Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Daphne Floyd is a proud graduate of the Philadelphia High School for Girls. She went on to attend West Chester University (WCU) in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where she initially majored in speech pathology and audiology. During her senior year, while fulfilling her remaining electives, she enrolled in a human resource management course. That class sparked a lasting interest in human resources and set her on a professional path focused on supporting employees and strengthening mission-driven organizations.
While at WCU, she began an entry-level position with the Defense Contract Audit Agency in the human resources office. Shortly thereafter, her career path changed when a mentor and former federal colleague offered her a new job as a Human Resources Assistant.
“So despite my family— the vast majority of whom all worked for the federal government in one capacity or another, including the Social Security Administration, the Department of Defense, and Veterans Affairs— I decided to leave the federal government and go to work for a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO).”
She was later promoted to an HR Specialist position at the HMO.
After industry consolidation and a bankruptcy forced her to seek new opportunities, she joined Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she worked in human resources for more than five years. She later accepted a leadership role at Philadelphia Protestant Home, beginning as HR Director and eventually becoming Vice President of Human Resources.
“During that time, and particularly as a result of COVID, one of the things that really impacted senior services in general was census. We lost quite a few residents. But also, because of the negative publicity surrounding senior services, it was difficult to attract residents to come and live in our facility.”
The plummeting number of nursing home residents at Philadelphia Protestant Home forced the organization to bring in a management company.
“The management company, of course, was coming in to cut costs and see where it could streamline operations. One of the first areas they always target is staffing: how can we work smarter and harder with the least amount of staff?”
As Vice President of Human Resources, Floyd was forced to conduct layoffs— a period she acknowledges was one of the most difficult times of her career.
“I’m meeting with employees who had been there for 20-plus years, many of whom I literally grew up with. We all grew up together, and I had to tell them that they were no longer employed.”
She soon “saw the writing on the wall” for herself as well.
After 31 dedicated years working at CHOP and PPH, she transitioned to public service at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, joining in May 2025, following an extensive interview process that concluded with District Attorney Larry Krasner. Floyd added that her experiences at CHOP and PPH were critical in preparing her for the DAO role.
Outside of her professional life, she finds joy in spending time with family—especially her twin sister—bargain shopping, and expressing her creativity through interior decorating and design. She is also planning her upcoming wedding to an acquaintance from WCU whom she reconnected with decades later.
Throughout her career, she has enjoyed being part of mission-driven organizations and takes pride in supporting the employees who perform vital work in their communities. Serving as the DAO’s Director of Human Resources has been no exception.
“We are really impacting the lives of the citizens of Philadelphia as well as their families and surrounding communities.”