Membership Council Candidates

I want to offer my experience and expertise to the GSM Council to enhance regional communication, build a supportive network, and promote best practices in social media. I want to foster engaging dialogue with the communities I serve in my work by influencing strategic direction and collaborating with peers. The council offers leadership opportunities to impact public trust. It provides professional development resources, such as webinars and training, to stay updated on social media trends. Serving on the council will advance my career and help improve how government entities engage with the public.

For just shy of 12 years, I have served as the lead for Community Transit's social media efforts.
This includes:

• Create & update Social Media Playbook, policy
• Lead Social Media Team, sharing best practices and getting feedback on next steps/platforms
• Daily monitoring of the agency's social media channels: responding to comments, answering customer care questions, social listening
• Lead content creator for social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube)
• Film, edit & produce videos/photos and live streaming
• Identify targeting and boosting opportunities for Facebook and Instagram
• Admin for all agency social channels
• Create web content & electronic messaging

 Vote for me, Laurel McJannet, because I bring a wealth of experience as a social media strategist. I am a collaborative leader who enjoys bringing people together for a common goal-- be it our Employee Association or managing our company softball team. I'm skilled at crafting effective social media strategies and am committed to enhancing regional communication. I excel at fostering engaging public conversations, which we need. My passion for technology and community involvement means I'll introduce fresh ideas and work collaboratively on the council. With your support, I can bring innovative solutions that benefit everyone in our GSM community.

Leadership Snohomish County, Class of 2020 – Certification
Digital Communications Certificate, PRSA, 2019
Dale Carnegie Leadership Training, Nov 2015
Dale Carnegie High-Impact Presentations, 2015
2015 Director's Award, awarded by CEO Emmett Heath
2013 Certificate of Recognition for exemplary and extraordinary performance and dedication to Community Transit
1995, Outstanding New Member, PRSA
President, Community Transit Employee Association, 2015 - Present
Manager, Double Deckers Co-ed Softball Team, 2016 - Present
GeekGIrlCon, Social Media Manager, 2016 - 2018
GeekGirlCon, Social Media Specialist, 2015
GeekGirlCon, Web Content Producer, 2011-2015

I have been a member of the GSM Association for multiple years. My membership and experience attending the past three GSM Conferences has greatly increased my knowledge and skill regarding managing and maintaining our social media presence. The skills I have gained and have been able to share with my team has been invaluable. In my role on the GSM Membership Council, I hope to engage members to participate more actively in regional meetings and events and represent the NW region in a proactive and thoughtful way. I look forward to further enhancing and using my public engagement skills to grow participation of the NW region.

I am a one-person communications team that manages all aspects of communications for the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, the state health insurance exchange. I work closely with the larger agency communications team at the Oregon Health Authority. In my role I manage all communications strategy, publications development and updates, website management, public engagement efforts, and social media management. I also provide leadership to the Marketplace outreach team who is deputized to provide updates to social media channels.

 I am proud to have single handedly managed our office's social media presence since 2017, increasing the presence of the work we do and building relationships with partners around the state. I am proud of the experience that I have gained in getting leadership buy-in to a more non-governmental presence on social media, overcoming leadership hesitations, and deputizing our outreach team to promote the Marketplace on social media. As the NW region representative, I hope to use my experience to build connections, engagement, and representation of NW members in meetings and events, and representing the NW region with honesty, passion and enthusiasm.

Oregon Project Management Associate Certificate
South Salem Water Polo Club, Inc., Board Vice President, 2022-present
South Salem Water Polo Club, Inc., Secretary, 2021-2022
Girl Scouts Service Unit 28 Membership Coordinator, 2012-2013
Girl Scouts Troop Leader, 2011-2014
Public Relations Society of America, Member, 2021-present
Professional Photographers of America, Member, 2015-present

I am interested in building/fostering a community and network of communications professionals in a unique part of the country.

I am the Director of the Office of Equity and Human Rights and also handle all communications responsibilities, which includes all social media processes.

