Rex Sanders: Contributing to Something Larger Than Himself

According to Rex Sanders, his motivation to pursue a career in human resources was no different than most of his peers.

“Like many HR professionals, I was drawn to this field by a desire to help people,” says Sanders, partner and co-founder of The Hive, an HR consulting firm focused on the public sector.

Sanders, who is also currently serving as interim human resources director with the City of National City, Calif., worked for a number of non-profit organizations in his community during and after college.

“I quickly realized how meaningful it was to contribute to something larger than myself,” says Sanders, who earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2004.

Sanders’ early-career experience with organizations such as ICLEI USA and the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) were critical in putting him on a path to public service.

Indeed, after leaving his position as an HR specialist with BASF in November 2006, Sanders moved on to a regional Air Quality Management District.

He spent the next 16 years there, serving in roles including HR analyst, executive operations manager, HR manager, administrative and finance director and, finally, chief administrative officer. He left the organization in January 2023, and launched The Hive, where he works with cities, counties, special districts and other mission-driven organizations to improve their HR practices, processes and culture.

“There is an intangible but powerful reward in knowing that your work supports your own community and helps improve the lives of the people around you. Public service attracts people who care deeply about their communities, their colleagues and the broader world we all share.”

For Sanders, “public service felt like a natural career choice, because it aligned with what I already valued and loved doing: helping people, strengthening communities and making a meaningful difference through my work.”

Sanders quickly found peers with similar values when he joined PSHRA as a member in June 2018.

“I chose to join,” he says, “because [PSHRA] offered something unique: a professional community specifically focused on public sector HR.”

At the time, he sought resources, support and education beyond what was available within his own agency.

“PSHRA provided access to public sector HR professionals locally, nationally and internationally who understood the distinctive challenges and opportunities of our work,” says Sanders, who currently serves as president of the PSHRA San Diego Chapter.

“For me, PSHRA was more than a professional association. It was a place to learn from others, share ideas, build connections, serve in a leadership role, and stay engaged with the broader public sector HR community.”

Sanders wants to continue building those connections in the days and years ahead.

“My aspiration is to continue growing The Hive and serving local government by delivering excellent work, providing sound guidance to our government partners and bringing positive energy and culture to every project and relationship,” he concludes.

“I want to continue helping public agencies strengthen their HR practices, support their employees and better serve their communities.”