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Vice President, Public Relations Principal

Sara Swenson

Areas of Expertise: Community Engagement, Crisis and Issues Management, Public Affairs, Public Relations, Training and Coaching

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Sara advocates for client interests and protects reputations.

Sara is a seasoned expert in navigating challenging situations, spearheading major campaigns and leading high-profile projects for prominent clients. Her personalized guidance steers clients through emerging issues with an emphasis on transparent and timely communication. From proactive PR strategies to thoughtful messaging to impactful community engagement campaigns, she helps clients manage a wide array of complex issues that require skillful communications management, exemplary judgment and proactive public engagement.

One of the firm’s principals, Sara established and now leads our firm’s fast-growing community engagement practice area. Goff Public’s community engagement team leads communications and community projects for various state agencies, local governments and private organizations. The common thread through all of Sara’s work is a focus on helping clients authentically share their stories and engage meaningfully with those who are impacted by their work.

Sara’s experience includes extensive work with state, tribal and local governments, philanthropy, housing and higher education institutions. She has led public relations and community engagement strategies during the planning and construction of some of the region’s most well-known local institutions and high-profile projects – including CHS Field, Rice Creek Commons, RiversEdge and Catholic Charities’ Dorothy Day Place.

A passionate advocate for her community, Sara serves as vice chair of the Neighborhood House Board of Directors and as a board member on the Minnesota Children’s Museum Board of Directors.

Sara is an avid runner who also loves hiking, exploring the North Shore, sipping local brews on any patio she can find, and spending quality time with her husband and young daughters.


Joined Goff Public: 2009
Alma Mater: St. Olaf College

Conversation Starters

  • Minnesota State Parks
  • Um Yah Yah
  • Cocomelon

Civic Involvement

  • Neighborhood House, board of directors member (2019-present), vice-chair (2023-2024)
  • Minnesota Children’s Museum, board of directors member (2023-present)
  • Saint Paul Area Chamber Charitable Foundation, board member (2018-2023), chair (2020)
  • Leadership Minnesota, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (Class of 2017-2018)
  • Leader’s Lab, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (Class of 2016-2017)
  • Saint Paul Area Chamber Leadership Saint Paul Curriculum Committee (2012-2016), chair (2015), past chair (2016)
  • Leadership Saint Paul, Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce (Class of 2012)

Awards

  • Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, 40 Under 40 Honoree (2024)
  • Saint Paul Area Chamber, Emerging Volunteer of the Year (2016)
  • Minnesota Association of Government Communicators, Northern Lights Award (2016)
  • Advertising Federation of Minnesota, 32 Under 32 (2015)
  • Minnesota Association of Government Communicators, Northern Lights Award (2015)

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