Frances Reeser: Seizing the Opportunity to Impact Her Community

In 2022, Frances Reeser was an HR professional with a few years of private-sector experience on her resume.

“Early in my HR career, I did not know exactly what I wanted to do in HR,” says Reeser, who at the time was serving as a human resources administrator with Clovis, N.M.-based transportation company Mymar Terminal Services.

Seeing an ad for an opening with the City of Clovis helped her find her way.

“A position became available, and I realized that I had the opportunity to impact not only employees, but my local community.”

The position was that of a senior HR specialist with the City of Clovis. Reeser has held that title since November 2022, supporting the City’s workforce across multiple departments, partnering with executive leadership, department directors, supervisors and employees on employee relations, workforce planning, compliance, HR risk and more.

Reeser also advises City leadership on employee relations, performance concerns, corrective action, workplace conflict, policy interpretations and employee separations, for example. In her current role, she’s gained experience conducting and supporting workplace investigations involving employee complaints, harassment, misconduct, policy violations and sensitive personnel matters.

Handling such matters is part of what first made HR appealing to Reeser, even if she wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when she first chose the field.

“HR is so much more than most individuals realize. I had no idea what I was walking into, but it seemed natural to me,” says Reeser, who earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources management/personnel administration from Western Governors University in December 2025.

“I didn’t have to force anything. HR has the power to create organizations where people thrive and want to come to work,” she continues. “More people leave organizations due to culture, or lack of culture, and bad management than dollar amounts. In HR, we have the skills and the ability to help slow that process. We coach and develop future leaders. And the best part is seeing people succeed!”

Reeser was hoping to connect with like-minded public sector HR leaders when she joined the organization as a member upon her arrival at the City of Clovis in 2022.

Saying that the PSHRA community has been “a great place to learn and connect,” Reeser plans to pursue PSHRA certification, and hopes to advance into an HR leadership role with the City of Clovis.

“My aspirations,” she says, “are to one day become the HR director for my current organization.”