 I delivered a well-attended Inclusive and Accessible Communications workshop at GSMCON 2024 in Palm Springs and received a lot of positive feedback through myriad channels. I believe a consistent focus on accessibility and inclusion is important in ensuring we're serving all community members in our jurisdictions.

Speaker at GSMCON 2024
Featured Speaker at Portland Design Week
Featured Speaker at American Marketing Association Portland (AMA PDX)
Keynote Speaker at Public Relations Society of America Oregon (PRSA Oregon)

Social media is pivotal in our professional lives, enabling collaboration and growth. I aspire to serve on the GSM Membership Council for the Northwest region, committed to promoting GSM's mission and fostering membership engagement. My goal is to support current members and create professional development opportunities that enhance skills and knowledge while facilitating networking. By advocating for regular feedback, tailored initiatives, and diverse training sessions, I aim to build a vibrant, inclusive GSM community. Together, we can leverage our collective strengths, drive innovation, and ensure GSM remains at the forefront of the social media landscape.

As a Senior Public Information Officer and Social Media Coordinator at the Washington State House of Representatives, I lead the development and execution of strategic policy-oriented communications for state representatives and creative, engaging, and innovative social media content for the House Republican Caucus. I have over 19 years of experience in communications, journalism, and public relations, and social media management working in various sectors such as state and local government, law enforcement, emergency management, and health care. I hold a dual master’s degree from the University of Denver in Communications and Journalism.

 People should vote for me because I am committed to promoting the GSM mission and enhancing our regional membership experience. I bring a proactive approach to supporting our members by offering tailored professional development opportunities that address the evolving needs of our community. My focus is on creating a dynamic and inclusive environment that encourages networking and collaboration. I am dedicated to listening to feedback, implementing valuable initiatives, and ensuring every member feels valued and empowered. Together, we can foster a strong, innovative community that leads the way in social media excellence.

It's well past time.  I've been managing social media for a large police agency and routinely assisting and advising agencies both locally and regionally on their social media presence and strategy for 10 years now.  I've done so quietly, just going about my daily tasks, answering all the phone calls from other communicators on best practices.  I've gotten to the point where I realize I would be a valuable asset to organizations like this one, giving new and experienced social media managers advice from how to manage alone to how to grow a team.  I've enjoyed attending Government and Social Media Conferences but have also felt like I could be the one on stage sharing my experiences.

I am the supervisor of the Digital and Social Media Unit.  For the last 10 years, I've responsible for social media content, maintaining 15 active social media accounts and analyze associated data.  I also write scripts, record, and produce department videos for internal and external purposes and social media platform use. I supervise video productions, scheduling, social media posts and day-to-day functions. I also serve as a regional social media coordinator as needed for unified command responses or assisting neighboring agencies with messaging in a crisis.  I also perform all public information officer functions including press release and speech writing, and managing news conferences.

10 years ago when I was hired to manage social media for my Department after event of Ferguson 2014, I knew my responsibility was to join the conversation. The Department did not have a voice and I needed to pair my social media skills, with my broadcast journalism training and keen communications intuition to tell the other side of the story.  From there on, I realized I had a skill, to combine those areas and create content that could not only Crisis Communications content, but content that would appeal to larger audiences and tell the stories of organizations like mine. Being a civilian in a police department, a female and a public servant causes one to look at situations from many sides.

Serving on this council alongside incredible industry leaders would be a profound honor for me. I’m deeply passionate about government social media and the power it holds to tell our community’s story in a way that resonates. Being part of this council would allow me to learn, share, and contribute to the vibrant energy that defines our field. The GSMCON community is where I feel truly seen, heard, and uplifted. I’m inspired daily by the creativity and dedication within this community, and I’m eager to help shape its future.

As Communications Manager for the City of Lakewood, I lead our digital strategy, focusing on hands-on management of social media channels. I handle daily content creation, posting, monitoring, scheduling, and reporting. I also supervise the Video Production Manager, Internal Communications Manager, and Print Shop. I started this role in November of 2023 and proudly launched Lakewood's first Instagram account (@LakewoodCOgov). Prior to this role, I managed social media for the City of Tampa, Florida, growing its Instagram from under 1,000 to over 100,000 followers in five years through organic content. I am passionate about leveraging social media to help tell my community's story.

