Ameerah Palacios has been a strategic communications practitioner and educator for decades. When she isn’t serving local nonprofits in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky and coaching teams to greatness, she works in the public sector advising government executives, being a media spokesperson and managing crisis communications, tapping into her expertise in research, project management, and strategy. A former business journalist and television news producer, Ameerah pioneers industry-leading work and is a sought-after expert for solving complex client puzzles in business, organizational development, and leading projects in the public sector.

Ameerah utilizes her extensive background leading school-based programs, public school marketing and district communications to deliver communication services, working with multi-disciplinary teams and channels, collaborating on strategy, content and technical development. Ameerah was recognized by the National School Public Relations Association as a “35 under 35” in 2018 for her communications and marketing leadership within public schools and has affiliations with AASA and the Council of Great City Schools from her work. Ameerah was also the strategist and lead author of the American Water Works Association’s Lead Communications Guide, which was published in collaboration with the AWWA Public Affairs Council in 2022.

From advanced metering infrastructure to crisis response in Jackson, Mississippi, Ameerah is a sought-after, award-winning, accredited public relations consultant who helps water utilities maintain and rebuild public trust. Through highly technical advisory support, Ameerah is known for transforming noisy crises into industry-leading solutions through innovation, field projects, engagement, data, customer experience, and marketing initiatives. Ameerah has decades of experience advising government executives, being a media spokesperson and managing crisis communications and disaster response.

Community advocacy and strategic thinking is her passion. As chair, Ameerah leads the customer service committee for the AWWA KY/TN section and oversees the trainings to certify customer service representatives and support frontline supervisors. Ameerah is a proud downtown resident and Bingham Fellow engaged in several civic and arts organizations as president of the Louisville Downtown Residents Association, board chair for the Parks Alliance of Louisville and vice chair of Louisville Metro Government’s Commission on Public Art. She is also the Accreditation Chair for the Public Relations Society of America’s Bluegrass Chapter and loves the Louisville brand as a certified tourism ambassador.