Cara Cruz - Public Information Officer - Pittsburgh Police Department (PA)

The PIO Podcast

#Society #Relationship #Business #Marketing #Government #Robert Tornabene #Police #Fire #Public #Information #Safety #Emergency #News #Media #EMS #The Office #Local Government

33:58

In this episode, we delve into the concept of being "qualified" in the workplace, examining who gets labeled as such, who doesn't, and the underlying reasons. We explore "competency checking"—the practice of scrutinizing individuals' abilities—and how it disproportionately affects underrepresented groups, often going unnoticed or unchallenged. Our discussion aims to redefine qualifications in a fair, equitable, and actionable manner. Our guest, Shari Dunn , is an accomplished journalist, former attorney, news anchor, CEO, university professor, and sought-after speaker. She has been recognized as Executive of the Year and a Woman of Influence, with her work appearing in Fortune Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Ad Age, and more. Her new book, Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work , unpacks what it truly means to be deserving and capable—and why systemic barriers, not personal deficits, are often the real problem. Her insights challenge the narratives that hold so many of us back and offer practical solutions for building a more equitable future. Together, we can build workplaces and communities that don’t just reflect the world we live in, but the one we want to create. A world where being qualified is about recognizing the talent and potential that’s been overlooked for far too long. It’s not just about getting a seat at the table—it’s about building an entirely new table, one designed with space for all of us. Connect with Our Guest Shari Dunn Website& Book - Qualified: https://thesharidunn.com LI: https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/sharidunn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesharidunn Related Podcast Episodes: How To Build Emotionally Mature Leaders with Dr. Christie Smith | 272 Holding It Together: Women As America's Safety Net with Jessica Calarco | 215 How To Defy Expectations with Dr. Sunita Sah | 271 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music…

大约1年之前 39:46

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Cara Cruz is a former broadcast journalist with close to 20 years of experience as a producer and reporter with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Vancouver, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.
She has been with the City of Pittsburgh since 2019 as a Public Information Officer for the Department of Public Safety, which includes Pittsburgh Police, Pittsburgh Fire, and Pittsburgh EMS.
Cara is a former competitive figure skater, and in her off time, she can be found running, skating, or scouring Western Pennsylvania and Ohio for vintage finds for the antique store she owns and operates with a Pittsburgh Police homicide detective and his wife.

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章节

1. Cara Cruz - Public Information Officer - Pittsburgh Police Department (PA) (00:00:00)

2. [Ad] PodMatch (00:16:52)

3. (Cont.) Cara Cruz - Public Information Officer - Pittsburgh Police Department (PA) (00:17:30)

184集单集

Cara Cruz - Public Information Officer - Pittsburgh Police Department (PA)

published 大约1年之前

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

章节

1. Cara Cruz - Public Information Officer - Pittsburgh Police Department (PA) (00:00:00)

2. [Ad] PodMatch (00:16:52)

3. (Cont.) Cara Cruz - Public Information Officer - Pittsburgh Police Department (PA) (00:17:30)

184集单集

#Society #Relationship #Business #Marketing #Government #Robert Tornabene #Police #Fire #Public #Information #Safety #Emergency #News #Media #EMS #The Office #Local Government

All episodes

1
S5 - E10 Lauren Burden, Director of Communications and Community Relations, Douglas County District Attorney's Office, Douglasville GA 27:16

4天之前27:16

27:16

Send us a text Summary: In this episode of the PIO podcast, Lauren Burton, the Director of Communications and Community Relations for the Douglas County District Attorney's Office in Georgia, shares her unique journey from victim advocacy to her current role. She discusses the importance of community engagement, the challenges of digital communication, and the strategies she employs to ensure consistent messaging and effective outreach. Lauren highlights successful media campaigns, the role of social media, and the impact of her office's visibility in the community. She also touches on the use of AI tools in her work and emphasizes the importance of self-care for public information officers. Lauren's Bio - Lauren Burden is the Director of Communications and Community Relations for the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. In this role, she oversees the office’s social media, website, marketing, and media communications. She also coordinates and organizes the office’s participation in community events, plans office-sponsored community events, and organizes all internal events. Lauren graduated from Georgia College and State University with a degree in Sociology. She began her career at the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office as a Victim Advocate in April 2013. In 2021, she took on the role of communications coordinator before transitioning to her current position full-time in January 2022. She was honored with the office’s Barry Wood Award in 2021.was recognized as a Top Young Professional in Douglas County in 2022, and received the InnovateHER award at the CelebrateHER awards with the Douglas County Chamber in 2024. In addition to her professional work, Lauren actively contributes to her community by serving on several boards, including New Georgia Baseball as Secretary, Paulding County Baseball Advisory Board as Secretary, Douglas County Young Professionals as Treasurer, and The ATIR Community. Outside of work and volunteering, she enjoys spending time with her fourteen-year-old son and her family. Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