 I would be honored to receive votes from my fellow GSM members. I believe I would be a good fit to serve on the GSM council because I bring a blend of expertise and passion for what we do. I’ve led social media strategies for two large cities, earning Golden Post Awards for "Best Use of Social Media in an Emergency," "Best Instagram Presence," and "Best LinkedIn Presence." My work has been featured by outlets like CNN, Billboard, and GovTech. I’m also completing my master’s in Digital Strategy, giving me new insights, and I’ve had the honor of presenting at GSMCON for the past two years. I’m committed to sharing knowledge, learning from others, and helping our community continue to thrive.

2023 Golden Post Award for Best Instagram Presence (City of Tampa)
2023 Golden Post Award for Best Use of Social Media in an Emergency (City of Tampa)
2022 Golden Post Award for Best Instagram Presence (City of Tampa)
Graduate Certificate in Social Media Studies from the University of Florida (2022)

I have been a part of the GSM Professional Association since 2018. I have attended GSMCON each year since 2019 and have had the privilege to help lead the Government Social Media 101 workshop for the last three years. In my role on the GSM Training Committee I have had the opportunity to work with a number of social media managers from across the country, including current and past members of the Membership Council. GSM consistently delivers high quality professional development and intentional networking opportunities. By serving on the Membership Council I hope to continue to foster an environment where all government social media managers feel heard, encouraged, and empowered.

I have been the Communications Manager for Blaine, Minnesota since 2018. Blaine is a city of 73,000 residents and we welcome over 7 million visitors per year. I lead our communications team and oversee all external and internal communications for the city. I am directly involved in managing our social media accounts across several different platforms. Through my role I am also responsible for social media policy creation and providing social media related training to our staff and elected officials. I serve in a communications capacity on our emergency management team and also directly coordinate media relations for the city.

 Serving the last three years on the GSM Training Committee has prepared me to now step up and serve on the Membership Council. I bring decades of experience serving on boards for various non-profit and professional organizations. I am a skilled event planner, communicator, and facilitator. I have a passion for supporting others in our field. The work we all do is difficult. As your Membership Council representative I want you to feel like GSM is a community where you belong, feel heard, and can connect with your peers.

Minnesota Northern Lights Award for Best Use of Humor in Government Communications, 2024
Minnesota Association Of Government Communicators, Board Member and Treasurer, 2023-Present
GSM Training Committee, 2022-Present
3CMA Annual Conference Committee, 2024

I want to serve my region as a member of the Government Social Media Membership Council to advocate for effective and transparent communication between government agencies and the communities they serve. With my experience in managing social media and public communication for a fire district, I understand the importance of using these platforms to inform, engage, and build trust with the public. I would welcome the opportunity to assist other agencies in developing their knowledge and expertise and help shape policies and practices that improve public engagement and government accountability.

I am the Public Information Officer and sole member of the communications department for a fire district that spans two Colorado counties and seven cities and towns. I am responsible for managing all aspects of the district's communications. This includes producing content for eight social media platforms, pitching stories to news media, managing the district website, writing press releases, articles, and communications plans. One of my major responsibilities is developing and executing the social media strategy for our firefighter hiring process, which occurs twice a year. I also deploy to large incidents, such as wildfires, and work with national fire prevention teams as a PIO.

 With 20+ years of television news experience and strong hands-on video skills, I have a unique perspective of the challenges and opportunities in government communication. Being a one-person communications "team" I've learned how to do more with less, something even larger communications staffs sometimes face, given the demands of social media. I'd like to use this position to engage with communicators in my region, to assist them in building capacity by sharing best practices, knowledge and skills; and ensuring that our efforts resonate with and benefit the communities we serve.

