City communications director named

Toni Messina, who has 27 years of experience in state government, has been appointed Columbia’s director of communications, effective May 22.

As communications director, Messina will be responsible for coordinating public information, neighborhood relations, online communications, cable programming, printing and mail services. She will be paid $69,400, plus employee benefits.

Because she has not yet begun her duties, Messina said it’s too soon to talk about areas of change. But she said she is prepared to coordinate the city’s efforts and to lend citizens an ear.

“Communications is a two-way street,” Messina said. “I’m looking forward to standing on that street.”

The position is one of four that the City Council authorized earlier this year. Messina will report to City Manager Bill Watkins.

Watkins said a screening committee received 94 applications for the position and was “favorably impressed” with Messina.

“She will be an excellent fit,” Watkins said, noting her experience and energy.

Messina moved to Columbia in 1974 with her husband, Richard Tiemeyer, and has worked for the Missouri state government since 1979. She has served in various roles through the legislative, executive, judicial and regulatory branches.

Messina works for the Missouri Public Service Commission, which regulates electric, gas, water, sewer, steam and phone utilities for the state. As personal adviser to Commissioner Lin Appling, she provides day-to-day advice on utility regulation. Appling could not be reached for comment Monday.

Messina is also on the verge of graduating from Leadership Columbia, a program offered by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Messina said she has benefited from the program because it combines 30 people with similar career and civic interests in a welcoming learning environment.

“The true value is that it gives participants a taste of the community and then gives us a chance to decide how we want to move forward,” said Messina, who will finish the program in June.

In addition, Messina is on the Missouri Symphony Society Board of Directors, and she is the president of the Missouri Institute of Public Administration. David Valentine, a senior research analyst with the Truman School of Public Affairs and member of the institute, said he has no doubt Messina will succeed in her new job. He said they have worked together for more than 20 years, and he finds her to be hardworking and conscientious. He said she has been very active in advancing the interests of the organization.

“She is a pleasure to work with,” Valentine said.

Messina’s past experience includes a stint at the lieutenant governor’s office, where she supervised policy staff and student interns and managed the state ombudsman’s citizens service communications. She also worked as communications director for the Mid-Missouri Council of Governments for five years and as a communications assistant for Shelter Insurance Cos. for two years.

Messina graduated from MU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1971 and returned in 1991 to earn a master’s degree in public administration. She spent the summer of 1991 at Harvard University, where she participated in a program for state and local government executives at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Messina said she is excited about her next career step.

“Public service has been my life,” Messina said. “I’m ready for this.”