NEWS RELEASE: City of San José Appoints New Director of the City Manager’s Office of Communications
Public Information Manager and Emergency Public Information Co-Lead Carolina Camarena appointed to lead City role
Post Date: 01/04/2021 4:30 PM
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City of San José Appoints New Director of the City Manager’s Office of Communications
Public Information Manager and Emergency Public Information Co-Lead Carolina Camarena appointed to lead City role
Camarena brings more than 20 years of communications experience and leadership to the City Manager’s Office.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (January 4, 2021) – Carolina Camarena has been appointed Director of Communications for the City Manager’s Office by City Manager David Sykes.
Previously the Public Information Manager for the City’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department, Carolina brings extensive civic communications management experience to the position, coupled with a deep passion for San José’s diverse communities. She will play a critical role in evolving ongoing public information efforts while overseeing the Office of Communications team within the City Manager’s Office.
“Carolina’s admirable commitment and deep passion for her community continues to benefit our residents in her role as PIO for the EOC,” said Mayor Sam Liccardo. “She is widely recognized for her unwavering dedication and collaborative spirit and we look forward to great things from her as the new Communications Director for the City Manager.”
Carolina brings more than 20 years of communications experience to the City Manager’s Office. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Carolina started her public service career in former San José Mayor Susan Hammer’s Office as a Communications Coordinator. Since then, she has worked in several City of San José departments, including the City Manager’s Office, the Environmental Services Department, and most recently the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department as the Public Information Manager. She has also served as Emergency Public Information Branch Co-Lead in the Emergency Operations Center since July 2020.
“Few people know our community and our organization as well as Carolina,” said City Manager Dave Sykes. “I am excited to see her leverage her significant experience and insights to ensure we can communicate effectively and equitably with all parts of our community. ”
Carolina has developed several award-winning communications programs and projects. Most recently, she was the recipient of the 2020 Award of Distinction from the California Association of Public Information Officials for the community event “Explore Your Park.” Through a variety of community engagement and communication strategies, Carolina has contributed to advancing the City of San José’s core values. She will continue to advance the City’s values by transcreation – using culturally relevant and language-accessible messages and images – while ensuring all San José residents and businesses have timely and accurate information.
Carolina is a San Josean who takes great pride in working for the city she lives and grew up in. She is a graduate of Independence High School and lives in Evergreen with her family.
About the City of San José
With more than one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California’s largest city and the 10th largest city in the nation. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world. In 2011, the City adopted Envision San José 2040, a long-term growth plan that sets forth a vision and a comprehensive road map to guide the City’s anticipated growth through the year 2040.
