Meet your Membership Council President & Vice President

The newly elected president & vice president officially took their roles on the Government Social Media professional association Membership Council. Congratulations to Council President Kristen Waggener and Council Vice President Katie Grant!

The Membership Council is a body of elected volunteers who support the strategic direction of the Government Social Media professional association, representing each of the six regions of the United States. Each council member takes on various roles to best support association members like you, including leadership positions of Membership Council President and Vice President.

Kristen Waggener, Membership Council President and Communications & Marketing Director for the City of Bryan, TX, says she’s excited to serve in this capacity and is looking forward to the future of the association.

“I am so excited to serve the socialgov community as the President of the GSM Membership Council,” Kristen says. “GSM is an invaluable resource for government communicators. I have seen the organization grow tremendously during the last few years, and I know that we’ll continue that growth in the coming year.”

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Council President, Kristen Waggener                              Council Vice President, Katie Grant

What government social media professionals face isn’t easy, but what does make it easier is knowing there’s a community of similar-minded professionals to lean on, share challenges with, and celebrate wins together. Katie Grant, newly elected Council Vice President and Digital Communications Section Manager for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, says the organization has made a positive impact on her career and “has been a guiding light through the struggles of the last few years.”

“I look forward to this year’s conference and the many things coming in the year ahead to help further elevate this profession around the world,” she says. “What we do isn’t easy, but the passion we all have for this industry can’t be beat. I encourage you to take some time this year to look around at the people you’ve met and lessons you’ve learned so far in your career. Celebrate yourself and your peers. Find areas for growth and lean on this community to help you get there. We’re all in this together and I think I can speak for this council that we’re all here to support you on that journey."

All of us at Team GSM are looking forward to all that the Membership Council President and Vice President will accomplish in their leadership roles, and want to thank the entirety of the GSM Membership Council for their work in getting socialgovs involved, supported and heard:

• Northwest region: Marie Tweedy
• Midwest region: Katie Grant
• Northeast region: Andrew Belanger
• Southeast region: Chelsea Sawyer
• Southwest region: Kristen Waggener
• West region: Zach Whitney

If you’re not already part of the Government Social Media professional association, we’d love to see you there! You’ll get access to member-only articles, useful topics & in-depth conversations and training to help you become the most successful government social media professional. Here’s how to join.

Best communicate with the public you serve and get connected with fellow socialgovs by registering for the 2023 Government Social Media Conference happening in Reno-Tahoe, Nevada! Join our free network for bi-weekly Government Social Media Chats or professional association for member-only webinars. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates on training, events and more.

We support the largest network of government social media professionals in the U.S. by guiding government agencies through complex social media issues. Government Social Media helps you successfully communicate with the public you serve, protect your agency and keep public trust while finding your support community.