Stacy Brown
Woodstock’s Marketing and Communications Manager
What is your background?
I joined the city of Woodstock in May 2016. Prior to that, I worked for Visit Marietta, but I have a lot of varied experiences. I’m currently pursuing a master’s in public administration and a Master of Arts in integrated global communication at Kennesaw State University. I’m one of the oldest in my cohort as a graduate student, and I feel a bit obnoxious. Because, when it comes to public relations, I have an experience to add to every class discussion.
For instance, when food trucks were all the rage, I launched the nation’s first mobile gift boutique full of products by local artists and makers, many who I worked with as clients in my own marketing agency. That synergy allowed me to provide market insights to those small-scale manufacturers, just like the value afforded the maker-members of Woodstock Downtown Development Authority’s Made Mercantile program. Incidentally, my custom trailer now belongs to Visit Woodstock GA, and it pops up to inspire visitors to make our city the base camp to north Georgia adventures.
As a director in the effort to build an aviation museum in Marietta, I served on the 94th Airlift Wing’s committee to orchestrate Atlanta’s part in the Air Force’s 60th anniversary, an observance that progressed across multiple cities in 2007. My Olympic uniform is a part of a permanent exhibit in the Tennessee history museum, where my career in nonprofits began. And no, I wasn’t an athlete — I worked for Atlanta’s Olympic Committee as an envoy to the Austrian kayaking team.
The 1996 Summer Games’ slalom kayaking village was located on my college campus. I graduated from Lee University with a degree in communications, with an emphasis on public relations and advertising. I also have a minor in Bible and studied archaeology in Israel. I’m one of about 100 Georgia Certified Travel Counselors. I hold a certificate in museum management, and I’ll complete a certificate in tourism marketing this summer.
What is your main responsibility?
For the past seven years, I’ve worked in the Woodstock Office of Economic Development, primarily focused on marketing our area as a tourism destination. At the mayor and Council’s annual planning retreat in January, I was invited to present about expanding our municipal communications strategy. The vision is to digitally transform our internal communications to tell the stories of how our city government is crafting a viable and vibrant future for Woodstock. It’s my goal to help the city realize the value of its data so that our elected officials and staff can make better decisions based on the two-way communications happening with citizens and stakeholders online.
What do you like most about your job?
Thank you for asking me and other city staff what we do and why. It’s called PSM — public service motivation. My co-workers and I value contributing to public policy and services. We are motivated more by ensuring a great quality of life for our community than by self-interests.
I love writing and creating multimedia to illuminate why Woodstock is the best place to grow a business and make a home. When people understand Woodstock’s why, trust is established, and they are driven to be involved in the process. That’s why our system of government works — because of informed and engaged citizens.
What is the most unusual job you’ve done?
Other duties as assigned. It’s a common phrase for a lot of city staff. You’ll find it on our job descriptions and, if you watch closely, you can catch us in some quirky acts. You might find me using the massive fire department hoses to wash the mobile visitors center in Station 14’s ladder truck bay, giving parks and recreation an assist gathering green room provisions for Grammy-winning bluegrass musicians who share my affinity for crunchy health foods, or being the only participant in a Main Street Christmas 5K running up and down the parade route getting photos and videos of the Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights. I’m the fastest in my age group every year, haha!
How do you like to spend free time?
Work and school keep me running. I’m mom to two teenage boys; the oldest is a multisport athlete, and the youngest is an accelerated virtual student. I’m a caregiver, as well; my mom moved in with us in 2022. Even as a single parent, carving out time for yourself is essential when you are caring for others. I am lucky to live steps from Little River, and I love paddleboarding. You might see me out exploring Woodstock’s trails on my mountain bike or being dragged behind my two Weimaraners, Henry and Loki. I’m grateful for Woodstock’s investment in parks and trails. It’s so good for our mental and physical health!
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