Julie Hoyt: From Ward Aide to HR Leader

Taking on a temporary role in her college job wound up changing Julie Hoyt’s career path permanently.

While pursuing a degree in the environmental services field at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), Hoyt worked as a ward aide at Rockingham County Nursing Home, a county-run assisted living facility in Brentwood, N.H.

“While in school, I was asked by the director of nursing to cover an absence in the nursing office for a couple months,” says Hoyt, who went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management from UNH.

“I really enjoyed it!” she continues. “Right as this period of time was nearing an end, I was approached by the nursing home’s business office manager, who asked if I wanted to transfer to that department and work as a clerk, mainly hand-coding paper timecards and performing data entry as well as other administrative tasks.”

Hoyt stayed in that position for two years, going on to work as a payroll clerk, and then a payroll manager, before transferring to the County’s HR department in 2005.

Hoyt quickly realized she had found her calling.

“I discovered my true interest and passion was HR, specifically benefits, policies, employee relations and things of that nature,” says Hoyt.

The County’s human resources manager since December 2021, Hoyt had held various titles throughout her 21 years with the department, including HR generalist and senior HR generalist. She joined PSHRA in 2024, searching for a membership organization to connect with peers taking on the same challenges she faced in her roles.

“This was an organization dedicated to public sector HR, a very unique area,” says Hoyt. “I was excited to learn there was such an organization and to have the opportunity for networking and learning that was tailored to the public sector.”

Focused on continuing her education and maintaining her certifications in the days ahead, Hoyt is thankful for the opportunities she’s had thus far, and for the individual who helped set her on a new professional path.

“I am most grateful to the human resources director who took a chance on me and brought me into the department,” she says. “I have loved learning about the field, finding what I am best at, gaining my certifications and knowing that what I do makes a difference in our employees’ lives.”