City of St. Cloud Communications Director Maryemma Bachelder recently earned the Master Public Information Officer (MPIO) certification through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This certification highlights her dedication to excellence in public communications and emergency management, further enhancing her ability to serve the St. Cloud community.
Bachelder joins Sr. Public Information Manager Andrew Sullivan, who also works in the City’s Communications Department, as two of only 179 certified FEMA MPIOs worldwide.
“Having our Communications efforts led by two people with a master-level certification means our residents benefit from having highly trained, knowledgeable professionals working to provide information, not just day-to-day, but also in times of crises, such as during hurricanes,” said City Manager Veronica Miller. “The City is fortunate to have this level of experience and professionalism. Maryemma and Andrew both have deployed to other areas of Florida to assist with public information efforts following major hurricanes.”
The Master PIO program is a year-long course of study that includes classroom instruction and requires a capstone academic research project. It is offered through FEMA’s National Disaster & Emergency Management University in Emmitsburg, MD. Bachelder has served as Communications Director since 2020. The Communications Department is responsible for media relations, internal and external communications, social media, videography, podcasts, and audio-visual technology for meetings and events.
