[Press Release] : Watkins names communications director

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Bill Watkins, City Manager - (573) 874-6338 

Watkins names communications director

COLUMBIA, MO (May 8, 2006) -- City Manager Bill Watkins today announced
the appointment of Toni Messina as director of communications for the
city of Columbia, effective May 22. Messina will be paid a salary of
$69,400, in addition to other authorized employee benefits.

One of four new positions authorized by the City Council earlier this
year, the communications director will report directly to the city
manager. Messina will coordinate the city's public information
efforts, neighborhood relations, online communications, cable
programming, printing and mail services.

A Missouri state employee since 1979, Messina has served in the
legislative, executive, judicial and regulatory branches of government.
Her work has included communicating complex utility issues to citizens
and legislators, educating and supporting business "roundtable"
groups concerned with improving local social service delivery and
managing the state ombudsman's citizens service communications in the
Missouri Lieutenant Governor's office.

She was communications director for the Mid-Missouri Council of
Governments from September 1974 - January 1979 and a communications
assistant for Shelter Insurance Companies from March 1972 - September
1974.

According to Watkins, the city received 94 applications for the
position. "Our screening committee was favorably impressed with
Toni's experience and energy," Watkins said. "She will be an
excellent fit to facilitate the city's communications with all parts
of the community, including citizens, organizations and the news
media." 

Messina holds a bachelor's degree in journalism (1971) and a master's
degree in public administration (1991) from the University of Missouri -
Columbia. She completed the summer program for state and local
government executives at the John F. Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University, in 1991.

Messina is an associate member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and
is participating in Leadership Columbia, 2006. She sits on the Missouri
Symphony Society Board of Directors and is president of the Missouri
Institute of Public Administration. Messina and her husband, Richard
Tiemeyer, have resided in Columbia since 1974, and they enjoy local arts
and University of Missouri athletic events.

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