Johnson County has been recognized for its inclusion initiatives with a 2024 Award of Excellence from the national Public Sector Human Resources Association.

Johnson County received the PSHRA Medium Agency Award, recognizing an agency with 2,000 to 9,999 members. The cornerstone of Johnson County’s inclusion efforts is its VIBE (Voices of Inclusion, Belonging and Equity) program. VIBE represents a strategic effort to foster a workplace culture that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for all.

The county’s efforts in this area fall under the VIBE umbrella, which include offering multi-modal training, an annual Juneteenth community celebration and the county’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coalition.

“Johnson County strives to foster a workplace and a community where opportunities are available to everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, disability, or sexual identity,” said Penny Postoak Ferguson, county manager. “We are pleased to receive this recognition for our efforts to promote respect and recognize the dignity and inherent worth of every person.”

“At Johnson County, we are committed to building an organization that values and embraces diversity,” said Kayla Holloway, director of human resources.  “With a culture rooted in continuous improvement, we believe a diverse workforce is a win for everyone – our employees, our organization, and the communities we serve.  In that pursuit, our work in this area is ever evolving through the efforts of an extraordinary Johnson County Government team.”

Watch a video highlighting some of the efforts of Johnson County’s VIBE program.

PSHRA is the home of HR professionals who have given tirelessly to the advancement of the public sector HR profession, and the association annually recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of its members and the work they do on behalf of their agencies at the local, state and federal government levels. Read more about this year’s awards.