Colorado Fire PIOs (founder) (pio group), 2024
South Metro Fire Rescue Board of Directors (elected), 2012 - 2020 (chair- 2019-2020)
Emerge Colorado Board of Directors, 2014
2024 Telly Award - Video- Government Relations, 2024
Muse Creative Awards - Video: Government, 2024
Ava Awards: Long Form Video- Government, 2024
Ava Awards: Short Form Web Video- Government, 2023
NYX Awards - Video: Government - Grand Winner, 2023
DotCom Awards - Video - Health Care, 2023
Blue Pencil/Gold Screen Award: Video - News, 2022
MarCom Awards - Medical Video, 2022
Muse Awards - Government Video, 2022 Viddy Awards- Government- Long Form Video, 2022
Communicator Awards - Public Service Video, 2022
Hermes Creative Awards- Social Media Video- Medical/Health, 2022
Telly Awards - Government Relations Video, 2022
Ava Awards - Long Form Video - Informational, 2021
Marcom Awards: Video/Film - Government, 2021
Muse Creative Awards - Video, 2021
Communicator Awards - Online Video - Public Service, 2021
Omni Awards - Video - Government, 2021
Hermes Award - Social Media Video - Government, 2020
Ava Awards- Video, Corporate Image, 2020
MarCom Award - Informational Video, 2020
Videographer Awards - Government Video, 2020
Communicator Awards - Online Video - Public Service, 2020
Communicator Awards - Video - Recruitment, 2020
Telly Award- Video- Government, 2020
Hermes Creative Awards - Social Media Video - Informational, 2020
Hermes Creative Awards - Social Media Video- Recruitment, 2020
Ava Awards - Long Form Video - Government, 2020
Ava Awards - Short Form Web Video - Government, 2019
MarCom Awards - Video- Medical, 2019
Videographer Awards- Video for the Web- Government, 2019
Videographer Awards- Video for the Web- Informational, 2019
Communicator Awards - Video- Recruitment, 2019
Hermes Creative Awards - Social Media - Government Video, 2019
Hermes Creative Awards - Social Media - Social Video, 2019
Hermes Creative Awards- Social Video- Public Relations Video, 2019
Muse Creative Awards - Video- Government, 2019
Ava Awards - Video - Government, 2018
MarCom Awards: Video- Government, 2018
MarCom Awards: Video- Recruitment, 2018
Videographer Awards - Informational Video, 2018
Communicator Awards - Video - Public Service, 2018
Omni Awards - Corporate Communication Video, 2018
Telly Awards- Video- Government Relations, 2018
Hermes Creative Awards - Social Media Video- Government, 2018
Ava Awards - Short Form Web Video - Government, 2017
MARCOM Awards - Video - Government, 2017
DotComm Awards - Video - Government, 2017
Emmy Nominee - Informational Segment, 2017
Videographer Awards, Informational Video, 2017
Omni Awards - Government Video, 2017
Omni Awards - Writing, 2018
Nominee - Excellent Communication Design - German Design Award, 2017
Hermes Creative Awards: Video - Government, 2017
Telly Awards: Video - Institutional/Corporate Image, 2017
Telly Awards: Video - Recruitment, 2016
Ava Digital Awards: Video - Corporate Image, 2016
Emmy Nominee: Magazine Segment, 2016
Emmy Nominee: Public Service Announcement (PSA), 2016
Hermes Creative Awards: Video - Government, 2016
MARCOM Awards: Video - Self-Promotion, 2016
Videographer Awards: Video - Corporate Image, 2016
Videographer Awards: Video - Government

I have appreciated Katie Grant's leadership of the Midwest Region over the past two years and have found the group to be a great resource for questions and ideas. I would love to continue to evolve and grow the Midwest region's group while serving in a greater role with GSM. I have attended the past two GSMCONs and feel I could bring some fun and exciting ideas to future conferences. I have worked in the government social realm for the past five years, but have worked in social media for the last 10, so I have seen the growth of the field and am always looking for what is next.

• Social media manager for the City's primary social accounts, planning and executing all paid and organic social posts and campaigns
• Social media liaison to all ancillary agency accounts, providing insight and troubleshooting for other social managers in the organization
• City's primary photographer and videographer for both internal and external purposes, including licensed drone operator
• Manage OlatheKS.gov webpages to ensure accuracy, usability, SEO optimization and accessibility

 I not only have 10 years of experience in social media, but I will soon be completing my masters in Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications from the University of Kansas, giving me a renewed perspective on communications and marketing, and how it all plays a role in social media. I feel my wide range of skills, from social, to photography and videography (including drone work), website management, and more, give me a great opportunity to connect with other members and help them network with others within GSM and outside of the government social realm. I would be honored to represent the Midwest Region on the GSM Membership Council.

