June 2026
Pictured above at right: Chris Morrill, CEO/executive director, Government Finance Officers Association; Cara Woodson Welch, CEO, PSHRA; Amy C. Blake, PSHRA Executive Council president and director of human resources and risk management with the City of Liberty, Mo.; and Julia Novak, CEO/executive director, International City/County Management Association
PSHRA CEO Cara Woodson Welch and PSHRA Executive Council President Amy C. Blake were among the representatives from 20-plus organizations on hand for the recent Convening of Local Government Professional Associations, Leading Practices for Thriving Communities event, hosted by International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).
At the June 24 event, held at 660 North Capitol Street NW in Washington, D.C., Welch and Blake shared insight into some of the biggest challenges facing PSHRA members at the moment and delved into potential solutions.
The gathering drew local government leaders from organizations including the Alliance for Innovation, the American Public Works Association, the Local Government Hispanic Network, the National Association of County Administrators, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, International Network of Asian Public Administrators, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Recreation and Parks Association and many more.
As part of the daylong event, attendees shared some of the most significant operational challenges facing the local government professionals they support and represent.
Welch voiced some of the biggest concerns PSHRA members are contending with at the moment.
The constant competition for pay and benefits in public safety, for instance, is sparking fears among some members that their organizations will be forced to provide only police or fire services, as they are dangerously close to not being able to afford both.
Public sector HR practitioners continue to wrestle with how to effectively recruit and retain Gen Z-age talent, Welch noted. Morale and competitive compensation are also consistently among the top priorities cited in PSHRA member surveys, she added.
Attendees were also asked what leading practices and/or measurements their associations advocate having in place to help their members’ agencies thrive and in turn help create thriving communities—policies, programs, key performance metrics and accreditation criteria, for example.
The Convening’s next steps are to take the action items the group came up with to collaborate and implement these activities.
In the meantime, Welch shared a number of steps that PSHRA is taking to aid its members and the public sector HR community in overcoming current challenges.
For example, the organization has updated its certifications to include knowledge and skill expansion addressing current workplace issues; hosting a public, online member forum to share questions, policies, programs and ideas; and bestowing service awards upon agencies that are positively affecting their internal and external communities.
PSHRA is also updating and increasing its training opportunities to include specific issues that members have indicated are relevant to them, she said, and added that PSHRA’s research committee helps the organization identify key topics for research projects.
“I believe the biggest challenge facing our members is ensuring the vitality of public sector human capital continues to grow, advance and prosper,” added Blake.
Attracting a diverse, skilled population to public sector careers will require a different recruiting approach, along with a stronger belief in government and a desire to embrace change, she said.
“PSHRA continues to partner with other public sector serving associations not only to address these issues, but also to problem-solve and create solutions together,” Blake concluded.
“Collaboration and flexibility are key to the future success of serving our members, and it’s how we Make Public Sector Work Better®.
