Making public sector work better.

       President

Tara Moore

Tara Moore is the Deputy Director of Human Resources for the Town of Parker, Colorado where she plays a key leadership role in recruitment, retention, organizational development, organizational culture, core value alignment and staff training.  She has worked for the Town of Parker since 2002 and has been a part of the Human Resources team for over fifteen (15) years; having facilitated sessions on team building, leadership, performance management and emotional intelligence. Tara has been a past session speaker for Colorado PRIMA, PSHRA Western Region Conference and is a Crucial Conversations Trainer.

Tara is PSHRA-SCP and SPHR certified and holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.

A Colorado native she enjoys crafting, camping, cooking, sports and spending time with her family and friends.

Vice President / President Elect 

Sarah Ballow

  Sarah Ballow is the Assistant Human Resources Manager for the Town of Castle Rock where she provides leadership and strategic oversight across all functions of HR. She has been with the Town since 2022 and has 12 years previous experience that includes talent acquisition management, HRIS and business analytics, employee relations, and compensation and classification. Sarah has a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Administrative Operations from Metropolitan State University of Denver, and is SHRM-CP and SPHR certified. Sarah has lived in the Town of Castle Rock for over 20 years and is very passionate about the opportunity to serve the community that she grew up in. 

In her free time, Sarah enjoys running alongside her blue heeler, Lila, finding a new recipe to try, or traveling to new places.

Treasurer 

Secretary 

2026-2027 Board Members

Amber Moreno

Amber Moreno is the Human Resources Director for the Town of Parker in Parker, Colorado. Amber has over 15 years of comprehensive human resources experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Oklahoma State University and her Master’s in Human Resource Management from Colorado State University – Global Campus. Amber holds a Senior Certified Professional designation from the Society for Human Resources Management.

Making a move from Northeast Oklahoma, Amber, her husband, three boys and two dogs are busy enjoying the active Colorado lifestyle!

Brittany Dvorak 

Brittany currently serves as the Director of People & Culture for the Town of Frederick, where she leads HR strategy with a bold, business-minded approach. With over 12-years of experience in human resources, she’s known for her “Lift and Shift” methodology, transforming underperforming HR functions into high-impact strategic partners that drive operational excellence, workforce alignment, and cultural credibility. Her focus is on doing HR differently: future-focused, data-informed, and operationally integrated.

Recognized as one of Denver’s Top 3 HR Professionals in 2023 by Mile High SHRM, Brittany is passionate about building leadership capacity, rethinking traditional HR models, and creating people strategies that actually move the needle. She brings a hybrid background in both human resources and business operations, offering a practical, outcomes-driven perspective to every challenge.

As a PSHRA Board Member, Brittany looks forward to sharing her experience while continuing to learn from other leaders in the public sector. When she’s not working, she’s golfing, reading, spending time with her family, scouting out the best coupons/deals, or proving that french fries can be a stand-alone food group.

Deanna Heyn

Deanna Heyn, Regional Manager & Local Client Liaison, is a seasoned Human Resources executive and HR consultant with over 35 years of experience, including more than 20 years in public sector leadership, and the past eight years with CPS HR Consulting. She has served federal, state and local government agencies, providing strategic HR solutions that align people strategies with organizational goals. Mrs. Heyn has led all core HR functions—talent acquisition, employee relations, organizational development, employee benefits, compliance, and policy implementation, to name a few—bringing deep insight into the operational and cultural dynamics of government agencies. Her hands-on leadership fosters high-performing teams and drives efficiency, engagement, and innovation. With a collaborative and client-focused approach, she ensures HR is positioned as a strategic partner in advancing agency success.

Lindsay Ghirardelli

Lindsay Ghirardelli is a Senior HR Business Partner on the Employee Relations team for Jefferson County. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Colorado State University, and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She is passionate about fostering inclusive workplace cultures, leading strategic HR initiatives, and aligning people practices with organizational goals. Prior to her experience in the public sector, she served as Human Resources Director for a local non-profit which focused on the treatment and rehabilitation of abused and neglected youth. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two children, ages 15 and 13, and their goldendoodle, Bear.

Andrea Orth

Andrea Orth is an HR Generalist with the Town of Castle Rock. She started her career out as a Recreation Admin Manager that gave her the opportunity to dip her toes in HR related duties. As she grew, she realized HR was where she wanted to be. she transitioned fully into HR 4 years ago, and switched to Public Sector HR about two years ago, it was one of the best decisions she has made. She's grown to love the variety and creativity Human Resources can bring!

