Public Information & Government Communications
Clear communication is a public trust. I protect it.
I'm a Communications Director with 15+ years bridging government agencies, consulting firms, and community organizations — translating complex policy and program work into public messaging that earns trust, not just attention.
Communications Director & Public Information Officer
About
I've spent my career in the room where government, media, and community meet.
Fielding press questions and addressing community stakeholders at a Habersham County public forum.
I got my start writing safety logs and community updates for a local school transportation department — long before I ever wrote a press release. That hands-on, inside-district experience still shapes how I work today: I don't just write about public agencies from the outside, I understand how they actually operate, what they're accountable for, and what residents need to hear from them.
Since 2011, I've advised government agencies, transportation programs, nonprofits, and political organizations on strategic communications — building crisis response plans, running media relations, and producing the fact sheets, talking points, and public reports that keep agencies compliant and communities informed. I've also served as Habersham County Democratic Chair, where my proudest work wasn't partisan at all — it was regularly inviting people from across the aisle into local meetings and events, because trust in public institutions depends on everyone having a seat at the table, not just members of my own party.
That combination — government operations experience, agency-side consulting, and hands-on coalition-building across party lines — is what I bring to a Public Information Officer role: someone who can set political affiliation aside and translate technical, sometimes sensitive public work into messaging every resident can trust, regardless of how they vote.
Core Competencies
Signature Work
High-stakes communication, from city hall to center stage.
30% Lift in Brand Awareness, Statewide Reach
Directed an integrated communications campaign — social content, influencer partnerships, and targeted advertising — that increased brand awareness 30% over six months and drove a measurable rise in public trust and conversions.
National Media Placements, +40% Site Traffic
Secured features in national publications and local news appearances for client initiatives, growing web traffic 40% and follower base 25% through disciplined, data-informed media strategy.
Trailblazer Award Speech for a Multi-Platinum Producer
Wrote the nationally recognized Trailblazer Award acceptance speech for a multi-platinum producer and Grammy-nominated recording artist — crafting a message that balanced personal narrative with broad public resonance, earning positive media coverage.
Feature Journalism for a National Outdoor & Conservation Journal
Authored long-form feature articles for a nationally distributed outdoor lifestyle and conservation publication, translating complex policy and wildlife-conservation issues into accessible, compelling storytelling.
Children's Book Author, BODO — Now an Optioned Feature Film
Authored the children's book BODO and adapted it into an original feature film script, which has been optioned and is currently in pre-production with a Los Angeles-based entertainment production company.
Communications Counsel for Government & Transportation Programs
Serve as communications advisor for public infrastructure and transportation clients, translating technical program milestones into accessible public messaging while ensuring Title VI and accessibility compliance.
Professional Experience
Dual-sector experience: inside government, and advising it.
Aug 2018 – Present
Director of Communications & Public Relations
JAC Marketing
Senior communications advisor to public-sector clients, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations at a full-service marketing and PR consultancy.
- Serve as lead communications counsel for government and public-infrastructure clients, aligning public messaging with program milestones, construction phasing, and multi-agency work plans.
- Build and execute crisis response and issues-management plans for public-sector clients, navigating media scrutiny and stakeholder concerns within politically sensitive governance environments.
- Own content development and quality control for all public-facing materials — press releases, key messages, fact sheets, talking points, and public reports — ensuring Title VI accessibility and accuracy before release.
- Lead proactive media relations on behalf of government clients, cultivating relationships with regional and local press to secure positive, accurate coverage.
- Supervise cross-functional teams of up to 8 across client engagements, coordinating with program leadership to resolve stakeholder concerns and keep public outreach aligned with delivery timelines.
- Forge partnerships between public agencies and community organizations to design inclusive public-involvement campaigns that meet federal and state equity requirements.
Apr 2011 – Aug 2018
Marketing & Public Relations Specialist
JAC Marketing
Built audience-specific communications strategy for government agencies, civic campaigns, and community organizations.
- Conducted in-depth audience research to craft targeted content for government agencies, civic campaigns, and community-based organizations.
- Managed multi-platform social media and public outreach initiatives, growing engagement and digital visibility within strict budget and regulatory constraints.
- Maintained media relationships that secured consistent, credible press coverage for public-sector initiatives.
- Supported clients in building public trust through transparent, accountability-driven communications.
Nov 2020 – Nov 2022
Chairman
Habersham Democratic Party
Led the county party organization with a deliberate emphasis on nonpartisan public engagement — using the role to build coalitions and civic participation across the political spectrum, not to advance a single party's agenda.
- Regularly invited and welcomed officials and residents from across the political aisle into local meetings and community events — building a reputation as a facilitator, not a partisan, on shared civic issues.
- Designed and executed digital and community-outreach strategy to engage residents and grow civic participation, independent of party affiliation.
- Built working relationships with local media, elected officials, and regulatory bodies across party lines to align messaging with broader public-policy goals.
- Organized community events and volunteer mobilization, translating grassroots engagement into measurable civic outcomes.
2021 – 2022
Transportation Intern
Habersham Board of Education
Interned for the Director of Transportation, identifying operational inefficiencies and facilitating community-based initiatives to improve routing and service delivery—providing direct, applicable experience in government transportation operations and public works logistics.
Jan 2014 – Jul 2022
Bus Manager
Habersham Board of Education
Hands-on operations role inside a local Board of Education, providing direct experience in public school infrastructure, safety compliance, and cross-departmental coordination.
- Worked directly with the Director of Transportation to identify operational inefficiencies and improve routing and service delivery for the district.
- Implemented a district-wide summer scholar transportation plan ensuring safe, reliable access to educational programs.
- Maintained rigorous operational logs and coordinated with fleet maintenance and district leadership to ensure regulatory compliance and readiness.
- Gained direct exposure to public budgeting, open meetings, and board governance — a working understanding of how local Board of Education decisions get made and communicated.
Education
Grounded in writing craft and the social sciences.
2022
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Creative Writing
Full Sail University
2020
B.A., Sociology & Anthropology
Piedmont University
2020
B.A., English, Minor in Social Justice
Piedmont University
2020 – Present
Fellow, Lillian E. Smith Center
Piedmont University
Let's Work Together
Looking for a Public Information Officer who understands both sides of the podium?
I'm currently exploring communications leadership roles in local government, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations. If that's you — let's talk.