The ELGL Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that Marissa Baum has joined the GovLove podcast as its newest host.
Marissa joins an already exciting roster of Local Gov enthusiasts who celebrate individuals across the country who are making a difference in their own communities.
Marissa serves as head of communications for the Town of East Hartford, Connecticut, where she helps connect residents, leaders, and stories that matter. She came to local government after a career in arts and cultural marketing and fundraising, and she values the everyday impact that comes with public service.
Prior to East Hartford, Marissa established the Marketing and Communications Department at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, leading the organization through its first major rebrand in its 200-year history. Before moving to Connecticut in 2020, Marissa spent several years at the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, serving as Director of Development and Communications and later as Interim Director of Operations.
Community has always been at the center of her work. She has served on boards and volunteer groups in both Kansas City and Connecticut, including as past Chair of Forte!, the next generation of supporters of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and she currently serves on the Symphony’s Board of Directors. During her time in Kansas City, Marissa was active in community leadership, serving on the Board of Directors for Young Latino Professionals, Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, and as founding co-chair of the Modernists, the young friends of the National World War I Museum and Memorial.
Marissa earned a B.A. in Art History from Syracuse University and an M.A. in Museum Studies from The George Washington University. Across every role, whether in museums, government, or corporate design, she is guided by one belief: good storytelling brings people together and sparks meaningful change.
Long-time listeners know that each episode features a lightning round of questions to start each episode. So, of course, we had to ask Marissa to participate in her own lightning round for this announcement!
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What is your go-to karaoke song and are you any good?
We listen and we don’t judge, right? If you’re lucky enough to catch me late night at a conference some time, I will absolutely be on the mic ripping through Ice Ice Baby.
What’s a book, podcast, or show you think every public servant should check out at least once?
Why, GovLove of course! But also, I will always recommend Parks and Rec because it so beautifully captures the fulfillment, the challenges, and the incredibly ridiculous interactions that often come with working in local government.
If you had to create a bumper sticker that sums up your experience in local government, what would it say?
“Government comms: Turning angry comments into polite replies since forever.”
What’s a topic, completely unrelated to your current career, that you could easily lecture on for 45 minutes?
Without question, a definitive ranking of Chief Stews from all seasons of Bravo’s ‘Below Deck’.
What’s the best professional advice you’ve ever received — and do you actually follow it?
I love the saying, “Surround yourself with women who would mention your name in a room full of opportunities.” And I do absolutely try to not only follow it, but lead by example. In a field where imposter syndrome is common and leadership has long been male-dominated, women have a powerful opportunity to support one another, uplift each other’s voices, and make sure we have a seat at the table.
GovLove is a podcast about the people, policies and profession of local government. Our goal is to tell informative and unique stories about the work being done at the local level.
From City Managers to interns and everyone in between, we interview the people that work in local government to learn more about their path into the public sector and highlight their work. We explore policy issues that impact local governments and the innovative solutions being used to address them. We examine the profession of local government to discuss the future of the sector and how it can be improved to attract the best and the brightest.