Our Team
MITCH THAMES
Mitch Thames is a seasoned communications professional with extensive experience in developing and deploying best practices to ensure public awareness and understanding during crisis situations. Thames serves as Executive Director of Texian Communications and has been a featured speaker at numerous universities, conferences and conventions.
Thames currently serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for Matagorda County, Texas. In this role, his main responsibility is to serve as a trusted advisor to the Matagorda County Judge and other emergency personnel in the emergency operations center. In the 15 years he’s held this role, he has successfully deployed effective and accurate communications as spokesperson during crises and emergencies including several major hurricanes, chemical spills, operational upsets and other natural disasters.
He has participated in the South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company / Matagorda County drills each year for the last 15 years as a lead PIO. He has been recognized many times by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for his ability to lead the PIO support team and effectively communicate to the public.
In 2018, he was a speaker and panelist for the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Crisis Communications Symposium in Vienna, Austria. He has also made presentations on crisis communications for the Texas Chambers of Commerce Executives, the Texas Association of Fairs and Events, and the Texas Fairs and Festivals, and various annual conventions. In total, Thames has trained thousands of individuals from the public and private sectors in crisis communications readiness.