Communication professional currently engaging the St. Louis community in efforts to protect our most vital resource - water.

About

I am a communication professional currently engaging the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District’s (MSD) 1.3 million customers, 1,000 employees, and 88 municipalities in our efforts to protect the public health and water environment.

I am passionate about strong relationships, meaningful community engagement, responsible stewardship of public resources, and providing equitable and sustainable solutions to improve the St. Louis region.

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Media Relations

With a robust background as a spokesperson for MSD and St. Louis Mardi Gras, I've honed my skills in generating earned media, managing inquiries, and establishing enduring relationships with media partners throughout the St. Louis market. Click below to see samples of my media work.

Media Samples

Lower Meramec Tunnel

Highlighting the Lower Meramec Tunnel project was a valuable opportunity to show our customers the significant work MSD does to ensure the health of our community. While most customers may never witness it firsthand, its benefits will be felt for generations. Our media coverage helps customers understand how their rates are invested, affirming our accountability as environmental and financial custodians.

Customer Assistance

Knowing that many of our customers were facing tough decisions about their bills, MSD Project Clear teamed up with our partners at Missouri American Water to spread awareness about the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program. This federal program provides up to $750 toward sewer and water bills, providing much-needed relief to working families. Just one day after this media blitz, our community partners saw a 900% increase in inquiries and a 500% increase in applications.

“Watch Dog” Reporter

In a high-stakes interview with Elliott Davis, a reporter infamous for his relentless probing, the challenge was immense but not insurmountable. Understanding Davis's method, I strategically maintained an air of calm assertiveness, responding to his questions with clarity and poise, deftly turning potential traps into opportunities to illustrate our commitment to the community.

What Others Say

  • Bess has a very broad and deep understanding of our mission and our activities at the strategic and operational level. This makes her very valuable in that she can respond truthfully and in some depth to most public affairs queries. It also makes communication between Bess and her boss very easy and successful. She has surpassed all of my expectations and has been particularly effective in the minds of all the Senior Staff.

    Boss

  • Bess has excellent communication skills. Her demeanor, professionalism, and "can do" attitude allow Bess to communicate effectively in all situations, regardless of the topic, the sensitivity of the communications, or the audience.

    Boss

  • Bess has positive and productive energy, even in situations I know are difficult. She excels at taking on big ideas and big problems with a determination to master them. She has the ability to see the big picture but also dives into a level of detail necessary to realize that picture. Not many people, in my experience, excel at both.

    Coworker

  • Bess is THE ideal co-worker – A friend, a confidant, and a reliable partner. She is smart, engaged, willing to listen, and open to dissenting views. She does a good job of balancing professional objectives with the personal touches that make a meeting, event, or task enjoyable.

    Coworker

  • My brother, my mom, and our dear friend heard your talk at the Zoo, and we very much appreciated your knowledge, your readiness to take any & all questions, and your humor! Thank you for your dedication to the MSD, an unsung hero of regional quality of life.

    Customer

  • I saw the Elliot Davis interview on the news and wish to compliment you on your poise and ability to answer his questions. I can only imagine how intimidating it would be to have him towering over you and firing questions. You did an outstanding job standing your ground and articulating policy and process.

    Customer

  • Bess is great to work with and for. She respects others' knowledge, encourages collaboration, gives positive reinforcement, and shares credit. She is a true team leader who genuinely cares about the organization and its people.

    Direct Report

  • Bess is a strategic thinker and a compassionate leader. She leans into innovation, challenges the status quo, and focuses on what is best for the organization and its customers. She provides her team with the space to have a true impact.

    Consultant

  • Bess quickly understands complex issues and collaborates to create effective plans of action. She builds strong teams and gains their confidence as well as that of senior leadership.

    Coworker

  • Bess is incredibly attentive to details when interacting with external agencies. She handles conflicts with grace, keeps communication channels open, and is friendly and respectful. In short, she is the consummate professional.

    Stakeholder

Case Studies

Mardi Gras 2023

During the 2023 Mardi Gras season, there were several potential crisis situations, including two shootings and a fire during the Grand Parade. However, through effective messaging, earned media sentiment was 95% positive, reaching 141 million people.

Critical Communication

As the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD)'s Manager of Public Affairs, I found myself at the helm of a significant critical communication challenge in 2023. Our successful critical communication response led to 80% positive or neutral media coverage, indicating an effective control of the narrative despite unexpected political opposition.

Proposition P: Voter Bond Initiative

On November 8, 2016, Creve Coeur voters decided on Proposition P, a bond measure to fund a new police station. As the Public Information Officer, I led one of the largest and most consequential public information campaigns the city had ever held.

The successful public information campaign resulted in a 62 percent approval by voters.

What I Say

  • Overcoming the Odds - Lessons from Voter Education

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  • Lessons in Leadership: Insights from the WWLC

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  • A Watershed Moment: Eliminating 85% of Overflows

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  • Calculated Risks: How I Navigated a High-Stakes Media Interview

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  • My Guiding Principles in a Complex Profession

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  • Reflecting on Historic Rains One Year Later

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  • The Unexpected Aftermath of an Intense Interview

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  • How MSD Project Clear is Improving Local Waterways and the Gulf Dead Zone

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  • St. Louis Media Takes on Flooding

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  • When the Lorax Spoke, MSD Listened

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  • Tunneling Toward a Cleaner Meramec River

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  • Enhancing Air Quality and Engaging the Community

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  • How Clean Water Shapes our Lives

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Blog

Let’s Talk!

I am passionate about giving back to the community and welcome opportunities to collaborate, mentor, and serve on boards. My current involvements include:

  • National Association of Clean Water Agencies - Strategic Communication and Public Affairs Committee Co-Chair

  • Soulard Mardi Gras Foundation - Board member and public relations lead

  • Girl Scouts of Greater St. Louis - Volunteer with the Mariner Girl Scout program

Interested in collaborating? Let’s talk!