SMC Appoints First Director Of Strategic Communications And Community Partnerships

REDWOOD CITY, CA — The County of San Mateo appointed its first Director of Strategic Communications and Community Partnerships Thursday, a new role in the County Executive’s Office focused on strengthening public engagement and building trust.

Effie Milionis Verducci previously served in an interim capacity until the County recruited for the permanent role, but the scope and title are the same, she said.

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“Effie brings a rare blend of public sector leadership and private sector experience, along with a strong command of policy and communications,” said County Executive Mike Callagy. “With deep experience in multiple County departments, as spokesperson as well as serving as a department head, she understands how our organization delivers services, and she knows how to translate complex issues in ways that build trust and partnership.”

Verducci is responsible for guiding the County’s strategy on communications, media relations, and community engagement efforts, including overseeing the Office of Community Affairs, which conducts outreach in multiple languages throughout the county’s diverse communities.

She will work closely with the Board of Supervisors, County departments, and the other executive units to align communications with policy priorities and build stronger partnerships with community-based organizations, labor, businesses, and residents.

The role comes as the County addresses major issues including homelessness and behavioral health, access to affordable childcare and family supports, and ongoing fiscal uncertainty due to federal policy and state funding.

Verducci said her interest in public service began after attending a local government meeting in San Carlos for a middle school assignment.

“I was watching decisions being made that affected the community I was living in,” Verducci said. “That stayed with me. It inspired me.”

Verducci has lived throughout the Peninsula, including Daly City, San Bruno, San Carlos, and Emerald Hills. She attended high school in Belmont and earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy and planning from UC Davis, followed by a master’s in environmental science and management from UC Santa Barbara.

Verducci brings more than two decades of experience in public communications and sustainability initiatives. She led government outreach across the Bay Area for California’s regional energy campaign, Flex Your Power, and later directed communications for major infrastructure efforts, including the 10-year Bay Bridge seismic retrofit project as well as the Dumbarton and Antioch Bridges. Since joining the County in 2013, she has led communications for both the Human Services Agency and the Sustainability Department and went on to lead the Sustainability Department before joining the County Executive’s Office. Throughout her career, she has focused on bridging policy and public engagement.

Verducci stated, “My career decisions have been guided by the hope that my work will strengthen community, serve people, and outlast me in meaningful ways. This role is about service, not just for the people we serve today, but for the communities that will rely on these systems in the future.”