For years, Guilford County government has been making an effort to upgrade its public relations operations.
On Friday, May 20 the county announced a new communications and public relations director. The county named Julie Smith – who previously worked for the Denver Department of Finance in Denver, Colorado – to oversee Guilford County’s communications and public relations efforts.
She’ll start her new job on Monday, June 6.
In Denver, Smith oversaw the communications and administration teams for the Finance Department and she led communications and community outreach for several major projects.
Smith has a Bachelor of Science degree in Multi-Media Journalism from Middle Tennessee State University.
She got her start as a television director in northeast Tennessee before working in Nashville, where her record includes an Emmy Award.
According to a press release from Guilford County, it was in 2004 that Smith went into government work, where she’s “served in a variety of communications, media relations and community engagement roles supporting state and local agencies in the areas of finance, social services, behavioral health, housing, aviation, transportation, law enforcement, and safety.”
She has worked as the public information manager for the Tennessee Department of Transportation and, while in Denver, she headed up the strategic plans for Denver Human Services and the Denver Department of Finance and also provided guidance regarding the city’s new Department of Housing Stability.
She hasn’t spent all of her time in government: In 2012 and 2013 she worked as a public involvement consultant for Parsons Brinkerhoff on major infrastructure projects in the state of Louisiana, in Los Angeles, and in other places.
The county’s new PR director has also done some good community work over the years. Smith is a board member of the WINGS Foundation – which works “to break the cycle and heal the wounds of childhood sexual abuse by providing education, advocacy and support to people impacted by child sexual abuse.”
Me. Smith goes to Greensboro. I don’t see any thing on her resume’ about teaching ELECTED OFFICIALS how to communicate.
Will she be expected to buy into Slick Skip’s financial nightmare?
Oh no! one of them from Colorado! God help us.
Sigh.
Can I please get on?
I am sorry but is this a practical joke? From everything I can find out and read about this lady she is perfect for the job. Has the educational background , has the practical background, seems like an overabundance of common sense and fills every requirement with much more left over. Did our county actually make a very good decision ? All on their own? All kidding aside, Ms Julie Smith seems to be the ideal person for this job, so welcome to Guilford County , North Carolina. You will do a fantastic job and we, the citizens along with the county will prosper from your energy and expertise. Welcome Ms Smith
Now why in hell does this county government have a need for a PR director??
Great, we have a new bond & sales tax propaganda sales person AKA the head of BS distribution.