Planning

Communications and Engagement Strategy (City of Arvada)

One of my primary roles as a communications leader for the City of Arvada has been to transition communications and engagement efforts to a more strategic approach that aligns with organizational goals and values. The first step was to co-create a comprehensive strategy focused on including new audiences and developing meaningful ways for the public to get involved in local government. You can review the first version of this strategy as presented to the City Council.

The strategy is supported by a portfolio of communications and engagement tools to support this work, including a well-used external website, the Arvada Report (a printed newsletter delivered to every resident and business that is consistently rated highly among the community as a source of City information), a re-energized online customer relationship management platform (Ask Arvada), Speak Up Arvada (the City’s online engagement platform) and the Weekly Briefs (an internal email newsletter with an above-industry-standard open rate). In addition to these tools, we have developed strong partnerships with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations and other area governments that have strengthened the City’s ability to effectively communicate with and involve the community.

Second Strategic Highway Research Program (U.S. Dept. of Transportation)

The second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) was an initiative that delivered transportation tools and research to state and local governments that have saved lives, time, and money. While working at the Volpe National Transportation Research Center, I led a communications department that successfully marketed these transportation innovations nationwide. The work included developing a marketing strategy, a complex website and learning center, and a series of communications and engagement activities to persuade transportation officials to try new ideas, like ways to manage traffic more efficiently or radical methods for replacing bridges in days instead of months.

SHRP2 has successfully delivered $155 million in financial and technical assistance. More than 60 SHRP2 Solutions are now available for implementation by state departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, and local and tribal agencies.

Baldrige Internal Communication Plan (City of Arvada)

The City of Arvada is pursuing the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. I created a brief “plan on a page” to help align internal communications efforts by the leadership team, communications team, and human resources.

Ecosystems Summit 2018 (City of Boulder)

In 2018, the City of Boulder focused on the second of three Climate Commitment Action Areas: Ecosystems. The 2017 focus was Energy, and 2019 was slated to focus on Resources. As part of a focus on Ecosystems, the Climate + Sustainability team explored opportunities to collaborate across city departments and teams, as well as with external city partners, to highlight the important ecosystems work happening across the community and to identify ways an ecosystems approach can improve project outcomes.

I led the development of a communications strategy to support the project, with the following objectives:

  • Raise public awareness of the significant role played by ecosystems in both climate action and climate change preparation by highlighting the attributes and benefits of the systems within Boulder (i.e., urban landscapes and forests, agricultural landscapes, and wildland areas).
  • Identify and communicate critical issues and priorities in managing Boulder-area ecosystems arising from both the current and anticipated impacts of climate change, as well as actions that can be taken to manage or mitigate these impacts.
  • Mobilize the community in addressing the key issues facing ecosystems, including urban, agricultural and wildlands.

The communications approach included the planning and promotion of a successful ecosystems symposium, the layout of a project report, and a successful social media campaign.