Lamppostings

The Communications Department works to enhance communication between various Town departments and Parker residents, the media and other interested parties. Through its multiple communications resources and initiatives, the department focuses on community education, resident engagement, Parks and Recreation marketing, media relations, community marketing, community events and sponsorship, internal communications, and employee events and recognition.

Main office and contact information:  
Address: Parker Town Hall, 20120 E. Mainstreet
Phone: 303.841.0353
Email: ca@parkeronline.org

Department website/social media accounts:
Website: www.ParkerOnline.org/Communications
Town Facebook: @TownofParkerCO
Town Instagram: @TownofParkerCO
Town Twitter: @TownofParkerCO

Number of employees: 
We have six department employees, four of whom are Parker residents!

Longest serving employees and years on staff:
Elise Penington, Communications Director: 21 Years
Jaime Vollertsen, Marketing Supervisor: 9 Years

Department overview:
The Communications Department works to engage and educate the public, provide opportunities for involvement and fun, and keep Parker’s hometown feel alive! We provide a variety of easy-to-use digital engagement/marketing tools, including Town and Parks and Recreation social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Nextdoor), the Town (www.ParkerOnline.org) and Parks and Recreation (www.ParkerRec.com) websites, and electronic message boards located on Mainstreet and at the Parks and Recreation facilities. The Department is also very involved in the Town's new online community engagement tool, Let's Talk Parker, which launched in February of this year. 

Additionally, the Department produces the monthly Talk of the Town newsletter, the Annual Report/Community Calendar, the Recreation Activity Guide and the quarterly TA Report, as well as a variety of educational pieces and project-specific communication. The Department also issues media releases, responds to media inquiries, and promotes Parker through innovative campaigns, contests and initiatives. Video has recently been a big focus for Parker, and Kathy Sabine worked with us in 2017 to produce a series of four videos promoting our great community!

Planning community events and securing event sponsorship revenue are also a great investment of our staff time. Town-planned events include Bike to Work Day, Parker Stars and Stripes Celebration (July 4^th), Mayor’s Holiday Lighting and Christmas Carriage Parade. Staff also provides marketing efforts for Parks and Recreation events and works to secure sponsorship revenue to offset event costs.

Department divisions: 
Although the Communications Department doesn’t have specific divisions, the majority of our tasks fall into the categories of Community Outreach, Engagement and Education; Parks and Recreation Marketing; Special Events and Sponsorship; and Media Relations.

How does this department impact daily life for Parker residents?
The Communications Department works diligently to engage the Parker community through social media, community events and a variety of innovative outreach opportunities. Our goal is to ensure that our residents know what is happening in Parker, have a voice in governmental processes and decisions, and are invited to be an active part of our great community.

What is the most common question received by this department and what is the answer?
Although there isn’t one specific question we commonly receive, the Communications Department serves as a “catch-all” for hard-to-answer and unique questions! Our staff receives a wide variety of questions from the public through social media, as well as inquiries passed on from other departments, and we routinely research them and provide answers. In fact, we feature many of the questions we receive, along with answers, on the Town’s social media accounts, in Talk of the Town, or in the Town’s new Lamppostings blog. We will also be rolling out some new educational initiatives in 2018.

How can residents get involved with the Communications Department?
We invite residents to engage with us on social media by following our accounts, asking questions and providing feedback. The Communications Department is also always looking for volunteers to assist with the community events we plan each year.

What else should residents know about this department? 
The Communications Department is here to serve the community and we want to hear from you. If you have suggestions on how we can improve our slate of communications offerings, please let us know. You can reach us at ca@parkeronline.org or 303.841.0353.