COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
ComDev 101: The Board Game
While serving as the Senior Communications Specialist for the Cobb County Community
Development Agency, I was tasked with developing the agency's annual presentation for Cobb 101,
the County's Citizens Government Academy. The program introduces residents to the departments
and services that shape their community.
After observing two years of traditional presentations that struggled to capture participants'
attention and maintain engagement, I proposed an entirely new approach. Rather than asking
residents to sit through another slideshow, I designed and fabricated a fully customized board
game that transformed the agency's educational presentation into an interactive learning
experience.
The pilot exceeded expectations, becoming the academy's most engaging session. The board game
continues to be used today as a training and public education tool, demonstrating its long-term
value and sustainability.
Guerilla Marketing: Parker and Rex
In February 2026, Pensacola Parks & Recreation launched the Parker & Rex Brand Ambassador &
Marketing Pilot Program under the campaign theme "Big Fun. Big Friends. Big Adventures." The pilot
introduced Parker and Rex, two original dinosaur characters who "escaped" from prehistory to
explore Pensacola's community centers and playgrounds while encouraging families to join the
adventure.
Parker and Rex became a family-friendly marketing brand supported by a custom "The Adventures
of Parker & Rex" coloring book, branded stickers, themed merchandise, and an alternate visual
brand that expanded the characters into print, digital, and event marketing. Together, these assets
created multiple touchpoints for residents to engage with Pensacola Parks & Recreation.
Rock Snakes in the Park
Rock Snakes in the Park was a community engagement campaign designed to encourage families to explore local parks while creating opportunities for connection, creativity, and participation.
The campaign centered on painted rock snakes placed throughout parks, giving visitors a simple, interactive way to engage with their surroundings and contribute to a growing community art project.
The campaign incorporated promotional messaging, social media content, community participation, and visual storytelling to build awareness and encourage visitors to find, photograph, and share their discoveries. The initiative was designed to create organic engagement while reinforcing Parks & Recreation as a place for families to play, explore, and make memories together.
The project demonstrates an approach to marketing that combines low-cost creative activations with community participation, turning an everyday park visit into an experience worth sharing.
LET'S TALK.