Keisha Shoun served the East Tennessean from January to May 1999 as sports editor and August 1999-2000 as executive editor. A mass communication major, she graduated in 2000. Now, she is the director of communications and marketing for the City of Johnson City.
After serving as business writer for the Johnson City Press, she joined the City of Johnson City team as its writer/editor in May 2007 after spending two years as public relations manager for Crown Laboratories. She eventually took over media relations for the city as public information specialist. In May 2018, she was named community relations director.
Keisha said she took the city’s citizen awareness course, JC 101, before joining the City of Johnson City team and knew that it would be a great place to work.
With the city, she oversees strategic communications and brand management. We asked Keisha about her career and how working for the East Tennessean prepared her for it.
Q: What do you enjoy about your job?
A: I love that we get to share how awesome Johnson City is. I love that I get to be part of strategic planning for the city and play a small role in helping set its course for the future. I love that my department creates graphics and videos and printed materials that people find useful (and pretty!). I love our brand. I still get excited when I see our logo on a garbage truck. Developing a brand from scratch was one of my favorite experiences ever. But most of all, I love my co-workers. I have an amazing team of incredibly smart and talented people who challenge me to be better. Plus, we have fun together!
Q: How did the East Tennessean prepare you for your current role?
A: It was my earliest experience with layout and design, which I realized I loved as much as writing and editing. I’ve been able to utilize all those skills throughout my career. Serving as executive editor taught me so much about leadership – accountability, team building, managing different personalities. We were an incredibly tight-knit group, and I have lifelong friendships because of the East Tennessean. I even married one of those guys.
