The Public Sector HR Association (PSHRA®) is proud to announce the winners of its 2026 Awards of Excellence.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Public Sector HR Association (PSHRA®) is proud to announce the winners of its 2026 Awards of Excellence.
PSHRA® is the home of HR professionals who have given tirelessly to the advancement of the public sector HR profession, and the Association annually recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of its members and the work they do on behalf of their agencies at the local, state and federal government level. (This year's winners will be honored at PSHRA's 2026 national conference at the Hilton Portland Downtown in Portland, Ore., Sept. 28 – 30.)
The President's Award recognizes the current PSHRA president for leadership of the association and in the field of public sector HR. Amy Blake, PSHRA-SCP, 2026 PSHRA® President, is the recipient of the 2026 President's Award. Amy is the director of human resources and risk management for the City of Liberty, Mo. and has served her community in this role for 20 years.
Amy 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 Amy continues to share her passion about public sector human resources through her current board position.
The Town of Parker, Colo. has received the 2026 Small Agency Award, presented annually to a PSHRA® member agency of up to 1,999 employees. In 2026, the Town of Parker 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.
Culture Camp helps employees gain a broader understanding of how departments collaborate to deliver services to the community while providing consistent onboarding information in an accessible format. The initiative also includes interactive learning activities such as a customized, Jeopardy-style game that reinforces organizational knowledge, Town of Parker values, customer service expectations and departmental functions in a collaborate and engaging environment.
The Medium Agency Award is presented to a PSHRA® member agency with 2,000 to 9,999 members. The City of San Jose, Calif. is the recipient of this year's Medium Agency Award.
Key initiatives the City of San Jose has recently introduced include 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. Operating at the center of Silicon Valley, the city is proactively examining how AI may affect job duties, classifications, recruitment, training, performance expectations, labor relations and service delivery across a diverse workforce.
The Chapter Award of Excellence recognizes a chapter that has significantly advanced and enhanced the public sector HR profession through innovative membership recruitment/retention strategies, excellent educational programs, and quality member communication. PSHRA's Utah Chapter is the winner of this year's Chapter Award of Excellence.
Originally established in 1973, the Utah chapter has experienced significant membership growth since its reaction in 2017, growing from an initial base of 30 members to 156 today—a 500% increase over eight years. This upward trajectory remains robust, evidenced by an 11.5% year-over-year growth rate. In 2024, the chapter implemented agency memberships, designed to deepen engagement within larger public sector organizations. This initiative has already secured 11 multi-member agencies, including two new agencies this year, effectively stabilizing the chapter's base while expanding its professional network.
Tamara Dixon, PSHRA-SCP and Debra Bush, PSHRA-SCP are the recipients of the 2026 Honorary Life Membership, given to recognize and honor those who have rendered distinguished service in advancing or upholding the purposes of the Association.
Tamara is the human resources director and chief diversity officer for the City of Northglenn, Colo. She is also a founding partner of Dwennimmen Leadership Consulting. Tamara has been active at the local, regional and national levels of PSHRA since 2005. She has served PSHRA as Western Region president (2016-2017), conference programs and speaker's chair in 2019, and West Executive Council Representative (2020-2025).
Debra is a senior human resources specialist with the City of Peoria, Ill. She is currently a member of PSHRA's Greater Illinois Chapter, where she has served as the secretary, treasurer, president-elect and president. She has also held the position of treasurer with the PSHRA Central Region. Debra has served as moderator at various regional and chapter conferences since joining PSHRA as a member in 1992.
"PSHRA's vision for public sector HR is to Make Public Sector Work Better®," said Cara Woodson Welch, PSHRA CEO. "The individuals and agencies receiving this year's awards are examples of that vision in action, and they showcase the best of the public sector HR profession. PSHRA is proud to bestow its 2026 Awards of Excellence upon these deserved Association members."
Media Contact
Mark McGraw, PSHRA, 1 703.535.5258, [email protected], www.pshra.org
SOURCE PSHRA
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