The PIO Podcast
The PIO Podcast is a platform for Public Information Officers (PIO's) and Public Affairs Officers (PAO's) in public sector organizations, including Police, Fire, EMS, FEMA, state, local, and federal government organizations. The podcast aims to facilitate learning, growth, and discussion of issues that PIO's/PAO's may encounter within their profession. If you would like to support the podcast and connect with other PIO's/PAO's, please email us at thepiopodcast@gmail.com.
The PIO Podcast
Maren McKay, Director of Communications, Lynnwood PD, Lynwood WA
Maren McKay is the Public Affairs and Communications Manager for the Lynnwood Police Department! She comes from a strong broadcast journalist background after reporting in two bureaus in Northwest Montana. She reported during the height of COVID and BLM and broke stories to people around the state. After reporting, she switched to public relations and was the PR Manager for Whitefish Mountain Resort. Her favorite thing about that job? Snowboarding every day in the winter and Huckleberry picking in the summer. There, she led DEI conversations and re-structured the resort's newsletter. A few years ago, Maren moved to Seattle, where she was the PR Manager for the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass. She coordinated high-profile commercial shoots there and led the first New Year's at the Needle show since COVID. In her current role as Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Maren oversees all external and internal messaging. She's created crisis communications plans, established the department's brand and voice, and strengthened internal communications. No day is the same at the department! Outside work, Maren loves traveling with her husband, spending time with friends, and wrangling her 9-year-old Pit mix, Jackson.
