About True North

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Crisis communications isn’t something I learned in a classroom or studied from the outside. I learned it by doing it under pressure, in real time, with real consequences. My career has taken me from newsrooms to 911 dispatch centers to emergency operations centers to the halls of state government, working alongside law enforcement, fire, emergency management and elected officials in some of their most difficult moments.

Journalism

I started my career in journalism, where I learned how stories are built, what reporters are looking for and how public perception forms fast — often faster than the facts.

Local and state government

From journalism I moved into public information roles in government, including communications manager for the City of Cottage Grove.

Statewide public safety leadership

My career’s longest chapter to date was at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, where I worked as a public information officer, social media manager, photographer and ultimately deputy communications director. I helped lead statewide crisis communications during some of the state’s most high-profile public safety situations, including a funeral honoring three fallen first responders.

That kind of work changes how you see this profession. It’s not about messaging. It’s about people, decisions and trust.

Training and credentials

True North’s team brings rigorous training and real-world credentials — the kind that come from working inside incidents, not just studying them.

• FEMA Advanced Public Information Officer: one of the most rigorous PIO certifications available
• Advanced Incident Command System for Command and General Staff at Complex Incidents: trained the way incident commanders are trained
• Joint Information System/Center Planning: multi-agency coordination and communication under pressure
• Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO): the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s flagship law enforcement leadership development program
• Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) Incident Management Team PIO: Jen is currently completing certification for wildfire and complex incident response

These aren’t resume lines. They’re the foundation for how we successfully navigate our work.

“When I was struggling to find the right words, Jen calmly helped guide me. Her support went far beyond logistics. She helped us honor a respected leader and friend in a way that was dignified and meaningful.”
Ben Klinger, Winona County Emergency Management Director / Retired Deputy Fire Chief

“Jen has a rare ability to combine professionalism with compassion during a crisis. She stepped in during EF-4 tornado recovery efforts and not only helped stabilize the situation, but taught me a tremendous amount about crisis communications under pressure.”
Maggie Armstrong, Guthrie County Board of Supervisors / media relations professional