Michelle Stom was promoted to chief of staff/chief strategy officer, a newly created position at Tampa Bay Water, effective June 13.
Ms. Stom has been with Tampa Bay Water since 2001, when she joined the agency as the public communications coordinator, later being promoted to chief communications officer overseeing the agency's communications and legislative affairs programs. During her tenure at the agency, Michelle has participated in or overseen many high-profile agency initiatives and responses including communicating the completion and start-up of the agency's surface water treatment plant and plant expansion, the seawater desalination plant and the regional reservoir and subsequent renovation, as well as many other agency capital improvement projects.
Under the new title, Ms. Stom is responsible for building and maintaining the agency’s reputation; overseeing the agency’s strategic planning and performance measurement activities; leading the creation of a continuous improvement framework for the agency; providing education, information, and outreach to facilitate partnerships with agency stakeholders, and leading special initiatives as directed by the general manager. She will direct the activities of public communications, planning, outreach, government affairs, continuous improvement and change management. Beginning July 18, 2022, she will also directly supervise the activities of human resources.
"For more than 20 years I've had the privilege of working for Tampa Bay Water and promoting all the great things the men and women here do to ensure the sustainability of the region's water supply. I'm proud and honored to continue to serve the agency and region each day in this new capacity and will continue to work hard to support the agency in meeting our mission of delivering high-quality, safe drinking water now and for future generations."
Prior to Tampa Bay Water, Ms. Stom served as a deputy press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public administration from Pennsylvania State University and is Accredited in Public Relations.