I would be honored to represent the Northeast Region on the Government Social Media Membership Council. As a dedicated public servant, I’m passionate about helping people & using social media as a transparent tool for government to connect with ALL their communities. After serving on the inaugural GSM council & speaking at every GSMCON since, I’m eager to continue supporting members by helping them enhance their social media efforts. I specialize in social media strategy & policy creation with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, & accessibility that I can further share with GSM members, aiming to shape best practices & drive innovation across our industry-ultimately helping more people.

As the Marketing & Communications Officer, I develop and implement strategic marketing and communication initiatives to effectively share information with our community. I lead the countywide Digital Editorial Team, collaborating with all county departments and elected officials to coordinate and amplify their communications. I created the County’s enterprise social media marketing strategy to integrate department social presences with the centralized goals of the County including a social media policy, account governance and training. As a leader on the County’s Equity Council, I champion operationalizing equity through inclusive content and increased accessibility across digital channels.

 Fellow GSM members should vote for me as I’m committed to giving back to this community while championing our collective work & partnering with platforms for continuous improvement so we can ultimately better serve the public. Honored as the 2022 Social Media Professional of the Year, I strive to be a valuable resource for GSM members. Specializing in social media strategy & policy creation with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), & accessibility, I would help agencies to enhance their social media through a DEI lens, empowering them to use social media as a community engagement platform with creative, accessible content that resonates with diverse populations in meaningful ways.

Certified Diversity Professional, National Diversity Council, 2023-Present
Oakland County Leadership Academy, 2024
2022 Social Media Professional of the Year, Government Social Media,
2022  Center for Digital Government's Overall County Government Experience Award - 2nd Place Winner
2021 NACo Best of Category Award - #OaklandTogether COVID-19 Tribute, Named Best in Category for Civic Education and Public Information in 2021 by the National Association of Counties (NACo).
2020 Golden Post Awards Finalist for Best Instagram Presence, Government Social Media
2018 1st Place Golden Post Award for Best Use of Crowdsourcing, Government Social Media, 2018 1st Place for Overall County Government Experience, Center for Digital Government
2017 1st Place Overall Experience Winner - Government Experience Awards from the Center for Digital Government, formerly "Best of the Web" award this was the inaugural year for the new GovEx awards
2017 Center for Digital Government's Government Experience Project Awards Winner: Oakland County Social Media Strategy and Policy
2016 NACo Achievement Award - Social Media Strategy & Policy
2015 Golden Post Awards: Winner, 3rd Place Golden Post Award for our Board of Commissioner’s social media campaign on Human Trafficking Awareness, Finalist for 2 Golden Post Awards: Social Media in an Emergency for our response to the August Flood of 2014 and Social Media to Solve a Crime for shutting down a cyberbullying account, Honorable Mention for our Social Media Policy
Government Social Media Professional Association, current general member and previous board member, Appointed as a board member to the inaugural council (2016-2017), general member through 2025
Oakland County Equity Council, Planning Team Member, 2020-current
PTA, Board Member - Membership Coordinator, 2024-current
Friends of Foster Kids, Board Member, 2015-2018
GVSU American Marketing Association, President,  Executive VP, VP Programs, Social Committee Chairperson, 2004-2008

I would like the opportunity to serve on the GSM Membership council so that I can give back to the organization. I have learned so much in the few years that I have been a member and it is an outstanding organization which I'm proud to be involved with. I want to be able to introduce GSM to new members and engage them in the organization so that our profession can grow.

I am the social media coordinator for the parks and recreation division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. I oversee all of our 67 state park Facebook pages. I create content for those pages and oversee the editors that do the posts. I also have a MiStateParks Facebook page, Instagram account, Pinterest page, X account (kind of), and a Threads channel that I'm responsible for. I create the content, post, follow up and analyze all of the accounts.

