Akeam Ashford Joins Sedgwick County as Director of Strategic Communications

(Sedgwick County, Kan.) – Sedgwick County is pleased to announce Akeam Ashford as its next Director of Strategic Communications. Bringing more than 10-years of communications, journalism, advocacy and strategic planning experience, Ashford will lead the organization's internal and external communications efforts. 

Ashford recently worked for KWCH-12 Eyewitness News as a multimedia journalist. He left broadcast journalism to join Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center as its public affairs officer. His most recent accomplishment includes working with the City of Wichita and United Way of the Plains to launch the Wichita Transit "Veterans Ride Free" program. 

Assistant County Manager Tania Cole believes Ashford will make significant contributions toward reaching Sedgwick County's goals of increasing public trust, improving public perception of Sedgwick County government, and strengthening internal communications among all county departments. "Akeam will be a great asset to the communication team,” said Cole. “He brings a wealth of communications knowledge, advocacy, and media experience that will help move our organization forward." 

Ashford adds, “I'm excited to join the communications team and build on what the organization is doing for the citizens of Sedgwick County. This is an important time in government communication to connect with the people we serve through transparency. I look forward to all the wonderful things we will do together." 

As director, some of Ashford's responsibilities include providing communications to both internal and external stakeholders, developing strategic communication plans, and working collaboratively with Sedgwick County Commissioners, Sedgwick County leadership team and department heads, community partners, and citizens.   

Ashford currently serves as a member of the United Way of the Plains marketing committee, and is the current public relations chair for the local Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) chapter. 

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