In 2024, he was named one of the ten most influential HR leaders in the country, a testament to his dedication and impact in the field.
TEMPE, AZ, June 26, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Joseph Varner has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Varner is a respected project management professional and currently serves as the senior vice president of people and culture at Woodside Homes, where he has made significant contributions since 2022. In this unique role, he has been instrumental in streamlining talent capabilities, implementing performance metrics, and designing and facilitating a learning and development function with a focus on building capabilities for talents. Before joining Woodside Homes, he excelled as the senior vice president and chief people officer at Octave Group from 2021 to 2022.
Mr. Varner's impressive career also includes impactful tenures at Diageo, where he served as both the director of North America diversity and inclusion officer from 2020 to 2021 and as the director of human resources for US Spirits, Canada, and Reserve from 2017 to 2020. He also accepted key roles at prestigious firms such as Revlon / Elizabeth Arden, where he was named the senior director of human resources from 2010 through 2017 and served concurrently as the director of human resources and site leader for global supply chain, global research and development, and global finance from 2015 to 2016. Notably, Mr. Varner capably managed both brick-and-mortar retail as well as digital and e-commerce contexts and thrived as the manager of human resources for the North American retail division of Elizabeth Arden from 2010 to 2014.
Other vital roles enabled Mr. Varner to refine his human resources management methods and establish a professional presence in his specialized field. From 2008 to 2010, he prospered as an account manager in the human resources division of Li and Fund Limited after serving as the human resources manager at New Line Cinema and Picturehouse LLC with WarnerMedia from 2005 to 2008. Notably, Mr. Varner was also a valued associate with Time Inc./WarnerMedia as a senior human resources generalist from 2000 to 2005.
Throughout his career, Mr. Varner has been recognized for his leadership and innovation in human resources. In 2024, he was named one of the ten most influential HR leaders in the country, a testament to his dedication and impact in the field, and his work at Woodside Homes has been recognized as revolutionary as it has fostered a more inclusive company culture. Mr. Varner is also proud of how his leadership proved pivotal during the successful merger of Revlon and Elizabeth Arden and was vital to navigating Diageo through the pandemic by finding alternative opportunities for 400 employees affected by business closures.
Mr. Varner attended Grambling State University and has been dedicated to continued learning, obtaining several certifications, including the project management professional certification from the Project Management Institute in 2022. Additionally, he completed the Human Resources Management and Strategic Leadership program at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations between 2005 and 2008, and he was humbled to receive a Chief Human Resources Officer Program Certificate from Wharton Executive Education. Mr. Varner's commitment to professional development is further evidenced by active membership in industry-related organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management, affiliations that provide him with platforms to share knowledge and remain current in industry trends.
Outside of his professional life, Mr. Varner is deeply involved in civic associations that reflect his broad interests and commitment to community service. He has served on the board of directors for StartOut since 2023 and has been a corporate ambassador for the High School for Public Service: Heroes of Tomorrow through PENCIL Inc. since 2011. Additionally, Mr. Varner volunteers with The Bowery Mission meal service and food preparation.
Looking toward the future, Mr. Varner envisions expanding his influence by engaging in speaking opportunities to share his innovative ideas and effective work methods with wider audiences. The recent acquisition of his company by a Japanese corporation opens new doors for potential opportunities, which he is eager to explore. Moreover, Mr. Varner plans to devote more time to his passion for music performance and production and aims to establish his own horticulture company.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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