For more than a quarter of a century, Laurie Leonard has been a dedicated fixture in the Cortland County Personnel/Civil Service Department, serving her community with integrity, expertise, and a genuine passion for public service. Born and raised in Cortland County, Laurie’s deep roots in the community have shaped her approach to leadership and her unwavering commitment to ensuring fair and efficient personnel practices.

Laurie’s career journey is a testament to perseverance and growth. She spent 17 years as Deputy Personnel Officer before being appointed Personnel Officer in May 2021. Over the years, she has served on several workplace committees focused on violence prevention, safety, and compensation—always striving to create safer, more effective work environments.

One of Laurie’s proudest personal achievements came while balancing the demands of full-time work and motherhood: earning her Master’s Degree in Labor Policy Studies from Empire State College. The experience not only strengthened her professional expertise but also reinforced her confidence in making sound, independent decisions and fostering teamwork.

When asked what advice she would give to someone new in civil service, Laurie emphasizes patience and perspective.

“Give yourself time. No one can know everything about Civil Service right away—it’s a unique animal with many intricacies. Always think big picture, because your piece of the puzzle almost always affects another piece.”

Laurie also brings a thoughtful perspective to the challenges facing civil service today. She notes that while the system was created to prevent favoritism and ensure merit-based hiring, the rigid constraints no longer match the realities of the current job market. She believes a more relevant and flexible approach—such as general aptitude testing instead of job-specific exams—could help attract the next generation of public sector talent.

Outside of work, Laurie enjoys traveling, playing piano, and reading. Soon, she’ll be embarking on a new chapter—planning to “retire” next year and move to Nebraska to be closer to her two adult children and her first grandchild. While she intends to stay busy with work she enjoys, family will remain her top priority.

Laurie Leonard’s career reflects not just dedication to her role, but also a commitment to evolving with the times while staying true to the principles of fairness, collaboration, and service!