HR Happy Hour Network - Introducing the HR Connection Podcast

4 snips

Feb 17, 2026

Sabrina Baker, Founder and CEO of Acacia HR Solutions, builds HR for small businesses. Marie Rolston, HR business partner and co-host, brings practitioner perspective. They discuss why small-business HR is underserved. They explain the podcast’s origins, focus on actionable HR for companies of 1–500, and planned topics like prioritization, influencing without authority, and practical leadership connections.

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ANECDOTE

Starting An HR Firm From Maternity Leave

Sabrina founded Acacia HR Solutions after a layoff while on maternity leave and launched officially in 2011.
She initially worked part-time to balance motherhood and grew the firm over the following decade.

ANECDOTE

Working As The Client's HR Team

Marie joined Acacia as an HR business partner and works directly as the HR team for clients every day.
She values consulting work because it allows her to make direct impact for small businesses.

INSIGHT

Small Business HR Is Underserved

Small businesses are an underserved HR market often with no dedicated HR professional or only an overwhelmed person handling people tasks.
Acacia focuses on one-to-500-employee employers where HR is frequently absent or reactive.

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HR Happy Hour Network - Introducing the HR Connection Podcast

Hosts: Steve Boese and Trish Steed

Guests: Sabrina Baker, Founder and CEO of Acacia HR Solutions and Marie Rolston, HRBP with Acacia HR Solutions and host of The HR Connection podcast

Summary

In this episode of the The HR Happy Hour show, Steve Boese and Trish Steed welcome Sabrina Baker and Marie Rolston from Acacia HR Solutions to discuss the launch of their new podcast, HR Connection. The conversation explores the unique challenges faced by small businesses in HR, the importance of providing actionable insights, and the need for a dedicated platform for small business HR practitioners. Sabrina and Marie share their backgrounds, the genesis of the HR Connection podcast, and the topics they plan to cover, emphasizing the importance of real-world applications and leadership connections in HR.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to HR Connection Podcast

01:51 Sabrina Baker's Journey and Acacia HR Solutions

03:04 Marie Rolston's Role and Insights

04:52 The Importance of HR in Small Businesses

06:17 Genesis of HR Connection Podcast

09:07 Real-World Challenges in Small Business HR

11:30 Actionable Insights for Small Business Leaders

14:56 Upcoming Topics and Focus Areas for HR Connection

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The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.

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