Earning her Masters in Human Resource Management and the SHRM-CP, plus working alongside great colleagues and mentors has helped her become the HR Professional that she is today.

Cynthia Tauer

Cynthia Tauer is a results-driven HR executive with a proven track record of aligning talent strategy with business objectives to drive growth, engagement, and operational efficiency. She brings deep expertise in change management, workforce development, and cultural transformation, with a focus on scalable solutions that improve performance and retention.

Throughout her career, Cynthia has led transformative initiatives across multiple organizations:

• HR Strategy & Engagement: Developed and implemented a comprehensive HR strategy at Century Communities, boosting employee engagement and retention.
• Cost Efficiency: Overhauled benefits programs, reducing expenses by 75% while enhancing the employee experience.
• Cultural Leadership: Drove cultural transformation at Rivet Software, doubling employer approval ratings and reducing turnover.
• Talent Acquisition: Designed a strategic hiring approach that saved $1M in recruitment costs and strengthened market positioning.
• Performance Systems: Built a performance management system that improved operational efficiency and business results.
• Process Automation: Automated recruiting workflows, cutting cycle time by 33% and attracting top talent.
• Workforce Restructuring: Led a major reduction in force with 85% outplacement success, ensuring compliance and minimizing risk.

Before entering HR, Cynthia spent 15 years as a licensed investment professional at Janus, Charles Schwab, and Denver Investment Advisors. She holds a BA in Finance from Fort Lewis College.

Amber Oeltjenbruns

Amber Oeltjenbruns serves as the People and Culture Director for the Arvada Fire Protection District, where she oversee all aspects of human resources, organizational development, benefits, employee relations, recruitment, performance management, and strategic workforce planning. I have more than 20 years of experience in the public sector and hold degrees in Accounting and Organizational Leadership, along with professional HR certifications. I am passionate about helping organizations build strong workplace cultures, develop effective leaders, and create systems that support both employees and organizational success.

  Erin Gallagher 

Erin Gallagher serves as the Total Rewards Manager for the City of Lakewood, Colorado, where she oversees compensation, benefits, retirement programs, learning and development, and the City's HRIS function. She holds a bachelor's degree in finance, is PSHRA-SCP and SHRM-SCP certified, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Human Resource Management. Erin brings a strategic, data-driven approach to total rewards and is passionate about improving the employee experience, developing HR professionals, and advancing excellence in public sector human resources. She is honored to serve on the PSHRA Colorado Chapter Board and looks forward to collaborating with HR leaders across Colorado.

Heather Moore

Heather Moore is a Senior Human Resources Consultant with CPS HR Consulting, where she partners with public sector organizations throughout Colorado and across the United States to provide practical, strategic HR support. With more than 25 years of human resources experience, Heather has expertise in recruitment, employee relations, workplace investigations, policy development, classification and compensation, and organizational effectiveness. She is passionate about helping organizations navigate complex HR challenges and develop practical solutions that support both employees and employers. Heather holds the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification, is an active member of the Public Sector Human Resources Association (PSHRA), and is honored to serve on the Colorado PSHRA Board, supporting the chapter and the public sector HR profession.

2026-2027 Associate Board Members

  Melissa Rossback 

Melissa Rossback, MBA, PHR, is the Founder and Chief Human Resources Officer of The MiXx Consulting, where she partners with public agencies, special districts, nonprofits, and private organizations to build strategic, legally compliant, and people-centered workplaces. With more than 20 years of executive human resources and organizational leadership experience, Melissa specializes in organizational development, executive coaching, employee relations, policy development, workforce planning, leadership development, governance, and organizational change.

Throughout her career, Melissa has served organizations ranging from fire protection districts and municipalities to school districts, charter schools, healthcare organizations, and small businesses. She is recognized for helping boards, executive teams, and organizational leaders navigate complex personnel issues while aligning human resources practices with organizational strategy and long-term sustainability.

Melissa is the founder of an executive leadership development initiative focused on preparing current and emerging leaders through evidence-based leadership assessment, coaching, and professional development. She is also completing her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, where her research focuses on leadership readiness within the fire service and the factors that contribute to successful leadership development before promotion into formal leadership roles.

In addition to her consulting practice, Melissa serves as President of the Belle Creek Metropolitan District Board of Directors and President of the Horizons K–8 Charter School Board of Directors. Her board leadership has strengthened her expertise in public governance, fiduciary responsibility, policy oversight, strategic planning, and executive accountability.

Melissa earned her Master of Business Administration and holds the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. She is passionate about helping organizations create strong leadership cultures, mitigate organizational risk, and develop workplaces where both people and organizations can thrive.