Hughes began her career in emergency services with the City of St. Cloud in 2003, serving as a Special Projects Coordinator for the Community Emergency Response Team. She joined the Stearns County Emergency Management Department in 2004 as a Planner a position which she held for nine years at which time she accepted the position as the County Emergency Manager. She is a Certified Emergency Manager in the State of Minnesota, a recognized Master Exercise Practitioner by FEMA, and a member of the Minnesota Type III All Hazards Incident Management Team. Hughes has experience with disaster response including record flooding in Browns Valley in 2007, flooding and pandemic influenza in 2009, severe storms and straight-line winds in 2010, Presidential Disaster Declaration in 2011, historic flooding in Carlton County, severe storms and straight-line winds, and Hurricane Irene in Massachusetts during 2012, Presidential Disaster Declaration in 2013, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in 2015, 2022 and Hurricane Irma in Florida in 2017. Hughes received her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work and Master of Science in Public Safety Executive Leadership from St. Cloud State University.