 I have been working with social media for over 10 years now and I understand the field. In the past, I have also been a trainer and had the opportunity to teach others about a variety of things including leaderships and fun skills like geocaching and kayaking. I would love the opportunity to help lead this organization into the future.

2022 Finalist for Best Instagram Presence
Training Committee, 2023-2024

When I began as the Public Information Coordinator, I was new to both local government and social media. Many of our surrounding municipalities were not yet utilizing social media, so I did not have a wide network of people to share ideas with, get inspiration from, and generally commiserate with. Thankfully, I discovered the Government Social Media organization and community, and it has been such a valuable asset. The Facebook group and the live chats have answered questions and given me new ideas to try. Serving on the Council would allow me to give back to the organization that is crucial to my professional development and support others in our SocialGov community.

I joined the Borough of Carlisle in 2017 as its first Public Information Coordinator. Giving the Borough a presence on social media was my first task. At that time, we were not active on any social media, and through concerted efforts, we are now active on six platforms with nearly 20,000 followers. That's not too bad for a little Borough in southcentral Pennsylvania! My responsibilities encompass a wide range of communication duties. In addition to creating daily social media content, I manage the Borough's website, draft press releases, design the community newsletter and other informational materials, handle press requests, and actively participate in employee engagement initiatives.

 I am passionate about my job and love telling the story of my organization and its community. Coming from a smaller community of just over 22,000 and being a team of one, I have unique insights into working with limited resources while juggling multiple responsibilities. Serving on Council would allow me to support those in similar positions who may be unsure where to go for advice and need help navigating the ever-changing social media landscape. GSM has been instrumental in developing my skills and helping me grow as a SocialGov professional, so the opportunity to give back by working with the Council to help others do the same would be a wonderful way to continue that growth.

I have been an active member of Government Social Media since 2022, and this has resulted in valuable networking and training opportunities for me. I wouldn't be nearly as successful in my role without the support of the GSM community! I hope to give back by serving on the GSM Membership Council, where I will find ways to expand the outreach of GSM to even more government communicators. Specifically, I want to reach more federal government communicators, while maintaining our full support for local government teams. Also, I hope to strengthen our partnerships with social media platforms, such as Meta and X, which will help every GSM member get support when they need it.

As National Social Media Coordinator, I manage the 5 main accounts for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, America's oldest federal law enforcement agency (133 years older than the FBI!). Our mission is to enforce the laws that protect the U.S. mail, along with investigating and deterring mail crimes. We currently have over 145,000 followers. I also support 31 Public Information Officers who manage local accounts for field offices located throughout the country. While my main responsibility is to create content and manage the accounts for the agency, I also support our partnerships with other government agencies, including USPS, VA Privacy Services, Social Security Administration, and AARP.

 I will bring my passion for creating engaging content, along with an unhealthy obsession of using GIFs. Working in Washington DC, I also bring national perspective to the role. From an agency that formerly prided itself as being the "Silent Service", social media has become a top priority for our leadership! In the two years I have been National Social Media Coordinator, we have gained over 60,000 new followers, a 71 percent increase in our following. This has been a result of a willingness to try new things, take calculated risks, and the resilience to keep trying. As a passionate member of GSM, I will do my best to serve the Northeast Region and my fellow GSM members in any way that I can.

First Place 2023 NAGC Blue Pencil Gold Screen Award / Public Affairs - Outreach Campaign
University of Tennessee Hess Hall Council, President, 2012 - 2013
Natl. Sportswriters & Sportscasters Association - UTK, President, 2013 – 2014

I'm really excited about the opportunity to serve my region on the GSM Membership Council because I truly believe in the value of GSM. I often find myself recommending the association and conference to friends and colleagues. I'm eager to grow and learn in the social media field, and I'm passionate about supporting my peers and sharing knowledge and ideas openly. Joining the council would not only challenge me but also allow me to strengthen my connections and deepen my expertise. I've really enjoyed being part of this community over the past few years, and I'm excited about the possibility of making a positive impact on a group that means so much to me!

