Monthly Program
Join us as we host Mark Sexton, communications director for Alachua County, for our October Monthly Program.
At the Center of the Story: Trust, Transparency and Crisis Communication
What does it take to communicate on behalf of local government when the subject is sensitive, the facts are still developing and public trust is at stake?
Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton offers an inside look at leading communications for a complex public organization. Drawing from 21 years in county government, he will discuss building productive relationships with the media, developing systems for timely and consistent communication, navigating crises and sensitive issues, and translating complicated public information into stories people can understand. He will also share how tools such as Alachua County’s digital annual report can make government work more accessible, relevant and engaging.
Part day-in-the-life perspective and part communications master class, this conversation will offer practical insights for public relations professionals working in government, business and nonprofit organizations.
About Mark Sexton
Mark Sexton has served as communications director for Alachua County for 21 years, leading the County’s efforts to keep residents informed and engaged through media relations, public information, multimedia storytelling and crisis communication.
Before entering local government, Mark spent 15 years as general manager of Gainesville’s Hippodrome Theatre, where he helped lead one of the community’s most recognized cultural institutions. A professional actor for decades, he brings a performer’s understanding of audience, timing and storytelling to the highly visible – and often unpredictable – work of public-sector communications.
Across a career spanning government, theater and the arts, Mark has developed a distinctive ability to make complex subjects understandable, communicate with clarity under pressure and connect public institutions with the people they serve.
Event Details
When: Thursday, Oct. 15, at 11:30 a.m. | Program begins at Noon
Where: New Deal Cafe, 3443 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32607