Manatee County Commissioners Confirm New HR Director

Manatee County Commissioners today unanimously confirmed the appointment of Kim Stroud as the county government’s new Human Resources director. For the past nine years she has served as the division manager for the County’s award-winning Employee Health Benefits division. 

County Administrator Cheri Coryea said Kim stood out from other candidates for the job by embracing a results-based approach to addressing employee succession plans, recruiting employees during a time with very low unemployment and other ways to improve employee recruitment and retention.

“We’re very excited that Kim’s experience and unique background rose to the top of our national recruitment,” Coryea said. “She has managed our  Employee Health Benefits (EHB) program through dramatic change over the last nine years. We have the best in class benefits and we want the remainder of our HR Department to also be best in class.”

“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to be the next HR Director for the County,” Stroud said. “Along with my team at EHB, our focus has been on employee engagement and determining how we empower and engage employees. We want them to feel invested, and have the opportunity to grow and develop. I’m thrilled about the opportunity.” 

During her time as Benefits Manager, Kim helped the County’s workforce transition to a wellbeing model that incentivizes good health behaviors. In recent years the County’s health benefits package has become a model of success and efficiency renowned in the healthcare industry. Gallagher, the international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, recently named Manatee County’s Employee Health Benefits package among the “best in class” among public sector employers. 

Kim earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Illinois and a Master of Arts from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. Before joining Manatee County, Kim served as director of health and wellness at the Manatee Glens Corporation from 2008 – 2010. 

“Best in class is a great standard to have and I look forward to Kim applying that to other areas of the County,” said Commissioner Betsy Benac. “We have a fabulous HR director who can lead us. She’s done some incredible things and I have no doubt she’ll be an incredible HR director.” 

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.