City hires Jeri Rowe-Curtis as new communications and marketing administrator

Published 4:25 pm Monday, May 14, 2012

After a nationwide search, the City of Redmond has hired Jeri Rowe-Curtis as its new communications and marketing administrator.

Rowe-Curtis was selected from pool of 199 applicants and will start June 1.

“I’m very excited to join the City of Redmond,” she said. “As a former longtime resident, I’m very aware of the city’s strong reputation for providing clear and inclusive government. I’m looking forward to working with city staff, residents and the business community to further that reputation by enhancing how we share Redmond’s unique story.”

Rowe-Curtis was born in southern California and has lived in Washington for 34 years — 22 of which were in Redmond. She is still an Eastside resident and returns to Redmond with communications and marketing experience working with all levels of government from local to federal. She worked as the director of public affairs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System for 14 years, managing high-profile news, web, social media and crisis communications programs and shaping internal, external and congressional affairs and strategic partnership development.

Rowe-Curtis’s additional experience includes stints managing the external affairs programs for the University of Washington’s (UW) School of Medicine and Sisters of Providence Health Care Corporation. Rowe-Curtis, who received her bachelor of interdisciplinary arts from the University of Southern California and her master’s degree in public administration from the UW, has also served as a legislative staff member for the King County executive, assistant majority leader of the Washington State Senate and the Seattle City Council.

“The city is committed to improving how we communicate as an organization while inviting increased citizen participation throughout City Hall,” said Redmond Mayor John Marchione. “Jeri brings an established record of innovative and effective results in communications and marketing and we’re very excited to welcome her to Redmond.”

This record includes a number of professional awards including four national Public Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations Communications Awards from the VA and most recently, the Public Relations Society of America Puget Sound Region President’s Award.

In her new position with the City of Redmond, Rowe-Curtis will oversee the city’s office of communications, which includes print, web, cable television, AM 1650 radio and social media services. She will also serve as the city’s primary public information officer and manage the distribution of press releases and media relations. The position will reside within the city’s executive department.

“This position will develop and manage a citywide strategic communications plan, advise and direct city leadership regarding communications issues and strategies and implement multifaceted internal and external communications programs,” Marchione said.

Patrick Hirsch will remain the interim city communications liaison until June 1. For more information, email phirsch@redmond.gov or call (425) 556-2439.