Office of MAYOR ANDY Berke, City of Chattanooga, TN

As the Digital Specialist for Mayor Andy Berke, I like to say I impersonated the Mayor on his twitter and facebook, a shadow version of him. It took quite a lot of trust, to allow me - a new to Chattanooga Upstate New Yorker - to have access to these platforms. I probably should have been asked to resign when I misspelled the name of the town of Hixson the first week on the job in a twitter post. I am thankful I wasn’t. 

This is one of my most favorite positions I’ve held in public service. I learned the art of photography and videography, how to use social media to create and drive a narrative, public speaking, the humility and empathy of quality crisis communication, how to project manage incredibly important high-profile public events - some with hundreds of people in attendance. Events such as; Inauguration 2017, State of the City 2018, and the Swearing-In Ceremonies for Chief Roddy to lead the Chattanooga Police Department and Chief Hyman to lead the Chattanooga Fire Department. 

With the autonomy, I made space for the Department of Transportation, Office of Sustainability and other not well known city services without a social media account of their own, to “take over” the Mayor’s account for #TakeoverTuesdays. This was a valuable way to gain trust among the City’s incredibly talented workforce and highlight all of the incredible work that the City of Chattanooga does for the community. This is also where I began my Canva journey and I have paid for a pro-license ever since. 

Most of all I enjoyed being out in the community with Mayor Andy Berke and our team. At the elementary schools for Read Across America week, the city-organized annual Day of Service on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, monthly Burgers with Berke, the many ribbon cutting ceremonies, concerts and so much more. I carry my memories of the Mayor’s incredible ability to captivate an audience, the most difficult being 20+ first graders while reading his favorite, Pete the Cat, with me now during story time with my own son. I am appreciative of having learned this from him. 

Department of Public Works, City of Chattanooga, TN

When I joined the Department of Public Works, I quickly learned that city infrastructure is the heartbeat of a community. In this role, I became the storyteller for the people who keep the City of Chattanooga, running. The team making sure streets are clear, water flows, and public spaces stay beautiful.

I managed communications, crafted public messaging, and led digital engagement strategies to connect residents with the services they rely on every day. Whether it was designing graphics for stormwater awareness campaigns, running social media for Public Works Week, or ensuring the public was informed during emergencies, my job was to make city services both seen and understood.

Event coordination remained a central part of my work, from organizing Public Works Week celebrations to managing logistics for large-scale city projects. I also worked closely with leadership to shape internal communications, ensuring that the 600+ employees across multiple divisions felt informed and valued.

This role deepened my appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work that makes a city thrive—and the people who dedicate their lives to it.

League of Women Voters of Chattanooga, TN

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Center for TEchnology and civic life

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