Roswell Employee Becomes Georgia's First Certified Public Communicator
Friday, August 14th, 2015
Roswell Community Relations Coordinator Karen Zitomer became the first Certified Public Communicator in the state of Georgia when she completed Texas Christian University’s CPC Program in Fort Worth last month.
Started in 2013, the CPC program is the first of its kind in the nation — a 95-hour graduate-level certification program specifically designed for public information professionals working for cities, counties, school districts and other public and public-private agencies.
“People who communicate for cities, counties and school districts have some of the most important jobs in the business,” said CPC co-director Jacqueline Lambiase, Ph.D., who is also director of Texas Christian University’s School of Strategic Communication. “Planning can help organizations work even better and smarter during crisis and everyday communication, for real engagement with stakeholders.”
During the program, which spanned two summer sessions and one winter in-residence session, Zitomer worked on a three-year comprehensive communications plan for the city of Roswell. Extensive classroom instruction with public relations, marketing and public administration professors was included, along with the latest information on metrics, social influence and digital media.
“The CPC program offered me an invaluable experience to enhance the knowledge and skills I need to better serve my community,” said Zitomer. “I am grateful for the opportunity and am looking forward to applying all I have learned to improve communications and help share the great stories that happen every day in the city of Roswell.”
The CPC program is a partnership of TCU’s Schieffer School of Journalism, TCU Extended Education and the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers.
