County hires 2nd new communications director

Just seven months into the revival of the director of communications and public engagement position, Greene County already is on its second employee.

The county hired Trysta Herzog to fill the role left vacant by Jennifer McClure, who stepped down to care for a seriously ill parent.

Herzog most recently worked as strategic communication specialist at Missouri State University. She helped lead a communications team for the College of Arts and Letters to increase brand awareness through various online and print publications as well as social media, according to a news release.

“Trysta’s professional skills are extremely well-suited to providing citizens with meaningful information,” Presiding Commissioner Bob Cirtin said in the release. “Her experience in building internal and external relationships to strengthen strategic communications will be a tremendous asset to the county.”
 
Herzog also has a background in journalism, including stints in reporting, photography, editing and publishing.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to serve my community and work with county leaders to maintain their culture of transparency,” Herzog said in the release.

In response to new federal overtime rules, Herzog’s salary of $48,245 is $3,601 more than her predecessor. Taking effect Dec. 1, the law mandates those making below $47,476 are eligible to receive overtime pay.

“Because this position sometimes requires many extra hours, the overtime incurred would not be cost effective for our taxpayers,” Cirtin said via email. “As a director, it would not work well to be an hourly employee.”

Jenny Fillmer Edwards had served as public information officer for the county for five years before taking a similar role in early 2012 with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, according to Springfield Business Journal archives. Until this year, Cirtin had said the county was unable to fill the position due to budget cuts.