Hawaii Governor’s Communications Director Wins National Recognition Award

Makana McClellan, Hawaii Governor’s Communications Director, became the first person from Hawaii to receive the National Association of Government Communicators’ Communicator of the Year award. She was recognized for improving state emergency communications during disasters including the 2023 Maui wildfires.

• McClellan is the first Hawaii resident to receive the national Communicator of the Year honor from NAGC.
• She led communications efforts during major emergencies including the 2023 Maui wildfires, flooding events, and tsunami warnings.
• Under her leadership, state agencies were unified into a more coordinated statewide communications network.
• She established mandatory crisis communications training for state public information officers to improve disaster preparedness.

Source: Governor of Hawaii

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