Roscommon, MI – The Roscommon County Community Foundation (RCCF) is proud to announce that Executive Director Suzanne Luck and Development Manager Heather Marra have successfully completed Public Information Officer (PIO) Awareness and Basics training—enhancing their ability to serve the community during times of crisis.
The training began with the completion of IS-29.a: Public Information Officer Awareness, an independent study course offered through FEMA’s National Disaster & Emergency Management University. This course underscores the essential role PIOs play in disaster operations: delivering the right message, to the right people, at the right time.
To build upon that foundation, Suzanne and Heather participated in a three-day in-person course, Public Information Basics (L0105), from August 4–6 at the Houghton Lake Elks Lodge. The class was led in part by Roscommon County Emergency Manager Vannesa Varner, and brought together professionals from across the region for hands-on learning, collaboration, and crisis simulations.
Course Highlights:
Participants were trained to:
- Develop public awareness campaigns and incident communication strategies
- Communicate effectively with the media during both routine and emergency events
- Craft press releases and social media messaging
- Prepare for and conduct news interviews
- Lead under pressure, including through mock press conferences
- Apply the 8-step Strategic Communications Model used in public information planning
To successfully complete the course, participants were required to pass a final knowledge assessment and demonstrate their skills in simulated scenarios.
How This Benefits Roscommon County:
- Improved Crisis Communication Readiness: RCCF staff are better equipped to share accurate, timely information during emergencies.
- Stronger Collaboration with Emergency Services: Training supports enhanced coordination with local emergency agencies and responders.
- Proactive Community Engagement: RCCF can now lead public information efforts on key community issues and safety topics.
- Elevated Community Leadership: RCCF continues to grow its role as a responsive and resilient leader in times of need.
- Support for Community Resilience: RCCF remains committed to keeping Roscommon County informed, connected, and supported during uncertain times.
To learn more about the Public Information Officer training program, visit:
https://training.fema.gov/programs/public-information-officer/