In early 2005, Monika Bowles had spent the past eight years serving as a human resources manager with a Fortune 500 company. She was eager to transition to an altogether new work environment.
“At the end of each fiscal quarter, we had to recycle old paper and write on the back of used pages, steal pens and pencils from local conferences, and not order supplies in order to make our financials look good for stockholders,” Bowles tells PSHRA. “I didn’t like that everything revolved around what impact decisions had on our profits and shareholders.”
So, when a similarly disillusioned co-worker suggested that Bowles apply for an opening with the Village of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., Bowles thought it over.
“Government [employment]? For real? The benefits were better, and guess what? They don’t have profit margins! They have a budget, and they just work within that budget. I pondered this and said, ‘Why not?’ It can’t be worse than reusing old paper and Marriott [hotel] pens.”
Bowles applied for the role of director of human resources and risk management with the Village, and got the job. She’s served the Village in that capacity since March 2005.
“Thus began my career in the public sector, 21 years ago,” says Bowles, who earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Lafayette College. “Best decision I’ve made.”
The new role in government might have been a great move, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t come with a steep learning curve.
“Working in the public sector might as well have been equal to moving to a foreign land with new laws and a new language,” says Bowles, who also holds a master’s degree in professional studies/human relations from the New York Institute of Technology.
“I needed a quick education in public records and all the anomalies that come with working in the public sector.”
Upon discovering PSHRA, Bowles found—much to her surprise—that the organization offered a vast network of public sector HR peers who were willing to help her navigate challenges.
“In the private sector, [HR professionals from other companies] are competitors, and would never help another business. So, this was quite refreshing, and the camaraderie was refreshing. Thus, I joined PSHRA [in July 2011], and the world of networking opened up, along with resources I never imagined would be available.”
Bowles describes PSHRA conference and networking opportunities as “invaluable,” adding that “it’s nice to know that I am not alone” when dealing with a crisis, budget cuts or angry citizens, for instance. “A click into the PSHRA forums and I have hundreds of voices ready to jump in and help.”
Bowles’ future plans tentatively include retirement in the next three-to-five years, and she is hopeful that she can leave government HR in just a slightly better place than when she entered the public sector 21 years ago.
“I want to continue after I retire … and inspire human resource professionals to challenge leaders, ask hard questions, face crisis, and do it all with a professional demeanor while also maintaining integrity and being grounded,” she says.
“Don’t overpromise and underdeliver. Life is not rainbows and unicorns, and it is our job to find a ray of sunshine and a good hamburger.”
16 June 2026
Category
Stories of Impact
