Alaina Plungin

Alaina Plungin serves as Training & Recruitment Manager for the City of Pittsburgh, leading learning, onboarding, and recruitment functions supporting more than 3,500 employees across 24 departments and bureaus — a role she advanced into through multiple promotions over more than 12 years with the organization. She began her career intending to pursue law, earning an Associate of Science in Specialized Business, Cum Laude, before discovering public service through an entry-level position supporting the Civil Service Commission. Her work centers on human experience design: building onboarding, leadership development, and employee experience programs that make complex organizations easier to work in. She built the City's employer brand from the ground up, growing its professional following past 22,000, and will present "Every Experience Matters: Managers as Experience Drivers" at the 2026 ALI Conference in Washington, D.C. Alaina maintains memberships in PSHRA and PHRA, where she serves on the Networking Committee, and serves as a United Way Employee Campaign Manager, volunteer, and donor. She holds certifications in Project Management Essentials and Mental Health First Aid and completed the United Way Connect U leadership cohort. Outside of work she volunteers as a Girl Scout troop leader, softball coach, and with Special Olympics and Vintage. She attributes her success to curiosity, a drive to evolve and improve processes, and maintaining grace with herself while staying true to her values.