Organization
City of Maplewood
Current Position and how long
Communications Manager, 7+ years; MAGC board member, 2 years
Why do you want to be a Minnesota Association of Government Communicators board member?
I owe a lot of my career growth and success to the people I have met through MAGC and the professional development events it hosts.
As a board member since 2022, I have worked to ensure MAGC continues its mission as a central gathering point, whether virtual or in person, where talented people with similar goals share their ideas, skills and experiences.
Since 2020, I have been part of the Fall Conference Planning Committee. This year I had the honor of co-hosting the committee with Ben Hayle from the City of Blaine. We tried to find the most relevant sessions that would help you the moment the conference ended.
In the past few years, it has been a great accomplishment to have developed several learning sessions for our members, including the Drone Workshop, a 1st Amendment Lunch and Learn, and a debrief on how to control the narrative of potentially negative story.
I look forward to continuing to build up MAGC's resources that help fellow communicators best connect with the people they serve and support thriving communities.
What skills, knowledge or expertise do you bring to the board?
Starting as a journalist and videographer, I transitioned into policy and political communications roles. Now, I am working for a city and directly accountable to community members. Along the way, I served on various nonprofit boards.
Through it all, I learned the importance of collaboration, open-mindedness, and a willingness to adapt through change.
I am constantly thinking about issues through the lens of the people they impact.
"How would I react if ...?"
With all of that context, make a well-informed decision and move forward.
What else would you like us to know about you as a candidate for the MAGC board?
I’ve lived and worked in six states over my career. By far, Minnesota is the most well-functioning. That’s because of our public institutions’ dedication to policy, service, and professionalism. Our vast network of nonprofits, such as MAGC, and governments at all levels inspire our communities to work toward common goals for the greater good.
I’m happy to be part of that tradition and want to continue serving fellow communicators.