San Diego H.R. Roundtable Member Spotlight: April 2013 

 Amy McFarland has been the Manager of Talent Acquisition at Provide-Commerce in San Diego since last summer, and successful in San Diego web and online recruitment since 2008. A member of San Diego H.R. Roundtable since 2012, Amy came to San Diego from Texas after completing a degree at the University of Texas at Austin. As part of our new feature, Member Spotlight, we asked Amy some questions.

Why did you choose Human Resources as a career? I think the question should really read “How did Human Resources choose you?” With an early interest in writing, business and people, I really feel that H.R. selected me as a profession. When I discovered there was a career that heavily relied on networking, helping others and socializing (i.e., recruiting), I knew I’d found my professional home in Human Resources. A decade later, I couldn’t be happier managing the skilled Talent Acquisition team at Provide-Commerce, and it doesn’t stink that we work around flowers and hand-dipped berries all day!

What do you enjoy most about your current role at Provide-Commerce? “Together, We Get to Wow.” This simple, yet robust mission statement represents so much of why I love working at Provide-Commerce. As a premier, online gift-giving destination, we are intimately involved in some of the most important moments, accomplishments, celebrations and successes that happen in a person’s lifetime….and that just never gets old.

Tell us a little more about Provide-Commerce. Headquartered in San Diego, Provide-Commerce is a leading online provider of high quality gifts backed by superior customer service. From fresh flowers, chocolates and sweets to jewelry, accessories and other unique gifts, our family of 6 brands offer a variety of great gifts for anyone's budget. (Provide-Commerce’s brands include Cherry Moon Farms, Personal Creations, ProFlowers, ProPlants, RedEnvelope, and Shari’s Berries.) Our proprietary technology has led to rapid growth and profitability over the past 10 years and has helped strengthen all of our brands in the process.

Jennifer Johnson, President & Chairperson of San Diego H.R. Roundtable, says, "The SDHR community has enjoyed having the HR Team at Provide-Commerce join and participate in all SDHR has to offer. Not only have they been active in the Lunch & Learns and Happy Hour events, but they have been providing great insight and resources to the HR Discussion Forums. We look forward to all the HR experience and enthusiasm they’ll bring to SDHR in the future."

Thank you, Amy, for being a member of San Diego H.R. Roundtable, and for being our first Member Spotlight subject! You can connect with Amy on Twitter: @AmyMacSD and find her on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/amymac.

2010 #influenceSD New Media Finalist

SDHR was nominated by the San Diego community in March 2010 for an #influenceSD award in Social Media for its work in building a unique social networking site for HR Professionals and leveraging its presence on other social media sites such as Linked In, Twitter and Facebook. SDHR went on to be voted into the top 5 Finalists in the San Diego community, receiving the second highest votes of all nominees.

2009 Athena SD Pinnacle Award Nominee

SDHR Founder and President, Julie Magnuson, was honored to be nominated in 2009 for an Athena Pinnacle Award in Services for her work in building a community of HR Professionals and supporting the HR Community.

2009 San Diego Metropolitan Magazine 40 under 40 Award Winner

San Diego HR Roundtable Founder and President, Julie Magnuson, was named in San Diego Metropolitan Magazine's 10th annual "40 under 40" Awards, which recognizes the top 40 community and business leaders in San Diego under the age of 40. Magnuson, who was recognized in the magazine as a Resourceful Networker, joined the other honorees for an outstanding networking opportunity at the Magazine's Award Luncheon on September 18, 2009.