Washington, D.C. (October 29, 2026) The GovExec Professional Development Academy, a premier provider of leadership and workforce development programs for public sector professionals, today announced the appointment of Kimberly Linson as General Manager. In this role, Linson will lead the business strategy, partnerships, operations, and growth planning as PDA further expands its suite of programs. She will report to Jennifer Pearce, Chief Operating Officer at GovExec.

"Professional Development Academy is an important part of GovExec’s portfolio. It provides a unique opportunity to collaborate directly with associations and academic institutions on advancing the skills of current and future government and public sector leaders,” said Pearce.  “With over 25 years building and running professional education and leadership development businesses across startup and large-scale divisions, Kimberly brings the expertise needed as we broaden Professional Development Academy’s slate of leadership courses, resources, and collaborations.” 

“Public sector leaders are being asked to solve novel problems in a workforce that’s changing faster than ever,” said Linson. “In years of partnering with state agencies and academic institutions, I’ve seen that the skills that matter most, such as critical thinking, communication, and sound judgment, are developed over a lifetime of learning. At PDA, we have an opportunity to equip leaders not just for today’s challenges, but for the ones still ahead.”

A frequent keynote and conference speaker on educator success and professional development, and an executive with a proven track record of creating and managing successful program pipelines, Linson comes to PDA after holding several roles, including Director of State Partnerships, at Level Data (formerly RANDA Solutions). As director, she led partnerships with State Education Agencies across educator talent, data modernization, and special education programs, managing relationships valued at $15.8M+ in annual revenue across 15 states. Prior to Level Data, Linson co-founded Leaderally, LLC, a professional learning startup supporting early-career educators, and served as Director of Learning Centers at Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes.

Taking on the General Manager position at PDA, Linson will be responsible for setting the brand’s strategy and managing its operations, programs, and team. She will also oversee program design and delivery quality, ensuring offerings meet the needs of public-sector leaders, and uphold PDA’s core leadership principles as established with the late General Colin Powell: purposeful collaboration, practical execution, and a relentless commitment to mission excellence.

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