Ryan Aylward met the love of his life while working in the Produce Department of his local Wegmans and earning his bachelor’s degree from Le Moyne College. Ryan had dreams of moving south after college to enjoy warmer climates and lower taxes, but his girlfriend (now wife), Melissa, had other plans. After obtaining his degree in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management from Le Moyne, he expected to spend his career representing employees in a union organizer/specialist role. That, too, did not materialize.

In 2006, the job market for college graduates with limited work experience was not ideal. Ryan worked a few temporary human resources jobs while urging employers to give him the experience they said he was lacking. In early 2007, Mary Krause gave Ryan his first real opportunity in human resources when she offered him a position as a Labor Relations Technician Trainee. He didn’t know where Madison County was, nor did he fully grasp the nature of public sector employment—but he knew this opportunity would give him the experience he was lacking, enabling him to land a better job down the road. Seventeen years later, he is still working for Madison County. Things don’t always go according to plan.

In 2023, Ryan was appointed as the Personnel Officer for Madison County. He had worked as the Director of Labor Relations for over 14 years and was pleased to step into the role after Eileen Zehr’s remarkable tenure. One of the first actions Ryan took as Personnel Officer was to change the name of the department (to Human Resources) and his title (to Director of Human Resources). Regardless of the department’s name, the Personnel/Human Resources Department is responsible for Civil Service Administration, Labor Relations, Human Resource Management, and Employee Safety.

Ryan is an active member of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), New York State Public Employer Labor Relations Association (NYSPELRA), National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (PELRA), and Central New York Society for Human Resource Management (CNY SHRM). These professional organizations are invaluable, and like the New York State Association of Personnel and Civil Service Officers (NYSAPCSO), they include members who have encountered nearly every topic imaginable. Drawing on peers’ experiences and learning from them is an absolute must in this field.

The human resources team in Madison County was instrumental in developing a new PPO health insurance plan while also working with four different unions to secure their buy-in and avoid grievances or improper practice charges. This effort was made possible by many factors, none more important than the ability to listen. Whether an HR professional is working with an appointing authority to create a new job specification, negotiating new contract language in a collective bargaining agreement, or mediating a workplace dispute—listening to all parties involved is vital to success.

Advice for those entering the public sector human resources field (or any field): be flexible, roll with the punches, and consider alternative paths to your destination. Very few of us have everything figured out at 25.

When Ryan isn’t working, he spends an absurd amount of time coaching a 13U travel baseball team and watching his son, Gray, play basketball. He also loves golfing, though he isn’t very good. Luckily, you’re allowed to toss the scorecard at the end of the round, and cigars and beers are available to all golfers, regardless of skill level.