Future Forward Series: Rebuilding Trust: Transparency, Employee Voice, and the Public Sector HR Mandate
Includes a Live Web Event on 08/13/2026 at 1:00 PM (EDT)
Please join us on Thursday, August 13th at 1 PM ET for an engaging dialogue on how public sector HR leaders can rebuild and sustain trust in complex political and labor environments. This webinar will be the third in PSHRA’s exciting new three-part series called Future Forward Webinar Series 2026.
Our panel of rising and seasoned public sector HR professionals as they explore how HR leaders can rebuild and sustain trust. They'll discuss fostering transparency, encouraging meaningful employee input, and making principled decisions in today's complex political and labor environments. Trust between employees, leaders, and the public forms the backbone of effective government.
Future Forward Webinar Series 2026—in celebration of PSHRA's 120 years of connecting public sector HR professionals with the insights, education and expertise needed for success. This three-part series will focus on AI, redesigning work, and trust.
Moderator: Coy Hillstead, Assistant Director, University of Minnesota
Panelists:
- Linda Gonzalez, PSHRA-SCP, Chief Human Resources Officer, City of Dania Beach, FL
- Antoinette Reyes, Human Resources Analyst, City of Vacaville, CA
- Chantel B. Thompson, PSHRA-SCP, SHRM-CP, Human Resources Director, Concord, NC
PSHRA® webinars are a member benefit. Available to non-members for a nominal fee.
Making public sector work better®.
Coy Hillstead
Assistant Director
University of Minnesota
Coy Hillstead,Ed.D. serves as the Assistant Director of Labor Relations for theUniversity of Minnesota. With over 20 years of leadership experience in humanresources and a 15-year background as a human resources adjunct faculty member,Coy Hillstead is a dedicated scholar-practitioner with research andpublications focusing on electronic performance monitoring in theworkplace.
In addition toholding a Doctorate in Leadership, Coy Hillstead is a PSHRA Senior CertifiedProfessional and holds various specialized certificates in human resources andlabor relations.
Linda Gonzalez
Chief HR Officer
City of Dania Beach, FL
An innovative and strategic Human Resources leader with over 25 years of experience in public and private sectors. Recognized for empowering leadership, Linda has implemented transformative HR strategies, fostered inclusive workplace cultures, and served as a trusted advisor in complex environments and multiple industries. She excels in labor relations, compliance, compensation strategies, and organizational development, with a proven track record in negotiation, mediation, and dispute resolution. Linda is passionate about aligning HR initiatives with organizational goals to drive employee engagement, operational efficiency, and community impact.
Certifications include SPHR- SCP, SHRM-SCP, IPMA-SCP, Florida Supreme Court Mediator, (County, Appellate, Family and Civil Circuit), Florida Public Sector Employee and Labor Relations professional, with a track record of shaping high-performing HR teams and driving measurable results.
Antoinette Reyes
Human Resources Analyst II
City of Vacaville
Antoinette Reyes is a Human Resources Analyst II for the City of Vacaville, where she specializes in recruitment, workforce development, and community engagement initiatives. She leads innovative partnerships that connect job seekers with careers in public service, including multi-agency hiring events, internship pathways, and youth outreach programs. Antoinette is passionate about making local government careers more accessible and strengthening the future public sector workforce.
Chantel B. Thompson, SHRM-CP, PSHRA-CP
Human Resources Director
City of Concord, NC
Chantel Thompson, is a seasoned Human Resources executive with more than a decade of experience transforming public sector workplaces through innovative strategy and inclusive leadership. As the Director of Human Resources for a local government organization, she has led award-winning initiatives in workforce development, employee engagement, and HR technology integration. Her unique background couples public relations expertise, human resources leadership, emotional intelligence training, and a longstanding commitment to community engagement. She is also nationally recognized for her expertise in community relations, having received a prestigious award for developing and implementing Cabarrus Neighborhood Partners—a program that bridges the gap between local government and residents to address community needs and enhance quality of life in Cabarrus County. Chantel is the Owner and Chief HR Consultant of Curated Consulting Group, LLC—a leading provider of customized Human Resources solutions, offering executive and career coaching, compliance consulting, and a full range of HR services tailored to business needs.
Widely respected for her leadership and impact, Chantel was named “Best in HR” by the Charlotte Business Journal, nominated for WFAE’s EQUALibrium Award for her commitment to ensuring equity in her organization’s hiring practices, and honored with the Distinguished Leadership Award from Cabarrus Regional SHRM. She currently serves as Executive Board President of the Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus County, and President of Cabarrus Regional SHRM. She also holds leadership roles with the Public Sector HR Association and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Lambda Upsilon Omega Chapter. A proud graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and an active member of The Links Incorporated, Chantel brings a legacy of advocacy, innovation, and collaboration to every role she steps into.
Key:
Complete
Next
Failed
Available
Locked