As the Public Information Officer for Kalamazoo County, I've been busy over the past two years laying the groundwork for our Communications Department. It’s been quite the adventure since the County didn't have a communications professional on staff before, making it a bit like the wild west around here! As a one-person team, I've taken on everything from social media and branding to design, media relations, and crisis communication. Now that we have a Communications Specialist on board, we're excited to focus more on enhancing our brand and strategy on social media. Looking ahead, I would love to bring a Social Media Manager on board in the next year or so to help us amplify our efforts!

 I would love your support because I'm truly passionate, empathetic, and authentic. Over the past few years, I've experienced so much personal growth, and I believe I have what it takes to keep growing and becoming a leader who supports others in reaching their goals. I believe in standing up for what’s right, taking responsibility when needed, and I’m always here to lend a hand whenever you need it. Helping my fellow communicators is what drives me, and I'm excited about the opportunity to serve in this way!

Advanced Public Information Officer, FEMA
Regional Communications Group, co-founder, 2023-present
Graduate Communication Organization, Public Relations Manager, 2018-2020

I am running for a local council seat at the Government Social Media Organization because I am passionate about the vital role that local government and communications play in our communities. With over two decades of experience in public information and crisis management, I am committed to enhancing the field and ensuring that our communication strategies are as effective and transparent as possible. Serving on this council will allow me to share my expertise, collaborate with like-minded professionals, and continue to innovate and advocate for best practices in government communications.

With over two decades of experience as a government professional, Beth has honed her expertise in public information and crisis communication. As the Public Information Manager for Queen Anne's County Government since 2014, she is responsible for managing the county's social media presence, ensuring timely and accurate dissemination of information across various platforms. Her role extends to engaging with the community through digital channels, enhancing transparency, and fostering public trust. Beth's extensive background includes emergency response coordination and media relations, making her a vital asset in both routine and crisis situations.

 Fellow members should vote for me because I bring a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for local government communications. I have dedicated my career to mastering the art of public information, and I am committed to enhancing our field by fostering collaboration, innovation, and transparency. As your representative, I will work tirelessly to advocate for the needs of our community, share valuable insights, and ensure that our organization continues to lead in setting the highest standards for government social media practices.

Panelist at the 2022 Maryland Emergency Management Association Conference - Do you really want me to post that? A friendly chat with your public information officer.
Presenter at the 2023 Maryland Association of Counties Summer Conference - Social Listening - How it can benefit your communications strategy and build trust with your constituents., Presenter at 2024 Maryland Emergency Management Association Conference - Public Information Tips to Enhance Your Emergency Management Program
Vice Chair Maryland Association of Counties, Communications and PIO Affiliate Group, 2023-2024
Chair Maryland Association of Counties, Communications and PIO Affiliate Group, 2024-2025

I cannot speak more highly of GSM. As a professional association member, I have learned much through webinars, chats, and GSMCON (virtually and in-person). I have gained a great group of peers across the country who I can count on to bounce ideas off of, learn even more, and connect with when I need someone "who gets it." I am so grateful for all that I have learned and the connections I have made that I feel compelled to give back to those starting out in government social media, coming from broadcast news (like me!), or those who are looking for the latest social media tips and trends.

I manage all content and engagement for the Michigan Department of Corrections social media accounts and our agency's website. Our primary audience is on Facebook, where we serve family members/loved ones of those incarcerated in Michigan prisons, former and current MDOC employees, those interested in working in corrections, and the general public. As the only social media strategist in the department, I am available in emergent situations almost around the clock. I am incredibly proud of having single-handedly humanized the department through Facebook messenger and comments.

 I am known for my "big energy" and "passion" for what I do. I encourage others to think outside the box, try new ideas, and collaborate. I strive to inspire other social media strategists to go for it and let their ideas come to fruition. I consider myself outgoing, having never met a stranger, just a friend I haven't met yet. As a former broadcast journalist, I know that transitioning to the BEST side can be challenging, and I want to be able to give back to others through my passion for communications, storytelling, and GSM.

2023 Golden Post Award Finalist - Best Social Media Customer Service
GSM Awards Committee member, 2024