Jeanette Persing: Committed to Continuous Learning and Growth

Jeanette Persing’s path to public sector HR took her through a number of industries and countries.

Currently a senior human resources generalist with the City of Littleton, Colo., Persing’s first experience in the HR function came as a training supervisor, and later as an employee relations supervisor with the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

She also served as a human resources specialist with Integrated Computer Systems in the Philippines, where she led initiatives that streamlined key HR processes, including the implementation of a performance-based appraisal system and a digital employee movement process.

“After building a strong foundation in employee relations, training, recruitment and performance management in banking, technology and BPO sectors in the Philippines during the dot.com bubble, I developed a deep appreciation for how effective HR systems and how leaders can stabilize and support organizations during periods of transformation.”

Persing and her family relocated to the United States after the Great Recession had begun in 2008. Two years later, Persing opted to take a hiatus from the workforce, to focus on raising her family. She knew that she wanted to pursue a career in government HR when the time was right.

“I was drawn to public service because of its mission-driven focus and the opportunity to directly contribute to communities,” says Persing, who graduated from St. Scholastica College’s three-year honors program with a concentration on psychology and human resources development.

Persing ultimately returned to the workforce in December 2016, when she took a role as an HR program assistant in the City of O’Fallon, Ill. She would move on to the City of Littleton in July 2022. These roles have allowed Persing “to apply my experience in change management and employee development in a setting where the impact is tangible and meaningful to the public,” she says now.

Persing became a PSHRA member in 2016, seeking to establish her credibility and build a network of peers as she began to transition fully into public sector HR in the United States.

“I chose to join PSHRA because it represents the professional standard for excellence in the public sector,” says Persing, who graduated from the Leadership-Rising Program of the City of Littleton and the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver in May 2026.

“As someone committed to continuous learning and growth, I valued the opportunity to deepen my understanding of public sector practices through a structured certification pathway,” she continues.

(Persing completed the PSHRA Public Sector HR Certification course in 2018 and earned her PSHRA-Certified Professional designation the following year.)

Persing plans to continue nurturing her development by expanding her role in “shaping modern, efficient and employee-centered HR systems, particularly in areas such as succession planning, talent management, total rewards management and performance management,” she says.

“I aspire to advance into broader leadership roles where I can shape strategic HR direction, help organizations navigate evolving political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal landscapes, and drive a culture that balances exceptional employee experience with strong accountability to the citizens we serve.”