Greg Sowell

Background

About Greg Sowell

Greg Sowell was appointed Director of Communications for the City of Richardson on February 15, 2010. He brings more than 20 years of experience in municipal and county government communications, following a decade in television broadcasting. Sowell leads a 14-member team responsible for marketing, public relations, public affairs, media relations, and crisis communications. He plays a central role in shaping both internal and external communications and oversees key initiatives across the City. Before joining Richardson, he served as Communications Manager for the City of Mesquite, Texas, and as a Communications Specialist for Martin County, Florida. In Richardson, Sowell has- Directed public outreach for four successful bond elections totaling $66M,$115M,$190M, and $46M (City Hall)- Led three website redesigns- Approved and implemented oversight for 40+ social media channels- Executed a convergence media strategy across video, print, and digital platforms- Supported marketing for major events like Corporate Challenge, Cottonwood Art Festival, and Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival. Sowell is past president of the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO) and represents TAMIO on the Texas Municipal League Board. He is a former board member of 3CMA and a member of the Texas chapter of PRSA. He also served as vice-chair of the North Texas Communicators Subcommittee under the North Central Texas Council of Governments. He holds a BA in Telecommunications from Texas Tech University and an MBA with a specialization in Crisis and Emergency Management from Florida Atlantic University. Professional development includes- Certified Public Communicator (TCU)- FEMA Emergency Management Institute training - Bioterrorism preparedness (Nova Southeastern University)- TEEX Public Information in WMD/Terrorism Incidents His crisis experience spans major natural disasters—Frances, Jeanne, Katrina, Wilma, Gustav, Ike—and significant events like Richardson’s 2019 tornado, the 2021 winter storm, and politically sensitive issues. Sowell’s work has earned recognition from 3CMA and TAMIO. He is also a frequent speaker at Texas Municipal League events and other conferences. Earlier, he worked in broadcast journalism at ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX affiliates, covering high-profile events such as the election recount, anthrax attacks, and 9/11 aftermath. He began his career with LISD-TV Cable Channel 12 in Lubbock, Texas.