The Northwest Arkansas Council has announced Isabel Gamarra as the new director of communications and advocacy for its workforce housing center.
As director of communications and advocacy, Gamarra will manage the center’s brand and external communications. In addition, Gamarra will work with the executive director, Duke McLarty, to raise awareness about workforce housing needs in the community.
“With the addition of a director of communications and advocacy to the team we hope to expand both our scope, reach and brand recognition in the community,” said McLarty. “Isabel’s vast experience in brand communications and community relations will be pivotal as we work to build support for workforce housing issues in the region.”
Housing in Northwest Arkansas is becoming increasingly inaccessible for workers, families and seniors, according to the 2019 Our Housing Future study funded by the Walton Family Foundation. The Council announced the workforce housing center in March 2021 to address housing affordability in the region. The center is working to promote well-designed housing options and mixed-income, walkable and transit-accessible neighborhoods for the region’s workers and their families.
Gamarra is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with more than 12 years of experience working in public affairs, corporate communications and marketing.
Originally from La Paz, Bolivia, Gamarra earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s in public administration from Florida International University. Gamarra began her career in crisis communications working with international oil and mining companies and has served as a communications consultant for aviation, banking, real estate and technology firms.
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