1
S5 - E9: Summer Derrey - Assistant Communications Manager, South Central Region - Washington State Department of Transportation 28:41

11天之前28:41

28:41

Send us a text Summary - In this episode of the PIO podcast, Robert Tornabene interviews Summer DeRay, an experienced Public Information Officer (PIO) with a rich background in communications and community engagement. Summer shares her journey from working in newsrooms to her current role at the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). She discusses the importance of building relationships with local tribes, the evolution of social media in public information, and the significance of community engagement. Summer also emphasizes the need for self-care among PIOs to prevent burnout and shares her success stories in community outreach. The conversation concludes with rapid-fire questions that reveal Summer's personal insights and philosophies. Summer's BiIO: Summer Derrey is an MPIO with nearly 20 years of experience at WSDOT. She excels at breaking down complex engineering jargon into easy-to-understand information for the public. From Washington’s harsh winter weather to summer construction projects, Derrey uses various communication methods. Recently, her work has centered on traffic safety, community engagement, and tribal relations. LinkedIn Summer's Email - Summerinthefall@gmail.com Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

1
S5 - E8: Donna Rossi - Director of Communications - Phoenix Police Department, Phoenix, AZ 33:57

18天之前33:57

33:57

Send us a text Summary: In this episode of the PIO podcast, Robert Tornabene interviews Donna Rossi, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the Phoenix Police Department. Donna shares her unique journey from being a police officer to a broadcast journalist and leading the Public Affairs Bureau. The conversation covers the current staffing challenges the Phoenix PD faces, the importance of crisis communication, and the innovative strategies being implemented to enhance community relations and transparency. Donna emphasizes the need for collaboration between sworn and civilian staff and discusses the significance of internal communications within the department. The episode concludes with rapid-fire questions and key takeaways from Donna's experiences and insights. Donna's Email Donna.Rossi@pheonix.gov Recruitment Website: joinphxpd.com Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

1
S5 - E7 Taylor Merriss - Special Projects Coordinator - Evansville Police, Evansville Indiana 29:06

25天之前29:06

29:06

Send us a text Summary: In this episode of the PIO Podcast, Special Projects Coordinator Taylor Merriss from the Evansville Police Department shares insights about her role, community engagement strategies, and the importance of transparency in law enforcement. She discusses her background, the challenges of recruiting, and the innovative ways the department connects with the community, including their podcast 'What's Your 20'. Taylor emphasizes the significance of building trust and relationships within the community and highlights her experiences in various outreach initiatives. Taylor's Bio: Officer Taylor Merriss was born and raised in southeast side Evansville. She is proud of her roots and alma mater: Bosse High School and the University of Southern Indiana. She was a collegiate athlete who played golf and received criminal justice and sociology degrees. She has been a member of the Evansville Police Department for 9 years and in her most current position, as Special Projects Coordinator, for nearly 4 years. She takes pride in being a liaison to the local and national media and her community. She won the Evansville Regional Economic Partnerships’ Young Professional of the Year for 2024. Taylors Email - tmerriss@evansvillepolice.com Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

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S5 - E6 : Bridget Truxillo - Law Lady Shield 45:51

