VENTURA, Calif. – The County of Ventura is pleased to announce that Natalie Hernandez has been selected to serve as the Public Information Officer for the County Executive Office. The appointment was made by County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson following a lengthy search which included strong internal and external candidates.
Hernandez has over a decade of experience working in public relations, crisis communications, and event management across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She comes to the role having served most recently as the Public Information Officer for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and, prior to that, as the Assistant Public Information Officer for the County Executive Office.
“I am excited to have Natalie rejoin our team”, said County Executive Officer, Dr. Sevet Johnson. “Natalie’s extensive experience working with our diverse communities to share vital and important information will help enrich our service to the public.”
Hernandez will be responsible for long-term strategic planning for communications and serve as the official liaison between the County Executive Office and the media. The key focus of her work will be to provide important information to the public regarding County programs and services. As well, Hernandez will provide support for county agencies and departments that do not have a public information officer.
In her previous roles, Hernandez successfully executed the 2020 Census awareness marketing campaign, assisted the County in navigating the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and expanded official County bilingual communication initiatives. Most recently, she has managed digital marketing and communications for the Sheriff’s Office. She has received recognition for her work from the California Association of Public Information Officials and the National Association of Government Communicators.
“I am thrilled to return to the County Executive Office and continue to serve the residents of our county,” said Hernandez. “We have a strong community of public information professionals and it’s an honor to work alongside them. I look forward to continuing to innovate in communications and share the stories of the individuals, departments, and agencies that help ensure that Ventura County continues to be a great place to live.”
Hernandez holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Azusa Pacific University and a Master of Arts degree in Latin American and Iberian Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. As a lifelong California resident, and 15-year resident of the Central Coast, Hernandez brings extensive knowledge of the region, as well as professional relationships across county lines. She is an active member of the community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Public Relations Society of America, Gold Coast Chapter and as a committee member for the California Association of Public Information Officials.
