City Manager's Office Staff
Amelia Hamilton-Morris, Chief Communications Officer
Amelia Hamilton-Morris is
a Communications Strategist with 20 years of experience in high profile public relations,
broadcasting, and marketing positions. Over the years, she has built a
reputation as an aggressive professional, noted for the ability to get
results and communicate effectively with a broad range of audiences. She
has spent several years as a television reporter and producer for KPRC-TV in
Houston, Texas, where she won numerous awards for her work on the state,
national, and international levels. Amelia has also worked for NBC
Network in Washington, DC, and WOI-TV-5 in Des Moines, as well as in
corporate communications for Fortune 500 companies.
Hamilton-Morris had outstanding success in managing a statewide public relations campaign as the Public Relations Director of the Iowa Sesquicentennial Commission. The commission was led by two Iowa governors with a charge to plan and manage the yearlong celebration of Iowa’s 150th Anniversary of Statehood. Her career skills include coordinating a range of projects -- marketing, promotions, publications, video production, on-camera talent, project management, media relations, event planning, and web site design and content.
In her present position as Chief Communications Officer for the City of Des Moines, she manages the Public Information Office under the direct supervision of the City Manager. She directs the activities for the City's Cable Channel 7, web site, media relations, employee communications, event planning, and speech writing.
Amelia Hamilton-Morris received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and her Masters of Arts Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Public Affairs from the American University in Washington, DC. Her professional recognition includes:
Outstanding Iowa Advocate Award, Public Relations Society of America, Central Iowa
Iowa Tourism Conference, Special Event of the Year Award, Festival of Iowa Folklife
Movies to Go Iowa Film Award, My Iowa Video, Sesquicentennial Category Winner
National Governors’ Association for Distinguished Service to the Arts
Citation of Excellence, Advertising Professionals of Des Moines
Bronze Quill Award, Iowa Chapter, International Association of Business Communicators
Citation of Excellence, Advertising Professionals of Des Moines
National Unity Award in Media, Educational Reporting
Silver Award, Houston International Film Festival
UPI Broadcasters of Texas Award of Excellence
Silver Star of Texas for Excellence in Health Communications
Anson Jones Award for Excellence in Communicating Health Information to the Public
Sigma Theta Tau Award from the Texas Nursing Association
Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Award
Women at Work Broadcast Award
Outstanding Young Women in America
Gold Quill Award of Excellence, International Association of Business Communicators
Who's Who Among Students at American Colleges and Universities