The Town of Prescott Valley has welcomed Teri J. Traaen, Ed.D., D.P.A., IPMA-HR SCP; SHRM SCP as its new Human Resources Director. 

Dr. Traaen is a career Arizona public sector Human Resources Executive and Chief Labor Negotiator with more than 30 years in the human resources field. She has lead highly complex human resource teams in small, medium and large municipal government sectors, an urban K-12 public school district, and a community college/county partnership for federally funded job training and development in support of rural economic development. She also has served as a labor negotiator for management throughout her career. 

Dr. Traaen has a Doctorate in Public Administration and a Doctorate in Higher and Adult education. She is a member of the Arizona State University’s School of Public Affairs Alumni Hall of Fame, as well as being the recipient of the Faculty Associate Excellence in Teaching Award for her work as an adjunct faculty member in the College of Public Programs, School of Public Affairs. She is a published author, with her first book on ethics titled A Matter of Ethics – Facing The Fear Of Doing The Right Thing, JAI Press, 2000. 

Dr. Traaen has served in multiple leadership roles for the Arizona Association of School Personnel Administrators, the Arizona Chapter of the International Public Management Association for HR and also as the President for the Western Region of IPMA-HR. Previous service includes membership on the Arizona Governor’s Commission on Violence Against Women and service on the Judicial Merit System Commission for the Superior Court of Maricopa County. She also has served as a registered lobbyist at the Arizona State Legislature for an Arizona nonprofit organization serving Arizona’s developmentally disabled citizenry.

“We are excited to have a Human Resources Director of Dr. Traaen’s caliber join our team to lead us into a very exciting future,” said Town Manager Gilbert Davidson.

Among Dr. Traaen’s initial undertakings will be an updated Classification and Compensation Study, leadership and organizational development, an overhaul of employee benefits, and assisting in transitioning the Town into the Arizona State Retirement System. 

“It has been great to meet all of the hardworking employees of the Town of PV. I’m impressed with all that they are sharing with me, and I’m looking forward to working with them,” Dr. Traaen said.