Public-sector human resources work rarely makes headlines. It happens quietly in the background: a seasonal hiring push, a budget kept on track, a candidate guided through the civil service process. This year, Nationwide Public Sector Jobs presented its first Talent Management Star Award to recognize outstanding talent acquisition and management staff in cities, counties, and special districts nationwide.

Thank you to everyone who nominated a colleague. We loved learning about the exceptional professionals working in public-sector human resources. While we couldn’t recognize everyone, every nominee is a star in our eyes. Here are this year’s winners.

Anna Grace “Gracie” Butler
Human Resources Generalist, City of Gulfport, MS

Gracie manages the city’s applicant tracking system, screens candidates, and partners with hiring managers to fill positions across all departments. Her accomplishments include hiring 90 seasonal employees in 60 days for the Gulf Coast Harbor Lights Winter Festival, in addition to the city’s regular staffing needs, with positivity, passion, and persistence. She has contributed to the city’s compliance and workforce stability by keeping vacancies low and strengthening employee trust through a thoughtful onboarding process.

“My role with the City of Gulfport has been the most rewarding part of my career. Talent Management is about more than filling a position; it’s about connecting the right people with opportunities where they can succeed. I love building those connections and being a trusted partner to both our applicants and hiring managers.”

Tatiana Diaz
Director of Human Resources, City of Albany, NY

Tatiana leads the city’s human resources function, focusing on community-based recruitment and guiding candidates through the civil service hiring process. Among her highlights is spearheading Activate Albany, an initiative that recruits city employees from within the community, which she has championed with passion, determination, and leadership. Her work has helped build a diverse, committed workforce and a stronger connection between the city and its residents.

“Talent management and human resources in public service are about more than filling vacancies, they’re about creating pathways to opportunity and building a workforce that reflects and serves our community. My goal is to make government employment more accessible, modern, and human-centered, while helping people build meaningful careers in public service.”

Brandy Rumford
Risk and Loss Prevention Manager, County of Trinity, CA

Brandy oversees the county’s risk management, insurance administration, and HR budget while supporting recruitment, open enrollment, and payroll operations. Her notable accomplishments include recovering erroneous payouts and streamlining key insurance and HR processes, always with dedicated follow-through. Her work has contributed to the county’s long-term fiscal protection and a better employee experience, and she does it all with calm and empathetic leadership.

“At the County of Trinity, talent management is about recognizing that our greatest resource is our people. It means creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, heard, and given opportunities to grow. My advice to others in HR is to lead with integrity, listen with purpose, and never lose sight of the people behind the policies and procedures. This recognition is meaningful to me because it reflects the importance of the work we do every day to support our employees and strengthen our organization. I am incredibly grateful to work alongside such dedicated, talented, and supportive people who make the County of Trinity such a special place to work.”

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Congratulations to all three winners, and thank you for the work you do every day.

Know someone whose work deserves the spotlight? Keep them in mind for next year. Nominations open each August, with awards announced in October.