2026 Trends of Chief Human Resource Officers n the Public Sector

Amy Blake is the Director of HR & Risk Management for the City of Liberty, MO and has served her community in this role for 20 years.  Ms. Blake has been actively involved in PSHRA since 2003 at all levels from Chapter President to Central Region Board Member to Executive Council Member. She has received awards for her work and dedication in these roles, and continues to share her passion about public sector human resources through her current board position. Ms. Blake’s career strength is organizational and employee development by helping folks become the best version of themselves through total well-being and strategic career growth.

Lisa Boland currently serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer for Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), where she has been instrumental in shaping innovative and effective HR strategies since joining the division in 2015. With over two decades of experience in human resources across both the private and public sectors, Lisa has dedicated her career to fostering environments where employees thrive and reach their fullest potential.

At LCPS, Lisa oversees HR operations for one of Virginia’s largest and fastest-growing school divisions, serving more than 83,000 students and managing a workforce of over 14,000 employees. Under her leadership, LCPS has developed forward-thinking approaches to staff retention, employee engagement, and organizational culture. Notably, she spearheaded a division-wide tuition assistance program; launched a partnership with Participate Learning to recruit international educators, bringing global perspectives into LCPS classrooms; and led the creation of the Talent Development Program, designed to empower staff at every level to grow their careers and advance division goals.

Lisa has also played a pivotal role in guiding LCPS through its first-ever collective bargaining process. She led the development of the division’s bargaining framework, collaborated across departments to ensure legal and operational readiness, and supported negotiations resulting in LCPS’s first tentative collective bargaining agreements—an achievement that positions the division as a leader in Virginia’s evolving public-sector labor landscape.

Before transitioning to the public sector, Lisa held significant HR and people-leadership roles at organizations including Nestlé USA, SAIC, and Leidos, where she built expertise in HR operations, workforce development, and organizational strategy. Her career began at Outback Steakhouse, where she rose quickly to become a People Support Specialist, managing HR functions for multiple restaurant locations.

Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree from Mount St. Mary’s University and is a passionate advocate for education and public service. She lives in Loudoun County, Virginia, with her husband and four children.

Anquilla Henderson serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer for the award-winning Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA), bringing several years of diverse HR experience in both the public and private sectors.

Before joining CCWA, Anquilla was the Director of Human Resources for the newly established City of South Fulton, where she built the city’s first Human Resources Department from the ground up. She also served as Chair of the Henry County Government inaugural Board of Ethics.

A transformational HR leader, Anquilla has been recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for her innovation, collaboration, and leadership excellence.

She holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Administration & Development from Mercer University. Her professional credentials include Senior Certified Professional from the Public Sector Human Resources Association (PSHRA-SCP), Six Sigma Yellow Belt, and Registered Mediator with the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution. Anquilla is also a Certified Workplace Mediator and Trainer in Conflict Resolution.

Patrick Ho is an HR professional with over 9 years’ experience mostly working in the public sector including state/local government. Currently the Chief Human Resources Officer for Gilmer County Government in Georgia. Patrick was appointed as the HR Director by the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners early 2023. He is currently pursuing a Juris Doctors degree and currently holds a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Sector HR Administration and a Bachelors of Science in Political Science from Kennesaw State University. Patrick had success in rebuilding/rebranding past employers with their Human Resources department which included company-wide re-organizations, new system implementation, revamping the hiring process and creating an official orientation/seminar university program for them.

Cassandra Tabor is the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Metropolitan Council, joining the organization in the Fall of 2023. She is an accomplished HR professional that has served the last 13 years in public sector entities. Prior to a second career in public sector, she led organizational development and HR within private industries and post-secondary institutions. Cassandra began with an Education degree and later earned her Master’s in Public Administration and a Project Management certification. She lives in downtown Minneapolis with her husband and enjoys traveling and visiting her adult children.