Bob Greene had spent several decades as a consultant in the private sector, when he felt a need to gain a better understanding of HR management in the public sector.
“The reality that the sectors had dramatically different missions and were accountable to different parties meant that many workforce management strategies and programs were not suited to one or the other alternatives,” says Greene, who has served as the CEO of Reward Systems Inc. since 1985.
After performing several studies for public agencies—cities, counties, utilities and park districts, for instance—Greene reached the conclusion that there were “environmental realities” that significantly affected HR management in the private and public sectors.
“After talking with HR professionals who had crossed the sectors, I found that the nature of people mattered when choosing one or the other sector,” he says. “This has contributed to differences in the nature of the workforces of the two sectors.”
For example, “some people seek meaningful work and a chance to contribute to the quality of life of others,” continues Greene, who is also consulting principal at Pontifex Consulting.
“Some prefer stability and seek to avoid changing employers unless unacceptable conditions make it the right choice. Others sought maximizing current income and/or employer investment in their development,” which would lead to maximizing long-term income.”
Greene holds a Ph.D in applied behavioral science from Northwestern University. As such, “it was apparent to me that reactions to different types of programs would vary due to personal preferences. As a result, I became more sensitive to the nature of the workforces of the sector I was working in.”
Over the years, the focus of Greene’s consulting work started to shift toward public sector entities, which led him to joining PSHRA as a member in 2024. He has since worked with the Association as a volunteer, course instructor and conference presenter.
“When shifting my focus from the private to the public sector, I have found myself more deeply engaged in the challenges being created today,” says Greene, who also holds an MBA in human resource management from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Texas, El Paso.
As Greene’s understanding and knowledge of the public sector increased, he found the bulk of his consulting work to be with public sector entities. He hopes that trend continues in the days ahead.
“The well-being of the country is reliant on both the public and private sector,” says Greene, who is also an adjunct professor at DePaul University, where he is a faculty member in the school’s master of science in human resources (MSHR) and MBA programs.
“But, I now believe the opportunities and the challenges in the public sector deserve the attention of leaders at the national and local levels, to be sure the focus on the GNP and stock prices does not detract from the much-needed attention to the public sector.”
09 September 2026
Category
Stories of Impact
