San Mateo County Appoints First Director of Strategic Communications and Community Partnerships to Strengthen Public Engagement and Trust

REDWOOD CITY, CA - As policy decisions made in Sacramento and locally increasingly shape daily life, the County of San Mateo has appointed Effie Milionis Verducci as its first Director of Strategic Communications and Community Partnerships, a new role in the County Executive's Office aimed at strengthening public engagement and building trust.

"Effie brings a rare blend of public sector leadership and private sector experience, along with a strong command of policy and communications," County Executive Mike Callagy said. "With deep experience in multiple County departments, as spokesperson as well as serving as a department head, she understands how our organization delivers services, and she knows how to translate complex issues in ways that build trust and partnership."

The new role signals the County's shift toward a more proactive, strategic approach to public communication, designed to elevate its voice, sharpen its overall communications strategy, and deepen engagement with communities and partners.

In her office at County Center, Verducci moves quickly through her day - a pace that mirrors the demands of the county she calls home. Those demands have grown as decisions about housing, public safety and other issues have become increasingly interconnected, shaping the quality of life across the Peninsula.

"We need to engage earlier and more meaningfully, so people understand the issues, the tradeoffs and what's at stake before decisions are finalized," Verducci said. "It's not just about a project or a proposal. It's about the issues that really speak to the values of the community and connecting to the critical work the County is advancing every day."

In her new role, Verducci is responsible for guiding County's strategy on communications, media relations and community engagement efforts, including overseeing the Office of Community Affairs, which conducts outreach in multiple languages throughout the county's increasingly diverse communities.

She will work closely with the Board of Supervisors, County departments, and the other executive units to align communications with policy priorities and build stronger partnerships with community-based organizations, labor, businesses and residents.

The role comes at a critical time as the County navigates major issues including homelessness and behavioral health, access to affordable childcare and family supports, and ongoing fiscal uncertainty due to federal policy and state funding. A shortfall in Vehicle License Fee funding from the state, for example, threatens essential services such as housing support, mental health care and early childhood programs, underscoring the need for clear communication and strong community partnerships.

Her interest in public service began early: a middle school assignment sent her to a local government meeting in San Carlos.

"I was watching decisions being made that affected the community I was living in," she said. "That stayed with me. It inspired me."

Verducci has lived throughout the Peninsula, including Daly City, San Bruno, San Carlos and Emerald Hills, giving her first-hand knowledge of the communities she serves. She attended high school in Belmont and earned a bachelor's degree in environmental policy and planning from UC Davis, followed by a master's in environmental science and management from UC Santa Barbara.

Verducci brings more than two decades of experience in public communications and sustainability initiatives. She led government outreach across the Bay Area for California's regional energy campaign, Flex Your Power, and later directed communications for major infrastructure efforts, including the 10-year Bay Bridge seismic retrofit project as well as the Dumbarton and Antioch Bridges. Since joining the County in 2013, she has led communications for both the Human Services Agency and the Sustainability Department and went on to lead the Sustainability Department before joining the County Executive's Office. Throughout her career, she has focused on bridging policy and public engagement, helping residents, organizations, and workers connect with government decisions and tap into shaping their communities.

"My career decisions have been guided by the hope that my work will strengthen community, serve people, and outlast me in meaningful ways," she said. "This role is about service, not just for the people we serve today, but for the communities that will rely on these systems in the future."

Effie Milionis Verducci
Director of Strategic Communications & Community Partnerships
[email protected]
650-407-4915