The City of Laredo is pleased to announce the appointment of Nakesla Blount as the City's new Director of Human Resources.

Ms. Blount brings more than 16 years of progressively responsible human resources leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. She joins the City of Laredo after serving as Human Resources Director at the Louisiana Housing Corporation, where she led agency-wide initiatives in workforce planning, policy development, employee relations, talent acquisition, organizational effectiveness, compensation, and regulatory compliance.

Throughout her career, Ms. Blount has successfully modernized human resources operations, strengthened organizational governance, and implemented strategic workforce initiatives that enhanced employee engagement and improved organizational performance. Her professional experience also includes leadership roles with the Louisiana Housing Corporation, National General Insurance, and the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Ms. Blount holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from Capella University. She also holds two nationally recognized professional certifications: the Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) credential and the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.

"Please join me in welcoming Ms. Nakesla Blount to the City of Laredo," said City Manager Joe Neeb. "Throughout the recruitment process, she demonstrated a clear vision for building a service-oriented Human Resources Department that prioritizes employee development, accountability, innovation, and exceptional customer service. I am confident her leadership, experience, and collaborative approach will make a positive impact on our organization and the employees who serve our community every day."

As part of her transition into the role, Ms. Blount has developed a comprehensive first-year strategic plan focused on strengthening Human Resources operations, modernizing policies and procedures, improving recruitment and retention efforts, enhancing supervisor development, advancing succession planning, and supporting long-term organizational excellence.

As Director of Human Resources, Ms. Blount will oversee the City's Human Resources Department and work collaboratively with departments across the organization to recruit, develop, and retain the talented workforce needed to deliver high-quality municipal services to Laredo residents.

The City of Laredo welcomes Ms. Blount to the organization and looks forward to the leadership and expertise she brings as the City continues its commitment to organizational excellence and public service.