SAN MARCOS — The Hays County Commissioners Court appointed Erik Granjeno as the new director of human resources; the department is responsible for various county activities involving employees, applicants and citizens.

Erik Granjeno

An Austin native, Granjeno attended Texas State University for a year and finished his education at Western Governors University. As the youngest of four children, he is a first-generation college graduate and a two-time university alumnus. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management and a Master of Science in Management and Leadership. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Hays County became his home.

“I hope to be innovative with our processes and programs while being the director,” Granjeno said.

He is duly certified by the Human Resource Certification Institute and Society for Human Resource Management as a senior human resources professional.

“Hays County is growing fast and I think we need to be able to stay ahead of the market in terms of being an employer of choice,” Granjeno said. “I would like to get Hays County into that direction of building our employer branding and putting it out there as an employer of choice for people moving to the area.”

Additionally, Hays County has named Jonathan Blanco as the new director of the Budget Office, which is responsible for creating and overseeing the county’s annual budget.

Originally from California, Blanco is a financial professional with more than a decade of experience managing multi-billion-dollar budgets, grants and fiscal operations in public, private and government sectors.

“It is truly an honor to be here at such a pivotal moment in Hays County’s growth,” Blanco said.

According to a Hays County news release, he excels at streamlining financial processes, driving strategic initiatives and leading cross-functional teams to achieve organizational goals.

With his expertise in budget management, financial management, grant management and compliance with government regulations, he has proven the ability to implement cost-saving strategies, forecast financial trends and ensure accurate financial reporting, the release stated.

Jonathan Blanco

“I am eager to collaborate with the judge, commissioners and county staff as we shape the future of this remarkable community,” Blanco said. “I am privileged to have worked alongside my esteemed predecessor, Vickie Dorsett, before her retirement. Her legacy is one that I am honored to continue, and I am committed to filling the significant role she has left behind.”

Blanco is also a husband, father of five, combat veteran and devoted handler of his service dog, Leo. He and his family have called Hays County home since January 2025.