At McFarland Construction, collaboration is one of our core values. We know that collaboration begins internally by building the right team and workplace culture. Our employees are the building blocks of our team and every one of them has a story to tell. Up next under our Employee Spotlight is Monica, our Human Resources & Talent Acquisition Manager. When she isn’t recruiting top talent for our team and handling all things HR, she loves to travel and spend time with her two children. Learn more about Monica from our recent interview with her:
How many years have you been Human Resources?
I have been working in HR since 2009. After getting my undergraduate degree in Business Administration, I went back to school to get my MBA in HR.
What do you enjoy most about your position?
What I enjoy the most is the interaction with all types of people. Every day is something different, be that a different task or a different situation to figure out. It’s never repetitive or predictable. HR is my passion, and I really can’t see myself doing anything else. I love a role that has a lot of variety and brings new challenges every day. That is very exciting to me. Also, I’m a very outgoing people person. Those qualities come in handy when interviewing candidates.
What do you like most about the construction industry?
With me being so new to the construction industry, I have found that I like how much of a learning experience it is. Learning about all the moving parts that go into a project is so interesting. I’ve never really considered all that goes into what a general contractor does, and I love learning about it.
Can you describe a typical day for you?
Booked and busy! Usually, I try to work off a checklist, but I often get pulled in different directions. That could be from our internal office team, our operations team, our field team, or upper management. I never really know how my days are going to go, but I love the variety.
What motivates you?
What motivates me is learning and having the opportunity to gain more knowledge and being able to write my own ticket. When I say that, I mean that as I’m learning all these new skills, I’m able to become a more effective HR manager. Also, helping my team members really motivates me. To be that safe space for people when they want to talk and get things off their chest is so important to me. I love helping bridge the gap between myself, my fellow team members, and management.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Definitely hanging out with my two kids. We always like to find different activities going on in Charlotte. We also love going to Nakato, the Japanese steakhouse. I also love to shop, go bowling with my family, and make bracelets and necklaces. Oh, and travel! My most recent favorite trip was my trip to Napa Valley. Any chance I get to travel, I will take it.
How long have you lived in Charlotte?
I was born and raised in Charlotte. I only left to go to college, but I definitely don’t plan on leaving. My parents live here, and they are like my security blanket. It’s important to me to be close to them.
What’s something that most people don’t know about you?
That I was a dancer. I actually went to a performing arts school and danced all the way up until college. I did jazz, modern, tap, and danced with my school marching band. I also taught dance at my church.
What do you like most about working at McFarland?
The bonds I’ve formed, a culture that encourages collaboration, and the family-oriented environment. Making sure every voice is heard is very important to me, and McFarland listens to everyone’s voice. There is never a thought or feeling that is turned down immediately. You’re able to talk things out no matter what. It definitely feels like an extended family, and I’ve only been here 8 months!
Published: December 2, 2021
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