From Volunteer to Leader: Meet Laura Harvick, HR professional

September 26, 2025

In honor of Human Resources (HR) Professionals Day, Inside CDCR caught up with Laura Harvick, Assistant Deputy Director of HR for CCHCS.

Harvick’s 36-year HR journey

In 1988, Galt High School senior Laura Harvick was matched to the Basic Correctional Officer Academy through a school-work program.

With her father’s encouragement and a volunteer badge, she began what she thought would be a short-term opportunity. Instead, that experience sparked Harvick’s connection to a department and profession she would cultivate for more than three decades.

“My father exemplified a strong work ethic and held a deep respect for the department,” she recalled. “That culture of kindness and respect is something I’ve carried with me my entire career.”

Building a path in HR

A student volunteer role became a lifelong career in HR. Over 36 years, including 30 of those in HR, Harvick discovered the unique power of helping people feel supported and valued at work.

“HR is not just about managing talent and compliance,” she explained. “It is about creating an environment where employees feel respected and motivated to contribute their best.”

For Harvick, the most rewarding part was supporting staff in the correctional healthcare environment, a space that demands resilience, compassion, and teamwork. She found purpose in ensuring doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals had the resources to succeed, knowing their work directly impacted some of California’s most vulnerable patients.

“By supporting and empowering healthcare professionals, we are ultimately helping them deliver care to those who need it most,” she said.

Growth through service

She admits she started out quiet, hesitant to speak up in meetings, and even struggled with a speech impediment that made public speaking intimidating. But HR work required finding her voice.

“Leading trainings, mediating conflicts, and advocating for staff pushed me outside my comfort zone,” she said. “Over time, I learned to manage my anxiety, speak with clarity, and connect with people on a personal and professional level. HR did not just teach me policies. It helped me come out of my shell.”

That transformation, she says, became one of the most rewarding parts of her journey.

The changing face of HR

She also witnessed the profession evolve.

“When I started, HR was mostly administrative, focused on recruitment, compliance, and paperwork,” she said. “Now it is about strategy, culture, and employee well-being.”

Harvick credits technology with streamlining tasks and sees diversity, equity, and inclusion as one of the most meaningful changes.

“Ensuring staff from all backgrounds feel valued has created more inclusive leadership and equitable opportunities for advancement,” she explained.

Lessons for the future

Looking back, Harvick offers the following guidance for new HR professionals:

embrace the mission
build relationships
stay flexible
and always lead with empathy.

“Correctional healthcare staff face tough emotional and ethical situations,” she said. “Show compassion in every interaction. It builds trust and fosters a supportive workplace culture.”

Honoring the profession

As CDCR/CCHCS mark HR Professionals Day on Sept. 26, Harvick’s story highlights the impact HR staff make behind the scenes. From recruitment and training to employee support and organizational strategy, HR professionals ensure the workforce has what it needs to succeed.

Her career is a reminder that human resources is not only about policies and procedures but also about people, compassion, and growth.

Written by Amanda Spangler, Communications Analyst
California Correctional Health Care Services

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