March 27 Webinar @ 11:00 a.m.
I Didn’t Start in Municipal Communications, But Here I Am – Help!
You started your career with big dreams and the naive optimism only available to 20-somethings in another field (banking, hospitality, journalism). And here you are, making a powerful impact in Municipal Communications. The learning curve is steep, and some of the situations you face are too ridiculous for make-believe.
Some of us have been there… Or are still there. Join us as we gain insight into TAMIO members who have walked this path. Learn about our eclectic mix of experience, the elements from previous experience that have helped our current roles, and lessons we wish we could have learned sooner.
Kristen Waggener is the Marketing Communication Manager for the City of Arlington, Texas, where she leads the strategy and daily work of the City’s Office of Communication. She has nearly 15 years of government communications experience in several cities including Lenexa, Kan., and Bryan, Texas. Prior to that, she spends several years as a newspaper journalist in small communities outside of Kansas City. Kristen is a Certified Public Communicator through Texas Christian University and holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Buena Vista University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for 3CMA and as a TAMIO Teammate. She has let her communications teams to numerous state and national awards and was named the 2020 Social Media Professional of the Year by the national Government Social Media Organization. In her free time, Kristen enjoys traveling, experiencing great food and spending time with her cat, Mena.
Luke Simons is the Communications Manager for the seventh-largest City in the U.S. In this role with the City of San Antonio, he helps strategically communicate accurate information about City initiatives, policies, and services, contributing to the advancement of our community. He likes to say their job is to “inform, educate, and have fun” while making sure our residents know what is going on in the town they live in”.
Before his tenure with the City of San Antonio, he was an Emmy Award-winning journalist with 20 years of experience as a journalist holding just about every job title in a newsroom. He had the privilege of reporting on amazing events like the Super Bowl and World Series, but have also had to manage tragedies like the Uvalde Elementary School shooting and the mass shooting at Sutherland Springs.
Throughout his career, he has taken pride in navigating fast-paced environments, adapting to changing deadlines and developing talent within organizations.
Jennifer Goldfield is the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the Town of Northlake, where she has played a pivotal role in redefining the Town’s communication framework during her three years in the position. Her leadership led to Northlake’s first TAMIO award for the Budget in Brief publication last year. With a rich background of over 30 years in Marketing and Communications, Jennifer began her career as a graphic designer with R.R. Donnelley. After a brief period focused on her family, she transitioned to an account manager role at a DFW area advertising firm and later established her own creative agency in 2015. Jennifer’s talents in web design, graphic design, social media, and strategic marketing have been essential in promoting transparency and fostering community dialogue, empowering Northlake’s residents through meaningful and informative communication.
Landon McBride is the communications manager for the City of Richland Hills. He began his career as a sports anchor in Fairbanks, Alaska, then moved to Wichita Falls, Texas, frequently reporting on local government and policy. He spent three years as a communications specialist with Garland Power & Light.
Landon holds a journalism degree from Oklahoma State University and brings a strong background in storytelling, media relations, and public engagement to his role in local government.
Karin Anderson started her career in 1996 as a rewrite clerk at the Dallas Morning News, eventually becoming a full-time reporter, first for the Garland News and then returning to the Dallas Morning News, working under fantastic editors who served as her mentors and helped her sharpen her skills.
In 2009, Karin transitioned to government communications, first leading a speakers bureau for the North Texas Tollway Authority and eventually landing as NTTA’s public relations manager, with stops in internal and corporate communications along the way.
In 2023, Karin was hired by the Town of Fairview for the one-person communications team, where she handles media relations, puts together a monthly magazine for residents and juggles other duties related to marketing and communications.
In her free time, Karin relives her days as a reporter by researching, writing and producing a true-crime podcast with a former newspaper colleague and her husband, who also has a background in journalism.