Natalie Sosa

• Serves as a member of the County’s Executive Team to develop and guide the County’s vision and strategic goals
• Provides strategic and innovative public relations and communications advice and support to the Board of County Commissioners, County Administrator, and County leadership
• Provides effective, efficient, and collaborative support to Executive Leadership and Elected Officials
• Provides information, resources, and direction to the Communications Department, stakeholders, and news media to ensure adequate and positive coverage of El Paso County
• Establishes and fosters positive working relationships with stakeholders, community partners, and media representatives; oversees the coordination, production, and distribution of public information and announcements
• Responsible for administering, directing, and organizing the functions of the Communications Department; provides strategic and fiscal oversight and planning
• Establishes departmental strategies, goals, and objectives to align with El Paso County’s strategic plan and meet the organization's needs
• Develops and directs long-range planning for the department in coordination with other County departments
• Directs and oversees content production for the County’s website, social media platforms, newsletters, digital recordings, public information materials, and executive communications
• Oversees responses and responds to critical or sensitive public information, Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests, media, elected/appointed officials, and others; ensures legal compliance in areas affecting public access to information
• Develops and updates policy for public information responses
• Develops crisis communication plans in coordination with necessary internal and external partners/agencies
• Serves as the County's representative for various community-based organizations, boards, councils, and committees

• Responsible for managing and organizing the daily operations of the Communications Department
• Oversee and ensure timely completion of projects and responses to citizen, media, County Administration, and Elected Official requests
• Provide public relations support to assigned clients
• Serve as the client’s media liaison and primary contact for media inquiries
• Develops talking points, remarks, speeches, and interview preparation for assigned clients
• Responsible for various public information functions, including media relations, media reports, and writing and producing informational materials in multiple formats
• Design and execute crisis communications plans and emergency preparedness messages in collaboration with the Communications Executive, Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management, El Paso County Sheriff's Office, County-affiliated offices, emergency providers, and area municipalities
• Advise and assist in the development and implementation of communications training and exercises and the maintenance of policies, procedures, and programs
• Develop and manage internal processes and procedures for the Communications Department
• Supervise, guide, and train assigned staff
• Conduct performance evaluations
• Participate in the hiring and disciplinary process
• Oversee responses and/or respond to critical or sensitive public information, Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests, media, elected officials/appointed officials, and others; ensure legal compliance in areas affecting public access information
• Assist with developing and managing the department budget
• Plan, organize, execute, and advise on strategies and tactics to effectively educate the public and respond to citizen and media inquiries
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with citizens, media members, Elected Officials, County leadership, and community stakeholders
• Leverage experience and knowledge of government and external factors to develop and manage strategic messages delivered by officials in settings such as Federal, State, or Local legislative testimony, speeches, media interviews, or presentations
• Plan, organize, execute, and advise on news conferences and special events, including ribbon cuttings, dedications, resolutions, retirement and ceremonial proclamations, and holiday activities and openings
• Monitor traditional news and social media outlets daily to stay well-informed of local issues and community concerns that may impact County programs and functions
• Oversee and assist in planning and producing informational communication and managing El Paso County Television Channels
• Oversee and manage the El Paso County website maintenance, development, and updates
• In conjunction with the Digital, Strategy, and Technology Department, oversee the training of departmental representatives to update their respective ports of the website
• Monitor County websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms to identify and correct errors
• Proactively find solutions and identify challenges for ideas brought by executive leadership
• Develop and execute short and long-term strategic goals in collaboration with senior leadership
• Coordinate television and radio interviews while supplying Administration and Elected Officials with speaking points and relevant information before each interview

• Provided first-line supervision to the Media Services Unit
• Supervised, evaluated, and disciplined assigned personnel
• Served as a key advisor, providing the Sheriff and Undersheriff with timely and accurate information to support decision-making
• Coordinated and scheduled information campaigns, safety tips, and information impacting the community and community safety via social media
• Oversaw and participated in promoting programs, services, and events within the Sheriff's Office
• Responded to inquiries from the media and coordinated appropriate personnel to be interviewed on video, tape recorder, or individually with the press
• Provided on-camera interviews as needed
• Oversaw responses and/or responded to critical or sensitive public information, Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests, media, elected officials/appointed officials, and others; ensured legal compliance in areas affecting public access to information
• Approved the distribution of articles and other materials for presentation to the news media
• Organized press conferences and prepared media packets for the Sheriff's Office
• Researched and composed articles and reports for distribution to the public and the media
• Oversaw the production of effective communication tools for the Sheriff's Office, including brochures, flyers, public announcements, and internal communications
• Responded to major crime scenes, natural disasters, and critical incidents in El Paso County, delivering on-camera interviews and media briefings
• Attended community and media-related functions as an official representative of the Sheriff's Office
• Monitored articles relating to law enforcement and informed the Sheriff and Undersheriff of issues that might have affected the Sheriff's Office
• Completed special assignments and projects upon the Sheriff's and Undersheriff request

Executive Assistant

• Served as the personal assistant to the Sheriff and other senior staff
• Managed internal communications by crafting and distributing the internal newsletter and official messages from the Sheriff, ensuring clear, consistent, and engaging communication with staff
• Performed administrative duties to support office operations
• Screened and prioritized all correspondence to the Sheriff
• Maintained a complex filing system for correspondence, confidential legal files, and employee identification and commission cards
• Coordinated inter-departmental, inter-agency, and public activities for the Sheriff
• Served as support staff for the Sheriff’s Office, committees, and advisory boards
• Prepared agendas and supporting materials for meetings
• Posted, balanced, and maintained records of expenditures for Sheriff’s Office purchases and Employee Advisory Committee funds
• Composed, edited, and proofread detailed letters, reports, and memoranda
• Scheduled meetings and appointments, and managed travel itineraries for the Sheriff and senior staff
• Arranged meetings for various boards and outside agencies
• Completed special assignments and projects upon the Sheriff’s request

