The Taylor City Hall communications duo of Jerrod Kingery and Daniel Seguin recently received recognition during the third annual Government Communicators Day.
The event Feb. 20 celebrated the “invaluable contributions of public communicators across the nation,” officials said.
“As the primary point of interaction between the community and the local government, government communicators face the pressure of community expectations and the volume of needs for communications from our departments and (City) Council,” said Seguin, Taylor’s communications director.
Kingery, the city’s communications specialist, echoed Seguin’s sentiment.
“While it is nice to have national recognition, it is recognition from our local community that matters most,” Kingery said. “We serve because we care so strongly about providing our community with a voice and access to information about their government.” Seguin has been in government communications for six years and with Taylor two years. Kingery has been a city communications specialist for a year, but has worked in digital media for television news stations.
The day of recognition was started by the City-County Communications and Marketing Association, or 3CMA.
“Government Communicators Day is a platform to showcase the pivotal role that public communicators play in shaping public perception, disseminating critical information and fostering community engagement,” said Scott Lehtonen, executive director of the association. “For 364 days of the year, these professionals work tirelessly behind the scenes, and on this day, we aim to bring them into the spotlight they deserve.”
According to a release, the city’s Communications Department connects with residents across multiple platforms, including social media, the city website, public meetings and one-on-one conversations. The department produces recap videos for every council meeting, distributes press releases with the latest city news, and publishes a monthly newsletter highlighting important meetings and upcoming events.
“As a public communicator, your impact is felt in various aspects of government operations,” said Jennifer Bennerotte, communications director of Edina, Minnesota, and president of 3CMA.
She added, “Whether it’s spearheading public outreach and education campaigns during rate-increase approvals, crafting media advisories for award ceremonies or formulating strategic responses during crises, government communicators are the unsung heroes ensuring transparent and effective communication.”
