Richard Brainerd: A Life Spent in Public Service

Technically, Richard Brainerd retired from active HR work in 2014.

That’s not to say that he’s totally distanced himself from the profession, or from the public sector, in the 12 years since. Far from it.

Brainerd has served as the mayor of the City of Mahtomedi, Minn. since February 2023. He also sits on the board of directors for the American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakota Region, in addition to working as a self-employed HR consultant for the past 22 years.

Tracing Brainerd’s professional roots, a career in public service seems preordained.

“I grew up in a family that was involved in giving back to the community. My father was on the local school board and my mother was a teacher. My grandfather was a state senator in Wisconsin,” says Brainerd, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business and economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1968.

Brainerd’s 45-plus year career was spent almost entirely in the public sector, as an HR leader at the state and city level and as an independent HR consultant.

For example, Brainerd spent five years as deputy commissioner in the department of employee relations for the State of Minnesota, from December 1980 to December 1985.

Brainerd stayed in St. Paul upon leaving that position, joining Ramsey County as director of human resources in December 1985. He left Ramsey County in December 1997, taking on the same role with the Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities, also in St. Paul. Brainerd also served as human resources director and deputy administrator for administration with the Wisconsin Department of Justice from 1974 to 1980.

Brainerd has been a PSHRA member nearly as long as he’s been a public sector HR practitioner, joining the organization as a member of its Wisconsin chapter in the late 1960s. He eventually served as the Central Region president, before representing the region on PSHRA’s Executive Council.

A 2002 recipient of PSHRA’s Stockberger Award, Brainerd has also served as the Association’s Executive Council president and past president, and has received PSHRA’s Honorary Life Membership.

“The presence of PSHRA in my career was one of the most important and significant components allowing me to learn from others, advance the profession and advance my career,” he says. “I’ve met so many great professionals and leaders from all over the world. My career was blessed by my involvement in PSHRA.”