Ramsey County has announced the appointment of Patience Ferguson as its new Chief Human Resources Officer, concluding a thorough search process that kicked off early April this year, in a statement gathered by Ramsey County's official site, County Manager Ling Becker shared their enthusiasm for the addition of Ferguson to the team, "Her extensive experience, strong leadership, and deep commitment to people will be key to strengthening our organization — ensuring we have the right support, systems and tools in place to empower our employees and uphold a standard of excellence in serving our community."
As the second-most populous county in Minnesota, Ramsey County serves as a home to roughly 10% of the state's residents, it boasts a rich cultural tapestry which Ferguson will now influence through her role, wherein she will helm the human resources strategy covering talent acquisition, employee engagement, as well as diversity and inclusion, compensation, benefits, and organizational development for a workforce of about 4,000. Ferguson's leadership will extend to a team of 60 and an annual budget of $11 million, as stated on the County's website.
Ferguson's 30-plus years in human resources are replete with leadership positions at notable organizations including the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and the City of Minneapolis; most notably at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, she reportedly transformed the HR function from a regulatory role to a service-driven, consultative partner, aligning human capital strategy more closely with organizational goals, her educational background includes a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Education in Human Resource Development from the University of Minnesota, supplemented by a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification.
In line with her professional ethos, Ferguson emphasizes the importance of incorporating equity into organizational practices, ensuring that initiatives move beyond token gestures towards durable, systemic transformation, her work has not gone unnoticed, having been included in the “Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: 200 Black Leaders You Should Know in the Twin Cities,” and receiving accolades such as the “2020 Women in Business Award” and the “2020 African American Leadership Forum: Community Leadership Award.” Ferguson, as she told Ramsey County, draws from her journey marked by family and community, stating, “I am who I am because of the love, strength and values instilled in me by my family and community. They taught me to lead with authenticity, meaning and purpose. It is my desire to use this foundation as I work with others to help build workplaces where people feel seen, valued and can thrive — which produces a positive and trusting outcome for the people we serve."
Her role in the community translates beyond her professional life as she remains an active board member of Nexus Community Partners, co-chair of Evanta CHRO Leadership Summit, and board member and Executive Committee member of YMCA of the North, while she also finds joy in singing, traveling, interior design, and spending time with loved ones; Ferguson’s tenure as Ramsey County’s Chief Human Resources Officer start date is locked on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, as indicated in Ramsey County's announcement.
