14 Local Government HR Leaders in the United States

Last updated: 8 August 2026.

Local government HR leaders shape far more than hiring forms and policy documents. They influence how cities keep good people, how managers handle hard conversations and how public services build the workforce they need.

This list is a practical starting point for learning who is doing that work across the United States. It is a recognition directory, and it includes city, county, agency, court and public system leaders.

1. Alysha Martin

Director, Department of Human Resources at City of Columbus, Ohio

Alysha Martin is Director, Department of Human Resources at City of Columbus, Ohio. She leads about 50 human resources staff serving nearly 10,000 City of Columbus employees. That remit places the role close to the everyday work of public service, where workforce choices affect the quality and reliability of what residents experience. This role connects people decisions with the practical work residents rely on. Explore City of Columbus, Ohio.

2. Aram Kouyoumdjian

Director, Human Resources Department and City Manager’s Office of Employee Relations at City of San José, California

Aram Kouyoumdjian is Director, Human Resources Department and City Manager’s Office of Employee Relations at City of San José, California. His work spans the City’s human resources function and employee relations, following senior people work in public service. That remit places the role close to the everyday work of public service, where workforce choices affect the quality and reliability of what residents experience. His remit connects employee relations with the everyday work of public service. Explore City of San José, California.

3. Bryce Tyler

Director of Human Resources at City of Long Beach, California

Bryce Tyler is Director of Human Resources at City of Long Beach, California. He brings more than 20 years of public sector human resources experience across Long Beach, Huntington Park and Los Angeles County. His remit connects recruitment, labour relations and workforce systems with the services residents rely on. His work shows how a city people function can combine operational discipline with a clear public-service purpose. Explore City of Long Beach, California.

4. Emily Provance

Human Resources Director at City of Asheville, North Carolina

Emily Provance is Human Resources Director at City of Asheville, North Carolina. Her background includes human resources information systems, talent development, compensation and benefits work. That remit places the role close to the everyday work of public service, where workforce choices affect the quality and reliability of what residents experience. Her work brings the people systems behind a city workforce into the same conversation as talent and service. Explore City of Asheville, North Carolina.

5. Jane Cheeks

Director of Human Resources at City of Houston, Texas

Jane Cheeks is Director of Human Resources at City of Houston, Texas. She manages about 300 human resources professionals and helped build a centralised human resources function for the City. Her remit connects large-scale systems, employee experience and the essential services Houston provides. That is a useful reminder that people operations can be both strategic and deeply practical. Explore City of Houston, Texas.

6. Matthew Cole

Director of Human Resources at City of Cleveland, Ohio

Matthew Cole is Director of Human Resources at City of Cleveland, Ohio. He brings more than two decades of human resources experience, including public sector work and a community centred approach. His role sits close to the work of recruiting, retaining and supporting the people who keep a city moving. His example points to the value of treating public-sector HR as a community-facing leadership function. Explore City of Cleveland, Ohio.

7. Michelle Kuka

Director of Human Resources at San Mateo County, California

Michelle Kuka is Director of Human Resources at San Mateo County, California. She was appointed after serving as interim director and supports a County workforce of more than 6,000 employees. That remit places the role close to the everyday work of public service, where workforce choices affect the quality and reliability of what residents experience. Her appointment shows the importance of continuity when a public workforce depends on trusted people systems. Explore San Mateo County, California.

8. Nakesla Blount

Director of Human Resources at City of Laredo, Texas

Nakesla Blount is Director of Human Resources at City of Laredo, Texas. Her remit includes workforce planning, policy, employee support and the people systems that help a city operate. That remit places the role close to the everyday work of public service, where workforce choices affect the quality and reliability of what residents experience. Her work links workforce planning and policy with the practical support people need to serve a growing city. Explore City of Laredo, Texas.

9. Trinija Martin

Director of Human Resources at City of Richmond, Virginia

Trinija Martin is Director of Human Resources at City of Richmond, Virginia. She brings more than 20 years of human resources experience, including deputy director work in Wake County. That remit places the role close to the everyday work of public service, where workforce choices affect the quality and reliability of what residents experience. Her experience connects enterprise HR leadership with the particular responsibilities of municipal government. Explore City of Richmond, Virginia.

10. Katrina Porter

Deputy Commissioner and Chief Human Capital Officer at New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services

Katrina Porter is Deputy Commissioner and Chief Human Capital Officer at New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services. She leads citywide human capital strategies, civil service exams, professional development and training across New York City government. That remit places the role close to the everyday work of public service, where workforce choices affect the quality and reliability of what residents experience. Her remit shows how a citywide people strategy depends on clear systems, fair processes and useful development. Explore New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

11. Sarahn O'Uhuru

Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources and Labor Relations at New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

Sarahn O'Uhuru is Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources and Labor Relations at New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. She progressed through human resources roles at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and oversees labour, payroll, leave and talent work. Her work places people operations beside the sensitive, high-trust work of a public medical examiner's office. Explore New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

12. Janice Stroughter

Deputy Commissioner, Human Resources and Facilities Management at New York City Department of Transportation

Janice Stroughter is Deputy Commissioner, Human Resources and Facilities Management at New York City Department of Transportation. She directs agency human resources alongside facilities management, with earlier New York City government experience in payroll, labour and training. The breadth of that remit shows how human resources leadership can shape both workforce experience and agency operations. Explore New York City Department of Transportation.

13. Zoe Ann Campbell

Deputy Commissioner, Organisational Development and Human Resources at New York City Department of Environmental Protection

Zoe Ann Campbell is Deputy Commissioner, Organisational Development and Human Resources at New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Her remit joins organisational development and human resources inside one of New York City’s major public service agencies. Her role joins people development with the workforce systems behind a major public utility. Explore New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

14. Catherine Spage

Human Resources Director at Fairfax County, Virginia

Catherine Spage is Human Resources Director at Fairfax County, Virginia. The County’s official leadership page identifies her as Human Resources Director and connects that role with the County’s retirement governance. That connection between HR leadership and retirement governance shows how far the people function reaches in local government. Explore Fairfax County, Virginia.

A useful way to use this list is to pick one leader whose work is different from yours, notice which people and systems sit inside the role, and ask what one small leadership choice could help your own team work with more clarity. For more practical leadership resources, explore the Working Genius FAQ, the strategy and leadership consultant guide, or the written enquiry page.