compliance, and a healthier culture.
Guest(s): Laura Varn, Founder, Laura Varn and Associates
Laura Varn has more than 25 years of leadership experience working within complex corporate structures, successfully dealing with high-level challenges in areas of Human Resources, Communications, Crisis Management, Leadership Development and Change Management.
Laura is action-oriented, practical and moves the needle on employee performance to enhance your business results.
Previously, Laura served as Vice President of People & Culture and Communications for Parkland USA, a national fuels and convenience store business. She was one of the first US executives, helping to grow the US division tenfold from 300 to 3,000 employees over the course of a few years. She built the US HR and communications culture, systems, and processes from scratch, led the HR and communications strategy and implementation for all 20 US acquisitions, provided strategic counsel to executives, built a strong and competent team; and standardized dozens of HR processes nationally.
Prior to that, Laura worked as a Vice President for Corporate Communications and Vice President for Human Resources for South Carolina’s state-owned utility, Santee Cooper, for 13 years, and she’s worked in management positions at several Fortune 500 companies, including Delta Air Lines and Southern Company. She led Atlanta’s public transit system’s communications efforts during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
