AI With Accountability: The Future of Ethical Technology in Public Sector HR

Dr. Patrick Henley serves as the Director of Human Resources and Risk Management at the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, one of Georgia’s largest public water utilities, where he leads award-winning initiatives in leadership development, talent strategy, and workforce planning. With over 20 years of experience in HR and risk management leadership, Patrick brings a wealth of expertise in aligning talent strategy with business goals to drive organizational success.

In addition to his executive role, Patrick is a passionate educator, teaching HR, management, and technology courses at the college level for over a decade. His engaging, research-informed approach blends academic rigor with real-world application, earning him recognition for Best Total Rewards Strategy in 2021 and being a finalist for Best Learning & Development and Talent Management Strategy (Atlanta Business Chronicle and SHRM-Atlanta), and as a winner of the Diversity & Inclusion Award from the Georgia Section of AWWA.
Patrick holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from the Florida Institute of Technology, an MBA from Troy University, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Kennesaw State University. He is certified at the highest levels of the profession with both SPHR and SHRM-SCP designations. Known for his humor, humility, and data-driven mindset, Patrick is deeply committed to helping organizations and HR professionals navigate change, embrace innovation, and build resilient, high-performing teams.

Mikala Glanton is a strategic human resources leader with nearly a decade of experience spanning both private and public sectors. He currently serves as the HRIS Division Supervisor for Cumberland County Government, a key stakeholder in the integration of enterprise systems, automation tools, and digital workflows—transforming service delivery and elevating the employee experience at every touchpoint with HR. Known for bridging people strategy and technology, Mikala brings a systems-thinking approach to addressing complex organizational challenges. He also holds a SHRM Specialty Credential in Artificial Intelligence + Human Ingenuity (AI+HI), positioning him at the forefront of responsible innovation in the public sector. Mikala is passionate about building agile, data-informed, and human-centered workplaces that evolve with the needs of the modern workforce.

Bob Lavigna is an award-winning leader with 40 years of experience leading public sector human resources organizations and programs. He recently retired from UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group), where he advocated for, promoted and advised on effective practices that enable government to attract and retain talent.

He previously was founding Director of the Institute for Public Sector Employee Engagement, which worked with governments across the nation to measure and improve employee engagement.

Bob is the author of Engaging Government Employees: Motivate and Inspire Your People to Achieve Superior Performance (Harper Collins), the only book to focus exclusively on improving engagement in the unique environment of the public sector.

He also served as Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of HR for the University of Wisconsin, Vice President of the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, and Director of the state of Wisconsin merit system. He began his career with the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

 Bob is an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, was selected as a “Public Official of the Year” by Governing magazine, received the PSHRA “Stockberger Award,” and is in the National Association of State Personnel Executives “Hall of Fame.” He is also a past president of PSHRA.

The first member of his family to graduate from college, Bob has a B.A. in Public Affairs from George Washington University and an M.S. in Human Resources Management from Cornell University.

Julian Brambila is a Management Analyst with the Administrative Services Department at Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), a regional agency that supports collaboration among local governments in Western Riverside County. He has been with WRCOG for over four years, where his work focuses on administrative operations, human resources, and organizational support.

Julian earned his degree in Public Policy from University of California, Riverside and recently obtained his PSHRA-CP certification. In 2025, he was named a Rising Star in HR by PSHRA Southern California. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling and attending concerts.