KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The City of Kalamazoo has named Michael L. Smith as its new Communications Manager.
According to a release from the city dated Monday, August 1, Smith will oversee internal and external communications and serves as the City of Kalamazoo spokesperson for topics other than the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.
Smith’s career includes higher education communications, healthcare communications, corporate communications, public affairs and broadcasting.
He joins the City of Kalamazoo after several years in the Division of Student Affairs at Western Michigan University, where he was a marketing specialist senior, and held a prior role as an associate vice president executive assistant.
Smith’s higher education career also includes a previous position at Central Michigan University, serving as the chief speechwriter for former CMU President George Ross, former Provost Gary Shapiro and other university senior administrators.
Prior to joining CMU, Michael worked in corporate communication divisions at Haworth, Inc., in Holland, and at Amway Corp., in Ada.
He also held the position of Director of Public Affairs at WWMT-TV in Kalamazoo from 1996 until 2000, where he created and implemented the station’s public service campaigns and represented the station in sponsoring regional events focusing on children’s education, child safety and youth health initiatives.
He held a previous role at the television station as a news reporter and photojournalist from 1985 until 1988.
Smith also held a previous position in marketing and communications at Ascension Borgess Hospital. In that role, he supported social media, internal and external communication initiatives for the health ministry, and was managing editor for clinical publications.
Smith also represented Ascension Borgess as the campaign liaison for the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region Fall Campaigns. In addition, he served on a team that supported communication strategies for creating the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine.
The Murfreesboro, Tenn. native attended Middle Tennessee State University where he studied Mass Communications, and also worked at radio and television stations in the Nashville market.
Smith holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in management from Spring Arbor University, and is a former adjunct instructor at SAU.
