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.
Lower Meramec Tunnel Project
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. Though most of them will never see the tunnel in person, its positive effects will span generations. By sharing this story through our media partners, we help our customers visualize how we invest their rates, confirming our role as responsible environmental and financial stewards. These stories fill me with immense pride as they underscore the exceptional dedication of my MSD colleagues and the profound impact of our collective efforts on our community and the environment.
“This is not just improving [our customers’] service but our community for generations to come. We are creating a cleaner environment. We are making sure our natural resources are preserved so their children and their children’s children have safe water to access.”
Wastewater COVID-19 Sampling
Protecting public health is inherent to our mission at MSD, but most of our customers use our services every day without a thought. Partnering with the Missouri Department of Public Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to further COVID-19 research was an obvious extension of that mission. Like they had done for decades before, MSD's employees time and again answered the call to serve our customers and community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. I'm so proud of the many ways my coworkers serve our customers, and I was so proud to be able to share one of the ways we're using sewers to drive innovation and advance our public health mission.
“St. Louis’s earliest modern sewers were the result of an epidemic - the cholera epidemic. So this is just one other example of how we’re able to use our sewers and use utilities to promote public health”
Watch Dog Reporters
Media relations isn't just about promoting the good; it's also about responsibly managing the complex or sensitive issues that inevitably arise. In these instances, the spotlight is not just on the subject matter but also on our ability to manage the narrative responsibly and transparently. In these instances, my priority is to be a reliable source of information, ensuring that the narrative remains balanced and factual. It's a challenging but rewarding aspect of the job, one that underscores the importance of ethical communication in shaping public opinion. It's a responsibility I don't take lightly, and I'm proud of how these moments reflect not just on me, but also on the integrity and resilience of my team and organization.
“We understand that this is disruptive work, and we do our best to work with property owners to come to a fair agreement. While we try to minimize the impact to private properties, we also have an obligation to the entire region to serve and protect the public health and environment.”
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.
“We want people to know - especially now when they’re making these tough decisions about which bills they can and cannot pay - there is help out there. There is relief for your water and sewer bill.”
Fats, Oils, and Grease
Just as fats, oils, and grease (FOG) clog our arteries, they also clog pipes. For several years, I’ve worked with our media partners to educate our customers about the dangers of FOG and how to protect their pipes.
“This stuff can cause some major damage. That’s why we encourage people - instead of putting fats, oils, and grease down the drain, cool it, can it, and trash it.”
Know Your Zone
Although MSD is not a flood authority, many customers turn to us when they experience the costly damages of overland flooding. In the following media appearances, I educate customers about how to understand their flood risk and how to protect themselves with flood insurance.
“There is no ‘no risk’ zone. You are in a flood zone no matter where you live, and you need flood insurance if you want to protect yourself.”
St. Louis Mardi Gras
In my free time, I serve on the St. Louis Mardi Gras Foundation Board of Directors where I support a thriving Soulard neighborhood and St. Louis region by advancing the St. Louis Mardi Gras events and community service initiatives. I specifically manage media and public relations activities and serve as a Soulard Mardi Gras spokesperson.
“Having Mardi Gras is about the same economic impact as if we were to host a world series every year. So it’s really important for the Soulard neighborhood and for the region as a whole.”