Campaigns - Strategic Communications
Sip & Stroll
When the City Commission approved an ordinance creating two "Sip & Stroll" districts, we immediately launched messaging about open containers.
The strategic communications campaign included outdoor signage, along with printed maps and window clings for district bars and restaurants.
To educate the public and the district business owners, we stood up an online repository of information including resources like maps and FAQs.
Periodic mentions on social media were instrumental in getting the changes across to the public.
Parking Fees
The City Commission voted to change the fee structure to increase downtown parking availability, a move that required a thoughtful and careful message.
To fully explain the changes and the benefits to downtown, our broadcast division produced a video to be shared on traditional and social media.
To educate the public and the district business owners, we stood up an online resource with maps, news releases and FAQs about the changes.
This was a very divisive issue in the community, and the traffic on social media reflects the dedicated engagement on both sides.
Hurricanes
The City of Gainesville maintains a year-round public information presence to educate residents about storm safety for inland communities.
For the first time, the City of Gainesville produced a hurricane safety brochure in English and Spanish. Both versions are linked on the webpage.
The hurricane safety brochure in Spanish was incredibly well received and immediately went into a second print run.
The most recent storm to cause significant local damage was 2024's Hurricane Helene.
Parade
When Shaquille O'Neal agreed to serve as holiday parade grand marshal, the Comms team sent a news release.
We were thrilled after he fulfilled our request for a brief promo video, shot from the set of his sports show.
The parade broadcast captured the joy and excitement along the street as the crowds cheered more than 100 units.
The parade program was printed for inclusion in sponsor gift bags and to distribute to VIPs at the parade day Dignitary Brunch.
State of the City
This is the annual speech with policy achievements from 2024 and a look forward to 2025.
This is an annual publication to support the State of the City event; my role is to develop the content, write the text, and work with the design team.
The State of the City speech video, with special introduction from Danny Rubin, screenwriter of Groundhog Day
To enhance the message, our team produced five 12-foot vertical banners to display at the SOC event.
Gun Violence
On February 2, 2023, the Gainesville City Commission declared a Gun Violence Crisis.
The Office of Communications & Marketing spent the next several months developing a webpage.
A summit was planned; to create an event program, I wrote the content and advised on layout and design.
Following the summit, it took only a few days to produce the post-event report and distribute to stakeholders.