I'm Miriam.  I'm Rebel Tree.

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Prior to hanging out my own shingle, I was a local government communicator and, earlier in my career, a reporter.  I have decades of experience talking to diverse constituencies about everything, from the mundane and everyday to major crisis situations.  I was honored to serve as the Director of Communications for the City of Charlottesville, Virginia from 2012 until 2018 and the first full-time organization-wide Public Information Officer for the City of Harrisonburg, Virginia for the seven years before that.

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I chose communications as a career because I love the way information moves through our world.  I have dedicated myself to making sure that people have access to both what they want and what they need to know.  If I can't answer a question, the person asking will know why. I don't think transparency is just a data dump, true transparency requires context and accuracy. I believe that an informed community is a strong community and that great public images are built on truth and competence.  

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In addition to what I can do for you, I am an instructor with the Public Agency Training Council, offering courses in Practical Public Information; I work with James Madison University Professional and Continuing Education, developing programs helping people understand the complexities of governmental structure; I speak to groups around the country about everything from living through crisis to managing professional boundaries; I provide low-cost or pro bono assistance to small nonprofits that need marketing and communications assistance; and I partner with private clients to help them reach their goals.

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I called my company Rebel Tree because a tree is rooted in place, but can grow and flourish in many ways.  It's also the most poetic translation of my name, which works out well.

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How can I help you? Visit my services list or get in touch. 

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