The PIO Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I take some excerpts from our guests throughout the year and highlight them. We also have podcast statistics. See you in early 2024.  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.

Send us Fan Mail Erika Thomas is the Public Information Officer Manager for the Lincoln Police Department in Lincoln, Nebraska. Prior to starting at LPD in March 2023, Erika spent 20 years working in TV and radio as an award-winning journalist. She was most recently the evening anchor for the CBS affiliate in Northwest Arkansas. Email: lpd3627@cjis.lincoln.ne.gov Cell: 402-805-7469 Erika Facebook:...

Send us Fan Mail As the Public Information Officer for the Town of Summerville, SC, my passion for effective communication and commitment to the community drives my work as a PIO. With over six years of experience, Christopher has a proven track record of success. Christopher has led projects such as rebranding initiatives, website redesigns, crisis communications, social media growth, and launchi...

Send us Fan Mail Sarah Alexander serves as the Digital Communications Coordinator for the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, a full-service and nationally accredited law enforcement agency in Lexington, SC. She has been in the position since Nov. 2021. She is the agency story-teller. She is responsible for agency photography and videography, special projects and graphics, while being cros...

Send us Fan Mail Mark Economou has been the Public Information Manager for the Boca Raton Police Department since 2008.  Mark is also the Southeast region chair for the PIO section of the IACP. He served as PIO chair and co-chair for the Regional Domestic Security Task Force Region 7 in South Florida for over eight years.  His media and public relations background spans nearly 20 years. I spent ne...

Send us Fan Mail Veronica Hill is a communications professional energized by creativity and collaboration. Veronica has a passion for developing mission-driven communication strategies and public information campaigns. With experience in the sectors of education, non-profit, and law enforcement, Veronica thrives on community and building connections. Veronica holds a bachelor’s degree in strategic...

Send us Fan Mail About Trent Faris - Trent Faris serves as Public Information Officer for the York County Sheriff’s Office, a full-service and nationally accredited law enforcement agency employing approximately 400 full and part-time, sworn, and civilian personnel.  He has held this position for nine years.   Trent is responsible for the daily coordination, circulation, formulation, and dissemina...

Send us Fan Mail Results-driven Public Relations Professional with a proven track record in managing public information, marketing campaigns, and community outreach initiatives. Strong expertise in media relations, crisis communications, and strategic planning. Demonstrates exceptional writing skills and the ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders. Committed to achieving organiz...

Send us Fan Mail Austin McDaniel is the Communications Director for the Alaska Department of Public Safety. As communications director, he oversees four professional staff members, and the public information office team that manages all external and internal communications for the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, and Alaska State Fire Marshals Office. He also ensures the department...

Send us Fan Mail Mike Koehler is the founder of Smirk New Media, Oklahoma's original digital marketing agency. Smirk has grown from one pawnshop laptop to working with nationwide brands. We’ve put together a scrappy team of experts who help companies connect with their customers online using creative content, targeted advertising, customer service innovation and data-driven strategy.  Special...

Send us Fan Mail I have been with the Oxford Police Department since 2005. I have held numerous positions, such as Reserve Officer, Patrol Officer, DUI Officer, Sergeant of the DUI Unit, Patrol Lieutenant, Admin Lieutenant, Patrol Captain, and now Admin Captain. Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Mississippi in 2006 and Master's Degree in Law Enforcement and Pub...

Send us Fan Mail Luis Agostini is the public information officer for the DEA Chicago Field Division. Prior to joining the DEA, Luis served as an assistant director of communications with the Chicago Police Department. Luis brings over two decades of communications experience from his time in the DEA and CPD, his 12 years of service in the United States Marine Corps as a combat correspondent and pu...

Send us Fan Mail Shawna Bruce brings her clients 40 years of risk and crisis communications, public information, and media relations experience. Shawna served as a Public Affairs Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces before transitioning to Dow Chemical Canada's National Public Affairs Leader, where she was responsible for corporate communications and support to Dow's petrochemical sites...

Send us Fan Mail Barry Furey is an award-winning public safety executive with over 50 years of experience. Serving as a fire officer in three states, a 9-1-1 director in four, and as a consultant here and abroad, he has authored more than 300 articles, contributed to industry texts, and published two books, including his recent "Managing 9-1-1, 365 Days a Year", available on Amazon Kindl...

Send us Fan Mail Allison Breanna Hudson currently serves as Division Manager in the Office of Community Affairs for the Houston Police Department. She has 20 years of experience in crisis communication, media management, and all things public safety. Prior to her move to the Houston Police Department, she served a year as program manager and advanced public information officer for the City of Hous...

Send us Fan Mail Trent's Bio Trent has been a professional copywriter since 2015. Trent has predominately worked with the firearms, outdoor, defense, and marketing industries. Some notable clients Trent has such as Ammo Terra (former) and Sportsman's Warehouse (current). Over the years, Trent appeared on numerous podcasts, primarily focusing on self-help, marketing, and storytelling. Ema...

Send us Fan Mail Jerred A. Johnson has an extensive background in public safety, spanning over 16 years in firefighting and rescue, campus law enforcement, criminology, the American Red Cross, and now Homeland Security/Emergency Management. Jerred is currently pursuing a Ph. D. in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security at Liberty University after receiving an Associate's Degree in General Studie...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode, we interview  Dana Whyte, the Communications Manager from Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety, on the shooting on campus on February 13, 2023. Dana's Bio Dana Whyte is the Communications Manager and Spokesperson for the Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety, leading all strategic communicatio...

Send us Fan Mail Bill Delaney has over 40 years of experience in the fire service, first as a volunteer and career firefighter and, over the last 23 years, as a civilian manager. He retired as a Public Information Officer with the Fairfax County (VA) Fire & Rescue Department in May 2023. Bill serves as a social media consultant with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Bill is consider...

Send us Fan Mail Nicole's BIO Ms. Nicole Shutts has been with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for 12 years. She currently serves as a Training Specialist in the Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP) Branch at Emergency Management Institute (EMI). She manages the Public Information Officer Program which portfolio consists of the Advanced Public Information Officer (AP...

Send us Fan Mail Season: 3 - Episode: 15 John Guilfoil is a former Boston Globe staff reporter who served as deputy press secretary to the late former Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. He is the founder of JGPR, a public relations agency created in 2013 to strengthen communications strategy for police and fire departments. Since its founding, the company has expanded to include school districts, publ...

Send us Fan Mail Season: 3 - Episode: 14 Sarah talks about something we do not frequently talk about Line of Duty Deaths. Sarah's BIO: Sarah Campbell has over 10 years of experience working in the Fire Service as a Civilian, with 5 years at Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services. Sarah began her journey in the Fire Service as an HR professional for Howard County Department of F...

Send us Fan Mail Season: 3 - Episode: 13 Eric Holdeman is a professional emergency manager who is passionate about providing information that can help families, businesses and governments become better prepared for disasters of all types. His goal is to enhance everyone’s disaster resilience. Eric is a prolific writer, expert facilitator, and a frequent commentator on news events of the day, where...

Send us Fan Mail Mikayla Moskov is a FEMA and FBI-LEEDA certified Master Public information Officer with a background in broadcast journalism serving one of the fastest-growing places in the United States.  A strategic communicator focused on supporting and building internal audiences up to become external brand advocates and agents for good. Between a Master's in Criminal Justice and Communi...

Send us Fan Mail Commander Matthew Kroll, U.S. Coast Guard  Matthew currently serves as the Chief of Media Relations and is the primary  spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard. He has more than 18 years of operational and public relations experience in the military. Originally from Southern California, Matthew received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Studies from Sonoma State University...