From Unpaid Intern to Division Head at 23 in Danville (with Rheanna Ollis) | Ep. 4

Welcome to Ground Floor Government with David Plappert. In this conversation, Rheanna Ollis shares how a political science path turned into community relations, starting as an unpaid intern, jumping into billing and collections, becoming the first coordinator, and stepping into division head at 23. She talks about juggling social media, uploading city council meetings, a weekly City Council Digest, neighborhood associations, press releases, a video project for the enterprise zone, and working with a graphic designer on target audiences and marketing.ㅤRheanna explains why communication is the hardest part when your target audience is 28,000 people across different backgrounds. She breaks down home rule, how department and division heads shape decisions, and why reaching council members and division heads matters. She walks through City Council Digest to share hot topic items and What’s Brewing, a coffee talk series with free cups, Q&A cards, and accessibility in mind. She also shares feedback from a 25-year comprehensive plan that shifted focus toward beauty, signage, and banners with “you decide what’s possible,” plus practical channels from Facebook and Instagram reels to print media and First Fridays.ㅤ👤 Guest BioRheanna Ollis is the Community Relations Administrator for the City of Danville. With a bachelor’s degree in political science, she started as an unpaid intern, moved into billing and collections, became the first coordinator in community relations, and now leads the division. She sits on the Downtown Danville Inc. board, works across departments on social media, press, neighborhood associations, and city council communications, and launched initiatives like the City Council Digest and What’s Brewing to connect residents with department and division heads and the mayor.ㅤ📌 What We CoverStarting as an unpaid intern, moving to billing and collections, first coordinator, then division head at 23Why communication is the hardest part when the target audience is 28,000 peopleHome rule, council votes, and how department and division heads shape decisions residents feelCity Council Digest: hot topic breakdowns, live streaming, reviews by city clerks, and sending to local mediaWhat’s Brewing: traveling coffee talks, first 15 cups free, Q&A cards, accessibility, and quarterly cadencePublic feedback from a 25-year comprehensive plan: focus on beauty, signage, banners, and welcome signsReaching demographics: Facebook for women 28–52, Instagram reels for 18–28, live streams for staff, print for schools and industryFirst Fridays: kid-focused, low to free cost, downtown businesses, “Discover Danville,” passports, food samples, dance, and musicUsing AI for drafts, captions, ideas, and names like “What’s Brewing” and “City Council Digest,” while keeping a personal touchAdvice to get your foot in the door, call your aldermen, attend meetings, and voteㅤ🔗 Resources MentionedCity Council DigestWhat’s BrewingDowntown Danville Inc.Public WorksFirst FridaysFacebook (Meta)Instagram reelsYouTube and Chris Hardin (travel vlogs)QR code for the city website (on flyers)Enterprise zone video project“You decide what’s possible” banners and signage