Transforming Public Service: Real Stories of HR Innovation and Impact – 2026
Includes a Live Web Event on 10/22/2026 at 1:00 PM (EDT)
Please join us as our 2026 Agency Award Winners introduce their agencies, communities, and programs on October 22nd at 1:00 pm ET.
Their award-winning programs included:
- Town of Parker, CO: Rolled out its Culture Camp initiative, an innovative employee onboarding and acclimation program designed to connect new employees to the organization’s mission, culture, leadership and community-centered service philosophy.
- City of San José, CA: Introduced its AI Working Group and the Workforce of the Future projects, which position human resources as a strategic leader in preparing the public sector workforce for artificial intelligence.
The award winners will share what brought about the need for change and the stakeholders involved. Share with us their programs’ current and future states. While also letting us in on the challenges faced and the advances change has brought to their agency and community.
Moderator:
Mark McGraw, Editor of Publications; Editor-In-Chief, Public Eye at PSHRA
Panelists:
- Kim Jackson, Assistant Director, City of San José, CA
- Tara Moore, PSHRA-SCP, Deputy Director of HR, Town of Parker, CO
PSHRA® Webinars are a member benefit. Available to non-members for a nominal fee.
Making public sector work better®.
Mark McGraw (Moderator)
Editor in Chief and Research Lead
Public Sector HR Association
Mark McGraw has been a writer and journalist for more than 25 years, with more than two decades’ worth of experience covering HRand the workplace.
Kim Jackson
Assistant Director
City of San José, CA
Kim Jackson is an expert “question-asker” with more than 20 years of experience spanning Human Resources, Operations, and Finance. As the Assistant Director of Human Resources for the City of San José, Kim oversees key HR functions while fostering a people-centered approach to leadership.
Known for her intentional use of humor and storytelling, Kim creates meaningful connections and helps others navigate challenging conversations with clarity and confidence.
Prior to her current role, Kim served for six years as Chief of Staff for the Office of the City Attorney. She also held a variety of leadership positions at Comcast/NBC Universal, where she led large-scale HR operations across the company’s West Division.
Throughout her career, Kim has remained committed to building fun, inclusive, and high-performing workplace cultures where people can thrive. She is passionate about simplifying complex processes, making HR more accessible, and bringing the human side of work to the forefront. A strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Kim leads with empathy and ensures people feel seen, heard, and valued.
A longtime resident of San José, Kim appreciates the rich culture, diversity, and incredible food that make Silicon Valley unique. She is a proud wife, mother of three adult sons (#BoyMom), and devoted dog mom to her beloved four-legged child, Blu.
Tara Moore, PSHRA-SCP
Deputy Director
Town of Parker, CO
Tara Moore is the Deputy Director of Human Resources for the Town of Parker, Colorado where she plays a key leadership role in recruitment, retention, organizational development, organizational culture, core value alignment and staff training. She has worked for the Town of Parker since 2002 and has been a part of the Human Resources team for over fifteen (15) years; having facilitated sessions on team building, leadership, performance management and emotional intelligence. Tara has been a past session speaker for Colorado PRIMA, PSHRA Western Region Conference and is a Crucial Conversations Trainer.
Tara is PSHRA-SCP and SPHR certified and holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.
A Colorado native she enjoys crafting, camping, cooking, sports and spending time with her family and friends.
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