Jennifer Persike, Director of Strategic Coordination& Public Affairs

As the director of strategic coordination and public affairs for the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), Jennifer Persike directs all the association strategic communications, public affairs and regional governance and grassroots outreach programs. She is responsible for coordinating priority issues across the organization, ACWA’s Web site and online communications, media relations, publications, public information, multi-media, member relations, issues management, and special projects. Persike also serves as spokesperson for ACWA to the media and other external groups.

Persike has also held the position of director of communications and outreach, director of communications and human resources, and manager of public affairs during her tenure with ACWA.

Persike has served as project manager on a number of high profile communications efforts, including the “Save Our Water” public education program launched in partnership with the Department of Water Resources in April 2009 and “Water for Tomorrow,” a consumer-focused magazine on California water produced in partnership with National Geographic Custom Publishing.  Other projects include the “California’s Water” series for public television, the “California’s Water: A Crisis We Can’t Ignore” multi-million dollar public education program conducted in 2007 and ACWA’s landmark water policy document “No Time to Waste: A Blueprint for California Water” released in 2005. Persike has also managed projects on Bay-Delta issues, steelhead, water security, local government and grassroots outreach.

Before joining ACWA as public affairs manager in 1989, Persike worked for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) for five years. Prior to her departure, she held the position of public information officer assigned to the district’s Rancho Seco nuclear power plant. She previously served as SMUD’s publications editor.

From 1983-1984, Persike served as communications specialist for Sun-Diamond Growers of California, a statewide agricultural cooperative.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from California State University, Chico.