The City of Arlington has selected Kristen Waggener at the new Marketing Communication Manager to oversee the planning, development and execution of communications and marketing efforts in the city’s Office of Communication. She began her role with the City of Arlington on Oct. 24.
Waggener comes to Arlington with more than 10 years of municipal government communications experience. She most recently served as the Communications & Marketing Director for the City of Bryan, Texas, where she led the team to setting state and national records for the greatest number of awards received in one year from the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO) and the City County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA). In 2020, Waggener was named the 2020 Social Media Professional of the Year by Government Social Media. Previously, she worked in communications at the City of Lenexa, Kansas, and at several community newspapers in Kansas as a reporter and editor.
“The City of Arlington’s communications team is known across Texas and the nation for its compelling storytelling and innovative communication efforts, but that doesn’t mean we can’t improve and evolve to provide even better services to our community,” said Jay Warren, Director of Communication and Legislative Affairs for the City of Arlington. “Kristen Waggener will help us do just that. She is a proven, respected government communicator, and her peers have recognized this by electing her to leadership roles at the state and national level. I’m excited she has joined our team and look forward to her contributions to our community.”
Waggener’s work will include leading the Office of Communication’s efforts to provide effective communication about the City of Arlington’s services and activities. This includes news, media and events assistance; video production of City Council meeting broadcasts; website maintenance; social media management; and graphics and translation services. Additionally, she will be working closely with the Director of Communication and Legislative Services to ensure City communications align with the Arlington City Council’s priorities: Build Unity, Champion Great Neighborhoods, Enhance Regional Mobility, Invest in Our Economy, Leverage Technology and Support Our Youth and Families.
“The City of Arlington’s communications team is very well respected across the state and nation, and that reputation was a big part of why I wanted to join the team,” Waggener said. “I am extremely excited to be a part of the City’s efforts to provide exceptional communications to our residents.”
Waggener holds several leadership positions in the government communications field. She serves as President and Southwest Regional Representative on the Government Social Media Membership Council and is a member of the national 3CMA Board of Directors. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Buena Vista University and is a Certified Public Communicator through Texas Christian University’s Bob Schieffer College of Communication.
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