Harlingen Waterworks System Taps Tripepi Smith for Communication Support
In December 2023, Harlingen Waterworks System (HWWS) tapped Tripepi Smith to assist with communication and outreach efforts in anticipation of the City of Harlingen’s upcoming water and sewer rate increases.
Director Jennifer Vaughn and Senior Business Analyst Devyn Fisher lead Team Tripepi Smith with support from Junior Business Analyst Avi Vemuri, Junior Website Developer Max Weirauch and Junior Business Analyst Audrin Baghaie.
Tripepi Smith provided comprehensive communication services, crafting strategic messaging and talking points for City officials and HWWS staff tailored to the rate increase. For outreach, Tripepi Smith supported HWWS with a redesigned website launch, social media management, animated video creation, townhall assistance and infographic design.
“We faced a difficult challenge in communicating to our customers the need for a major rate increase. Our Board and elected city leaders placed a high priority on engaging our economically diverse customer base, and we needed expert help to deliver that message in ways our customers would receive it,” said General Manager Tim Skoglund. “Tripepi Smith’s expertise played a pivotal role in crafting and executing our engagement strategy and developing clear message content across many modes of communication. They played a huge role in helping us meet our outreach goals. They also adapted graciously to changing requirements on our end during the process.”
In March 2024, Harlingen Waterworks System, thoroughly impressed by Tripepi’s performance, once again engaged Tripepi’s services for ongoing website maintenance, press releases, e-newsletters and the creation of a style guide. Additionally, Tripepi produced an exciting drone and animated-mixed video shown at HWWS’s annual Water Night event. Team Tripepi Smith handled aspects of production including script writing, animations, drone footage editing and voiceover work.
“Harlingen Waterworks System took proactive steps to engage in community outreach, ensuring residents were fully informed about the necessity of the rate increase and how it would benefit the community,” said Devyn Fisher, Senior Business Analyst. “I am proud of the role Tripepi Smith played in assisting the HWWS team with enhancing transparency, and look forward to continuing to support them in achieving their communication goals.”
About Harlingen Waterworks System:
Harlingen Waterworks System (HWWS) is the public water and wastewater utility serving the City of Harlingen in Cameron County, Texas. Harlingen is located in the Rio Grande Valley, approximately 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. As a waterworks system, HWWS ensures the provision of affordable and safe drinking water and sewer services to its customers continuously throughout the year.
About Tripepi Smith
Tripepi Smith is a California-based marketing, technology and public affairs firm that serves for-profit, nonprofit and public agencies. Its unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provides a competitive advantage to agencies seeking to leverage the internet to achieve their communication goals. The firm provides full content creation services, including: ghost writing, collateral development, photography, video production, aerial imagery, search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns and website design and execution. Tripepi Smith clients include: City of American Canyon, City of Culver City, City of Cupertino, City of Daly City, City of Duarte, City of Grover Beach, City of Santa Paula, City of Indian Wells, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lake Forest, City of Livermore, City of Napa, City of Paramount, City of Tracy, CalChoice Energy Authority, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Rowland Water District, California City Management Foundation, Renne Public Law Group, West Coast Arborists, Scripps College, Blind Children’s Learning Center and Climatec.