Washington County Announces New Department of Public Relations and Community Affairs Staff

(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) HAGERSTOWN, Md., March 5 -- Washington County issued the following news release: The Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland announces James Jenkins, Tabitha Porterfield and Emily Ahalt as new Washington County Department of Public Relations and Community Affairs staff members. Leading all County communications efforts, the department, previously created through restructuring in December of 2012, is under the direction of Assistant County Administrator Sarah Lankford Sprecher.

The department offices are located at 120 W. Washington Street, next to the County Administration building. The staff looks forward to engaging the community and can be reached at publicaffairs@washco-md.net or 240-313-2382.

James Jenkins As Public Relations and Community Affairs Manager, Jenkins will be responsible for the overall strategic management of all public relations, marketing and communications projects, including research, development, and implementation of initiatives. He will coordinate County programming on available local media outlets, create and distribute information to the general public, and serve as the spokesperson for Washington County Government.

Mr. Jenkins served as a Marketing Communications Specialist for Armstrong World Industries (AWI), the global leader in ceiling manufacturing. As a liaison between AWI and Worthington Steel, the global leader in ceiling suspension systems, Jenkins was responsible for marketing, advertising, trade show and social media efforts.

Jenkins graduated Cum Laude from University of Maryland Eastern Shore with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Communication at Shippensburg University.

Tabitha Porterfield As Marketing Specialist, Porterfield will coordinate and implement public information and branding initiatives along with strategic marketing projects for the County.

Under the direction of the Public Relations & Community Affairs Manager, Ms. Porterfield will help manage marketing activities in coordination with the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission and serve as media contact at events. Porterfield will also prepare general County Government informational and promotional materials.

Previously, Ms. Porterfield planned and oversaw a consumer education and stakeholder outreach program on behalf of the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Her focus was collateral and content development, event planning and social media strategies.

Ms. Porterfield graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism-Public Relations and a minor in Political Science.

Emily Ahalt As Communications Coordinator, Ahalt will be responsible for securing technical media, coordinating all County public events, and providing administrative support to the Public Relations Department.

Ms. Ahalt previously worked as a media relations associate for the international charity Operation Christmas Child where she was responsible for leading media efforts in the Mid-Atlantic region. Her primary responsibilities included developing media content, coordinating media coverage and supporting regional and national events.

Ms. Ahalt graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations.

TNS rk-130309-4238132 StaffFurigay (c) 2013 Targeted News Service

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