Director of Communications & Community Relations
Heather C. Morris, with more than 30 years of experience in public relations and local government, is the Director of Communications and Community Relations for the Port of Long Beach. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners appointed Morris to her position in May 2005.
As director, Morris supervises a 16-person communications and community relations team, and directs a budget of more than $4.5 million annually. Morris oversees media relations, crisis communications, and community and educational outreach efforts, directs the production of community and industry newsletters and other publications, produces award winning video programming, develops international and local advertising, and creates strategies to promote the advancement of the Port by informing, educating and engaging the Port’s diverse stakeholders.
Morris has won acclaim for the popular Green Port Fest open house, which attracts 10,000 people a year, the award-winning Pulse of the Port cable television program and Re: Port community newsletter, Port-themed educational lesson plans, as well as a nationally recognized re-branding campaign that launched a creative new logo showing the Port’s leadership in goods movement, environmental stewardship and community outreach.
Prior to joining the Port, Morris was the public information officer for the City of Irvine. Under Morris’ leadership, Irvine’s public information office became widely regarded for its innovative and effective communications and marketing efforts. Her distinguished accomplishments include the city’s web site, cable television channel, publications, media relations, strategic planning and crisis management programs.
Prior to Irvine, she was the public information officer for the City of Brea, the public information manager for the City of Norwalk and the community services director for the City of Signal Hill.
Morris is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA), California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO), American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS).
Morris has a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, San Luis Obispo, and an Associate of Arts degree from Long Beach City College. She is a Paul B. Clark award recipient and has an Advanced Certificate in crisis communications from the California Specialized Training Institute.
