The City of Bettendorf on Monday announced the hiring of Angie Sharp to fill the new position of Community Engagement Manager.
Sharp graduated from Augustana College in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and English. Since 2009, she has worked for WQAD-TV, the last 5 1/2 years as the anchor for Good Morning Quad Cities. Before starting at WQAD in November 2009, Sharp worked briefly for WHBF Local 4.
She has been involved with Lead(h)er, American Heart Association, Dress for Success Quad Cities, and YWCA Quad Cities.
The new city position (which pays $75,000 a year) will oversee Bettendorf staff specializing in engaging the public through all communications modes. The Community Engagement Manager “strategizes with staff, boards, commissions and constituencies to build innovative and dynamic messaging strategies that not only communicate to the public, but also engages, supports, informs and builds brand loyalty among all the City’s audiences,” according to the job description.
Sharp will work with the Economic Development Director to develop a vision for community engagement, and play the lead role in implementing the vision.
The Community Engagement Manager is responsible for working with and leading staff to produce and position authentic and valuable content, through numerous communications modes, including but not limited to, digital and electronic, print, and voice.
“With the ever-evolving digital media platforms available today, the Community Engagement Manager must stay current on industry trends, and take a visionary approach to positioning the City’s content and messaging,” the job description says. “The ideal candidate will possess the skills to write and produce digital content, educate their team members to do the same, and offer new organizational structure and methods where necessary, to best utilize City personnel and resources to achieve the highest and best communication outcomes.”
Kathleen Richlen, Bettendorf’s HR director, said Monday that with city’s continued growth, the City Council goal is to regularly and strategically engage with the public and the timing was right to develop this management position.
“The city does a really good job of utilizing digital communications since COVID, so much so, that the city felt it was time to create a stronger, consolidated and strategic approach to all of the city’s communications efforts,” Richlen said by email. “With Angie’s background and community involvement, we believe she is the right person to help develop and lead these efforts.”
Sharp and her husband Zach, along with their son Zander and their dog Zuno, currently live in Moline but are actively looking for a home in Bettendorf.
“I am very excited to join this dynamic and diligent team,” she said in a Monday release from the city. “As Community Engagement Manager, I plan to do just that — find creative and impactful ways to connect with the people who are supporting, growing, and living in the city of Bettendorf. When we do that, the entire Quad Cities area succeeds and more people will know just how vibrant this community is to raise a family, build a business, and have a fun and fulfilled life.”
Sharp begins her duties on June 7, 2022.
