City Manager selects Chief Communications Director

For immediate release
Dec. 23, 2008

City Manager Marc Ott announced today the appointment of Doug Matthews, the Public Communications Director in Clearwater, Fla., as the City of Austin’s Chief Communications Director.

Matthews has extensive experience in municipal government communications, building an award-winning communications team in Clearwater after developing the first communications office for the City of Largo, Fla. He will begin in Austin Feb. 23.

"Matthews knows how to use new technology as well as old methodology to reach all sectors of a community," Ott said. "He has a broad view of communications and the know-how to use all tools to reach out to inform the public. He will continue our efforts toward a more transparent government, building the community’s trust in our goal to become the best managed city in the country."

In Clearwater, Matthews’ oversight included media relations; Web content; government-access television; print design and production; employee communications; public outreach and engagement campaigns; and citywide surveys. While there, he led the development of a citywide strategy for enhancing public involvement and championed the use of new technologies to build connections with residents.

In Austin, he will oversee a staff of 15. He will serve on the City Manager’s executive team.

Matthews is a member of the 2009 Leadership Class of the International City/County Management Association and a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute of the University of Virginia. He has a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in journalism (advertising/public relations) from the University of Central Florida.

He has earned multiple awards and recognition from the Florida Government Communicators Association, the City/County Communications and Marketing Association, the Florida Public Relations Association and the Florida Festivals and Events Association.

The City Manager also announced that interim Communications Director David Matustik will serve as Deputy Communications Director. Matustik has more than 30 years communications experience -- 25 in Austin. He is in his 14th year with the City of Austin’s Communications and Public Information Office.

Matustik served as interim director since June, following the resignation of Gene Acuña. He fills the deputy vacancy created by the departure of Julie Beggs in September. Matustik, who did not apply for the director’s position, was previously the senior public information/program manager in the department.

Approximately 280 from throughout the country applied for the director’s position. Twenty were initially interviewed; then six brought in for a round of face-to-face interviews last week with City Executive Team members, department directors and members of the City’s public information network. Those six also met with media members. City Manager Ott made his choice from three finalists.

Contact:
David Matustik, Communications and Public Information, (512) 974-2406