大约1年之前45:51

45:51

Send us a text Bridget has firsthand experience with harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment. As the only female on the SWAT team, along with her time on patrol and as an undercover narcotics investigator, she knows what it feels like to have no one to trust and to feel defeated at every turn. This is why Bridget started the Lady Law Shield: to help those feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by a seemingly unwinnable battle. Bridget is passionate about helping anyone facing the same types of internal employment-related issues discover their ability to find happiness daily, regardless of the environment or circumstances surrounding them. Bridget has 30 years of wellness, leadership, law enforcement, and legal training and experience that you can leverage for a blueprint on how to feel more comfort, ease, and support for increased balance and joy in life. Bridget is an attorney, former Deputy Sheriff (Patrol, SWAT, and Undercover Narcotics), and founder and CEO of the Lady Law Shield Law Firm and Protective Wellness. She is licensed to practice in TX, LA, NY, and FL. Lady Law Shield helps clients across the country with employment-related issues based on violations of protections afforded by federal law. Bridgets Email - bridget@ladylawsheild.com Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

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S5- E5: Victorian Simmons - Public Information Officer, City of Apex, Apex NC 51:57

大约1年之前51:57

51:57

Send us a text Victorian Simmons currently works as the Public Information Officer for the Town of Apex. Prior to her position with Apex, she was the Community Engagement Specialist for the Greensboro Fire Department. Victorian has been published in Firehouse Magazine and was a featured speaker at the 2024 NFPA Conference and the North Carolina Fire Educators Conference. She is the 2023 Greensboro Mosi Award recipient for reaching non-English speaking communities with fire safety video messages and the 2024 Greensboro Employee Innovation Award recipient for designing and developing a booklet to help community members after they have been affected by fires. She was just selected as the 2024 International Rising Star by Women in Fire Safety. She has been recognized multiple times and has received awards from her community for using creative strategies to effectively reach specific audiences with life saving information. She is locally known for her small business Fire & Oak where she teaches smaller departments how to effectively use digital communications like social media, website design, and photography/videography. She is an adjunct Professor for GTCC Fire Academy where she teaches Public Safety Communications courses to students in North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina. Though she has a quickly growing career in the fire industry, she has an extensive background in marketing and communications. Simmons has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Keuka College, a Master’s degree in Business Management from Elmira College, and is currently working on her Ph.D. in Strategic Communication from Liberty University. She has spent the last 9 years in managerial roles focused on strategic communications, marketing, writing, photography, social media, and design. Victorian's LinkedIn Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

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S5 - E4: Jonee Lewis, Director of Communications - Tampa Police Department 26:55

大约1年之前26:55

26:55

Send us a text Jonee Lewis is an Emmy-award-winning Journalist who is now the Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Tampa Police Department. Jonee’ is a Lakeland native with 13 years of experience in the media industry, having previously served as a reporter for Fox 13 in Tampa and television news stations in Memphis, Winston-Salem, Myrtle Beach, Gainesville, and Tallahassee. She holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Mass Media Studies from Florida State University. She is thrilled to serve her community in this new capacity and promote positive relationships between law enforcement and those who live, work, and visit the City of Tampa. Email - mailto: tpd-pio@tampagov.net Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

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S5-E3: Chata Spikes, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Atlanta Police Department 31:43

大约1年之前31:43

31:43

Send us a text As the Executive Director of Public Affairs for the Atlanta Police Department, Chata Spikes manages the department’s overall communication strategy which includes developing organizational messaging both internal and external. Ms. Spikes has worked in media and public relations industry for more than 18 years. She served as Media Liaison for the Georgia Department of Transportation, Public Information Officer for DeKalb County government, Communications Specialist Supervisor/Technical Writer for Time Warner/Turner Broadcasting and an Assistant Professor of Mass Communications at her alma mater Fort Valley State University. Additionally, she had a successful media career having worked for WSB-TV (Atlanta, Ga.), CNN (Atlanta, Ga.), DeKalb County-TV, Fox News Network, and WYFF News (Greenville, SC) in variety of on-camera and off-camera roles. In 2016, she joined Atlanta Police Department in the role of Deputy Director of Public Affairs under Chief George N. Turner, until her departure to become the first Director of Communications and External Affairs for the City of South Fulton. Most recently, she has owned and operated a communications/leadership consulting firm specializing in media, leadership and customer service training for diverse audiences to include schools, churches and government entities. She rejoined the Atlanta Police Department in 2020 under Chief Rodney N. Bryant. Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

