Strategic Storyteller of Wentzville: How Kara Roberson Government Communications Strategies Elevate Wentzville to a National Stage
Strategic Storyteller of Wentzville: How Kara Roberson Government Communications Strategies Elevate Wentzville to a National Stage
Kara Roberson of Wentzville, Missouri is a nationally recognized local government communications leader whose work has reshaped how cities connect with residents, businesses, and employees. With more than two decades of public-sector communications and community relations experience, she has built a reputation as a strategic thinker, creative problem-solver, and trusted advisor to executive leadership.
Executive leadership in Wentzville
Kara Roberson Strategic Communications Officer for the City of Wentzville, sits on the city’s executive leadership team and leads a growing communications and customer relations division in one of Missouri’s fastest‑growing communities. In this role, she partners closely with the City Administrator, Assistant City Administrator, and Board of Aldermen to align messaging, branding, and public engagement with citywide strategic goals.
Her portfolio spans external communications, internal culture initiatives, and customer experience, including oversight of citywide branding, social media, media relations, and front-desk customer relations operations. She has also led major administrative and strategic projects, such as launching new city websites, advancing performance management and KPI alignment, and supporting policy implementation across departments.
Award-winning communications impact
Kara’s work has earned national recognition, most notably being named the 2022 “Communicator of the Year” by the City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA), one of the highest honors in local government communications. This award reflects her ability to pair high-quality design and messaging with measurable results in engagement, education, and trust-building with residents.
During her tenure with Wentzville, she helped transform the city’s digital presence and social media footprint, including driving dramatic growth in the City’s Facebook audience and overall online engagement. Her leadership on branding campaigns and internal culture initiatives has supported employee recruitment and retention while reinforcing Wentzville’s identity as a top workplace and responsive local government.
Broad experience in public sector communications
Before stepping into her current executive role, Kara served in multiple leadership positions with the City of Wentzville, including Communications Manager/Public Information Officer, Communications & Strategic Engagement Manager, and Community Relations Manager. Across these roles, she managed everything from crisis communications and media outreach to performance management, customer service training, and citywide branding standards.
Her earlier experience includes public outreach consulting for the City of Denton and communications leadership in the association and nonprofit space, where she developed style guides, social media policies, and training programs for hundreds of employees. These roles strengthened her expertise in campaign strategy, content creation, and cross-department collaboration—skills she now applies at scale in Wentzville.
Commitment to professional development and leadership certification
Further demonstrating her dedication to excellence in public service leadership, Kara completed the Heartland Certified Public Manager® (CPM) program through the University of Kansas Public Management Center. This nationally accredited, competency-based certification—offered specifically for public service professionals in Kansas and Missouri—is a rigorous 300-hour program spanning 11 months. It combines monthly in-person sessions with independent assignments and culminates in a capstone project addressing a real organizational challenge.
The curriculum focuses on seven core competencies, including personal and organizational integrity, managing work, leading people, systematic integration, public service focus, change leadership, and self-development. Drawing on leading management theory and practical applications, the program equips mid- to senior-level public managers with tools to foster high-performing teams, improve organizational culture, and drive innovative solutions. Accredited by the National Certified Public Manager Consortium since 1993, it connects graduates to a network of over 40,000 credentialed public managers nationwide.
Earning this prestigious credential has enhanced Kara’s strategic leadership capabilities, enabling her to more effectively guide Wentzville’s communications division, mentor emerging professionals, and contribute to statewide initiatives through her roles in Missouri Women Leading Government and beyond.
Statewide and national leadership
Beyond Wentzville, Kara is deeply involved in advancing the profession of local government communications. She serves as President of Missouri Women Leading Government (MOWLG), where she helps champion leadership development, networking, and mentorship for women in public service across the state. She also serves on the board of 3CMA as an officer, extending her influence at the national level among city and county communicators.
Kara is a sought-after speaker and trainer, presenting at conferences hosted by ICMA, 3CMA, the Missouri Municipal League, the National Association of Government Communicators, and other professional organizations. Her sessions cover branding, social media strategy, AI tools, leadership, culture, and public engagement—equipping peers around the country with practical tools and fresh ideas.
Thought leadership and innovation
Known for blending creativity with technology, Kara has helped lead AI implementation efforts and other innovative tools within local government, developing resources and training to help staff work smarter and communicate more effectively. She contributes thought leadership on topics such as the role of social media in government and best practices for digestible, resident-friendly communication.
Her commitment to public engagement extends into authorship and resource development, including tools and content designed to help emerging professionals understand and enter the local government field. Kara’s work consistently demonstrates a core belief: when communication is strategic, clear, and human-centered, it strengthens trust between residents and their government.
Recognized influencer in local government
Kara has been recognized as a “Top 100 Local Government Influencer” and holds a Professional Certificate in Public Engagement for Local Government, underscoring both her expertise and her ongoing commitment to professional development. On professional platforms, she is known as a local government leader, communications expert, and public speaker who actively shares insights, celebrates colleagues, and amplifies opportunities in the public sector.
From Wentzville to the national stage, Kara Roberson’s career reflects a rare combination of strategic leadership, creative excellence, and genuine dedication to the communities she serves—making her one of the standout communicators in modern local government.