Back up Public Information Officer

• Communicated with the public, media, and other agencies to provide incident-related information and updates based on changes in the status of an incident or planned event
• Developed and distributed community information releases through local and national media such as TV, radio, newspapers, and social media networks
• Responded to media inquiries and coordinated appropriate personnel to be interviewed on video, tape recorder, or individually with the media
• Conducted on-camera interviews as needed
• Responded to major crime scenes, natural disasters, and critical incidents in El Paso County, delivering on-camera interviews and media briefings
• Organized press conferences and prepared media packets for the Sheriff's Office
• Oversaw responses and/or responded to critical or sensitive public information, Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests, media, elected officials/appointed officials, and others; ensured legal compliance in areas affecting public access information

• Served as the first point of contact for individuals in crisis, answering both emergency and non-emergency calls on a multi-line system with professionalism, composure, and clear communication
• Conducted thorough interviews with callers to gather critical details, assess the urgency of the situation, and prioritize dispatching the appropriate emergency resources
• Provided clear, step-by-step emergency medical pre-arrival instructions, demonstrating the ability to communicate life-saving guidance under pressure
• Coordinated and dispatched law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel using a complex multi-channel radio system, ensuring seamless communication between responding units
• Utilized advanced data retrieval and entry systems (CAD, NCIC/CCIC, and Spillman) to provide investigative support for law enforcement, demonstrating accuracy, attention to detail, and adherence to security protocols
• Maintained situational awareness during high-stress incidents and adapted communication styles to effectively engage with distressed callers, emergency responders, and team members

• Led the selection and development of communications officers to serve as trainers and mentors, ensuring the highest level of expertise and professionalism within the department
• Oversaw and managed all training activities, responding to questions and concerns from trainees and trainers while fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development
• Conducted ongoing assessments of trainee progress, providing constructive feedback and support
• Designed, implemented, and updated training materials to align with best practices and departmental policies
• Organized and oversaw the schedule of training sessions, ensuring comprehensive preparation for new and existing staff
• Evaluated daily and weekly observation reports to identify strengths and areas for improvement, offering guidance to both trainees and mentors
• Developed and maintained detailed training databases, tracking each employee’s progress, training hours, and required certifications to ensure compliance with departmental regulations
• Maintained meticulous training records and paperwork, ensuring accessibility and accuracy for audits, reviews, and professional development tracking

• Provided strategic leadership for the Emergency Communication Unit, ensuring operational readiness through management of personnel, supplies, and equipment
• Maintained an up-to-date roster of unit members, effectively coordinating assignments and standby schedules to optimize resource availability
• Oversaw and updated all ECU and OEM training manuals, ensuring materials remained current with evolving protocols, technologies, and industry standards
• Developed and implemented a structured training program for ECU personnel, reinforcing skill development, crisis management techniques, and interagency collaboration
• Proactively sought and secured funding for essential equipment, supplies, and overtime needs, advocating for resource allocation to enhance operational effectiveness
• Established and strengthened partnerships by coordinating joint training sessions with specialty teams and external agencies, fostering interdepartmental cooperation and preparedness
• Led the selection process for new ECU members, ensuring evaluation and onboarding to maintain a highly skilled and cohesive team

• Trained and mentored new employees, ensuring they successfully navigated the training process and met operational standards.
• Compiled and submitted quarterly and annual reports with concrete examples to support daily operations, ensuring strict compliance with El Paso County Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures and CALEA.
• Audited and updated the monthly DVERT intensive case load as a backup to the DVERT project lead, ensuring accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Actively participated in bi-monthly South-Central Region Advisory Council meetings, contributing to regional emergency response strategies.
• Identified critical issues and coordinated emergency responses in high-pressure situations, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
• Managed and responded to emergent and non-emergent calls on a multi-line phone system with precision and professionalism.
• Conducted caller interviews, assessed priority levels, and ensured timely dispatch of appropriate resources for law enforcement, medical, and fire emergencies.
• Provided life-saving emergency medical pre-arrival instructions, guiding callers through critical situations when necessary.
• Dispatched law enforcement, fire, search and rescue, and medical units using a complex multi-channel radio system, ensuring seamless communication and response coordination.
• Entered and monitored all calls for service and unit activity for multiple agencies, including the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Monument Police Department, Palmer Lake Police Department, Green Mountain Falls Police Department, Calhan Police Department, Coroner’s Office, and various fire departments via the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
• Delivered investigative support for law enforcement by managing data entry and retrieval in CAD, NCIC/CCIC, the Sheriff’s Office Records Management System, and the Criminal Justice Center detentions history files.

• Delegated and managed the rotating on-call schedule and overtime assignments, optimizing operational readiness.
• Oversaw and directed mission coordination, ensuring seamless execution of tactical operations.
• Secured funding for essential equipment, overtime, and supplies, strengthening unit capabilities.
• Planned and facilitated quarterly team training sessions, enhancing team effectiveness and preparedness.
• Coordinated joint training exercises with specialty teams and external agencies, fostering collaboration and skill development.
• Provided critical communication support for the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit, Special Response Team, Wildland Team, and Office of Emergency Management during high-risk operations and emergencies.