Region 1

Area Includes: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia

Director: Tricia Ring Wajda, Public Information Officer, Monmouth County, New Jersey

Tricia Ring Wajda is a certified public relations specialist currently serving as the Public Information Officer for Monmouth County Government and as the Director of the Monmouth County Department of Public Information.

Tricia leads a team that is responsible for relaying information about County news and services to residents, visitors and business owners in Monmouth County. This is done through the County website, social media channels, press releases, photos and videos.  Tricia joined the Monmouth County Department of Public Information in 2013 and became the Director in January of 2019. Previously, Tricia was the Director of Communication for two New Jersey General Assembly members and an adjunct professor of communications at Monmouth University.  

Tricia is the recipient of awards from the National Association of Government Communicators and the National Association of County Information Officers. She earned a Master’s degree in Corporate and Public Communication from Monmouth University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stockton University. 

Region 2

Area includes: Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

Director: Erin Baker, Public Affairs Specialist III, Palm Beach County Public Affairs

Erin Baker has worked in communications with Palm Beach County since 2019 and currently serves as a Public Affairs Specialist III with the Palm Beach County Public Affairs Department. Her county career began with the Youth Services Department, where she supported public relations, marketing, digital communications and community outreach before joining Public Affairs in 2021.

In Public Affairs, she supports and leads countywide communications and outreach efforts within the Digital Marketing and Communications Division, working with County Administration, departments and Public Information Officers (PIOs). Her experience spans leadership communications, media relations, digital and print communications, community engagement, emergency communications, branding, publications and cross-departmental initiatives. She also serves as a primary liaison to countywide PIOs, helping strengthen collaboration and communications across the organization.

She has led and contributed to several award-winning countywide initiatives, including Palm Beach County’s Annual Report and the Your Neighborhood Dashboard.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Multimedia Studies from Florida Atlantic University and is currently enrolled in Texas Christian University’s Certified Public Communicator (CPC) program, supported in part by a 2026 NACIO scholarship.

Region 3

Area includes: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Director: Erina Kong, Public Works Public Information Specialist, Kitsap County, Washington

Region 4

Area Includes: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Director: Carolyn Marinan, Chief Public Relations Officer, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Carolyn Marinan is the public affairs officer for Hennepin County. She has worked in communications in the county since 1998. Previously Carolyn spent nearly 20 years in television news and promotion at WCCO TV, KSTP TV and KARE 11. She’s done talk radio and produced and hosted a local travel show on TPT. Her numerous awards include a New York Film Festival award, Telly Awards, Best of Gannett and AP. Carolyn serves on the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) Board of Directors.

Carolyn graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA in speech-communication. She remains involved with mentoring students at the University of Minnesota along with being active in the Hennepin University Partnership. She lends her time as well to other worthwhile causes in need of communications and public relations.

 

Directors-at-Large:

Director: Donnell Preskey Hushka, Government and Public Affairs Specialist, North Dakota Association of Counties

Director: Holly Dawson, Deputy Chief Executive Officer – Chief Communications Officer, Napa County, California