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S5 - E2: Stephen Combs, Public Information Officer - Bluffton Township Fire Department, Bluffton, SC 36:16

大约1年之前36:16

36:16

Send us a text Stephen Combs currently serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for Bluffton Township Fire District, having joined the agency in February 2023. In his role, he oversees all communications for the district's nine stations, including handling service calls, public education, community events, and media relations. Highlights: Credentialing: Stephen is among only 35 internationally credentialed PIOs through the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC). He's also a FEMA Master PIO and South Carolina Certified Emergency Manager. Experience: He boasts nearly a decade of experience in disaster response, crisis communications, and strategic planning. Teaching Role: Stephen is an adjunct instructor with Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), providing national training in public information principles for all-hazards incidents. Previous Work: Before joining Bluffton, he worked at the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina, offering strategic communications guidance and managing Joint Information Centers during significant emergencies. Notable Incidents: Stephen has managed communication efforts for various major incidents, including the South Carolina "1000-year Flood" in 2015 and the Townville Elementary School shooting in 2016. Published Author: He contributed to the 2022 ASIS Security Industry Book of the Year, writing the chapter "Successfully Navigating Media for the Emergency Manager." Stephen Combs brings a wealth of expertise and experience to his role, making him a valuable asset to the Bluffton Township Fire District. Stephen's Email Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

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S5 - E1 Sarah Loyd - Head of Product Success and Evangelism - Social News Desk 16:09

大约1年之前16:09

16:09

Send us a text Sarah Loyd is the Head of Product Success & Evangelism at Social News Desk, where she has spent more than a decade helping to develop cutting-edge software that supports social media workflows for government, journalism, and education. With a solid social media management and journalism background, Sarah is dedicated to ensuring clients get the most out of the platform. She spends her free time cheering on her son and the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Texas. Sarah Loyd's LinkedIn Email info@socialnewsdesk.com SocialNewsDesk.com Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

1
Summing up the Titles and Topics of 2024 from the Life of A PIO Podcast 21:37

大约1年之前21:37

21:37

Send us a text It should be noted that this entire podcast episode was created with the assistance of Notebook LM. The information was gathered from blog posts to the Life of A PIO Blog, which comes out weekly. To subscribe to our substack. Please follow the link. https://piopodcast.substack.com/ Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

1
Season 4 Finale with Robert Tornabene 23:05

大约1年之前23:05

23:05

Send us a text In our season finale, we highlight the 10 most listened-to episodes of 2024. 1 S4 - E6 Alexa Boylon, Director of Communications, Indianapolis Metro PD 2 S4 - E1 Kayla Gneck Smith, PIO Tempe PD 3 S4 - E2 Jesse Carr, PIO Dallas PD 4 S4 - E4 Julie Mann, PIO Kane County Government, Kane Cty Illinois 5 S4 - E40 Captain Jon Vick, PIO Lawrence County Sheriff's Office 6 S4 - E 39 Kristi Jourdan, PIO Contra Costa County Government, CA 7 s4 - E22 Chief of Police Christopher Cook. Chief, Whitesettlement PD, TX 8 s4 - E7 Cara Cruz, PIO Pittsburgh PD 9 S4 - E9 Brent Weisburg, Director of Communications, Salt Lake City PD 10 S4 - E5 Irene Mahoney, PIO Mesa PD Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

1
Robert Tornabene with a Thanksgiving Message 0:25

大约1年之前0:25

0:25

Send us a text The host of the PIO Podcast wants to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving Holiday! Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

1
Laurin Parthemos - Principal - Kotter Inc. 42:28

大约1年之前42:28

42:28

Send us a text Every organization faces the challenge of accelerating change. We help you turn that challenge into an opportunity. Kotter pioneered the science of change through decades of Harvard research and real-world experience. Transformation powered by Kotter gets to the heart of business problems quickly – delivering new levels of performance, leadership, and teamwork. Accelerated Transformation. Strategy Execution. Leadership Development. Powered by Kotter. Laurin's LInkedIn Support the show Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.…

1
Lexi Qass'uq Trainer - Anchorage Fire Department, Anchorage, Alaska 42:58

大约1年之前42:58