Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens names new Human Resources commissioner

071322 Atlanta: Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens applaudes the opening of the inaugural BeltLine MarketPlace under the Freedom Parkway Bridge, on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, in Atlanta. The new pilot program offers pop-up storefront space for local, Black-owned businesses in refurbished shipping containers along the Atlanta BeltLine in two different areas.  “Curtis Compton / Curtis Compton@ajc.com”

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

071322 Atlanta: Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens applaudes the opening of the inaugural BeltLine MarketPlace under the Freedom Parkway Bridge, on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, in Atlanta. The new pilot program offers pop-up storefront space for local, Black-owned businesses in refurbished shipping containers along the Atlanta BeltLine in two different areas. “Curtis Compton / Curtis Compton@ajc.com”

Beginning Sept. 19, Atlanta City Hall will have a new Commissioner for the Department of Human Resources.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced on Tuesday that Tarlesha Smith will replace Commissioner Jeffrey Norman, who will continue to serve the city in Atlanta’s law department.

Smith recently served as Assistant City Manager and Human Resources Director for the City of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., according to the mayor’s office.

She is also a founder and managing member of the T.W. Smith Law Group in Miami. Additionally, she previously served as Human Resources Division Director for Miami Dade County Fire Rescue in Doral, Fla., and Human Resources Director for the City of Hialeah in Florida.

Tarlesha Smith will serve as the Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources for the city of Atlanta, Mayor Andre Dickens announced Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. (City of Atlanta)

Credit: City of Atlanta

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Credit: City of Atlanta

“Tarlesha Smith has a proven record as a Senior Human Resources Executive with extensive experience in labor, employment law, talent management and values that align with our mission to move Atlanta forward,” Dickens said in a statement.

“We are pleased to welcome her to our team and continue our work to supercharge city services for our communities.”

Smith’s hiring comes as the Dickens administration strives to retain and attract qualified public employees to serve Atlanta. She will likely play a role in the pay and class study that Dickens directed to be conducted this year to provide guidance for future compensation for city employees.

Dickens is still conducting a nationwide search for executives to lead the police department, City Planning, and transportation.

He recently appointed interim leaders for the police and transportation departments, in addition to making permanent hires for Parks and Recreation and Procurement.