The City of Traverse City announced Monday that Colleen Paveglio will become the city's new communications specialist.

City commissioners recently approved creating the new position as part of the city's 2021-22 budget. City Clerk Benjamin Marentette previously told commissioners the goal was to move Paveglio - who has been working in the City Clerk's Office as a licensing and election specialist - into the new role. Paveglio officially started in the position Monday.

The role is designed to promote engagement and awareness of city initiatives, projects, and services. "The City Clerk’s Office serves as the city’s public information office and every year has thousands of interactions with citizens and stakeholder groups," the city wrote in a release. "The office touches all city departments, with nearly every piece of information and business related to city government flowing through it in one shape or another; however, there has never before been a professional position focused and dedicated to engagement, communications and education to serve the entire organization."
 
Paveglio will be responsible for overseeing the city’s official communications platforms, including website, social media, and other digital communication tools. She will lead the city’s public information and communication efforts and build relationships with neighborhood associations, stakeholder groups, and the general public. One of the first projects she is set to tackle is a complete overhaul of the city's website. She will also be developing new outreach methods, including a communications and media plan to better connect the city with a wider audience.

Paveglio has a Bachelor of Arts & Science in Communications from Michigan State University and has served as a communications and marketing professional for over 16 years, serving in that capacity most recently for the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority before moving to the City Clerk's Office. She is responsible for projects and programs including Shop Your Community Day, the Downtown Light Parade, and Traverse City Restaurant Week. In 2014, Paveglio worked with the City of Traverse City to create the Public Art ordinance and the Traverse City Arts Commission. Most recently, she developed the city’s 2020 annual report, called The Performance.

"I am thrilled to serve in this new role and grow the city’s communication landscape to increase civic engagement and identify opportunities to share the city’s message in an open and inclusive manner," says Paveglio. "As a resident of the city, I have a deep passion for our community and I am honored to have the opportunity to work together to build civic pride."