Cara Woodson Welch is the Executive Director of the Public Sector HR Association (formerly IPMA-HR). She joined PSHRA with nearly 30 years of experience in association management and leadership. Previously, Ms. Welch was general counsel for WorldatWork, a total rewards human resources association. She was also vice president for external affairs and practice leadership at WorldatWork.

Ms. Welch also has extensive public sector experience. Early in her career, she worked as a legislative analyst at the National League of Cities. She also completed a fellowship with the human resources division of the federal government in the Social Security Administration.

She holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C., and is a member of the D.C. Bar. She earned her B.A. in international studies and French with a minor in political science from Macalester College, in St. Paul, Minnesota.