Decatur hires new communications specialist

Decatur has hired veteran city staffer Renae Madison as communications specialist, with primary responsibilities on the in-house magazine “Focus,” the city website and media relations.

Madison replaces previous PIO (the job has been re-titled) Casie Yoder who resigned and left in November after two years.

She’s a 2001 graduate of Columbia High and 2006 graduate of Xavier University in New Orleans with a bachelor’s in mass communications and psychology. She’s worked nine years with Decatur’s Community of Economic Development, most recently as a site director for Westchester Elementary’s after-school program.

During her senior year, Madison helped organize a public-relations campaign called “Alternative Spring Break,” encouraging students nationwide to forgo conventional spring break and coming to New Orleans to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.