Public Information Officer

Portfolio Categories: Administration.

The Public Information Officer/Public Education Specialist (PIO/PES) is responsible for the fire and life safety education of individual residents, organizations and occupants of commercial, residential, healthcare, and educational occupancies as well as public and media relations. The PIO/PES oversees American Heart Association CPR instructors and the program; researches, prepares, and submits local, state, and federal grant applications; and manages awarded grant funding.  In addition, the PIO/PES serves as the spokesperson and media liaison during daily emergency operations. The PIO/PES manages the Annual Report, Juvenile Firesetting Intervention Program, Child Passenger Restraint Installation Program, Smoke Alarm Program, website and social media.

Public Information Officer/Public Education Specialist
Alexis McLellan

Portrait of Alexis McLellan in a Class A uniform in front of an American flag backdrop

Public Information Officer/Public Education Specialist Alexis McLellan has served the San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue Service District since 2006.  PIO McLellan is a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, Juvenile Firesetter Program Manager, Fire Service Instructor III, American Heart Association CPR Instructor, Certified Health Education Specialist, CarFit Technician, and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Trainer/Coordinator.

Her accomplishments include being awarded the 2022 National Information Officers Association (NIOA) Outstanding Management of a Critical Incident Award, 2021 Florida Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year, the San Carlos Park Fire District Employee of the Year in 2020 and 2014, the Chief’s Achievement Award on two occasions, an Individual Citation, the Honorable Service Award, and the FAPIO PIO Deployment Team Mobilization Award.  She was also named a finalist in the Government Social Media 2024 Golden Post Awards for Best Instagram Presence and the  2023 Golden Post Awards for Best Use of Social Media in an Emergency. PIO McLellan is credentialed by the Center for Public Safety Excellence as a PIO.  She is a member of the Lee County Fire Marshal’s and Inspector’s Association, NIOA, Florida Association of Public Information Officers, Safe Kids of Lee/Collier County, Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition, and serves on the Florida Association of Fire and Life Safety Educators Board of Directors as Vice Chair.

PIO McLellan holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Health Science, is a published academic author, and brings a wide variety of experience, having taught at both the secondary and university level, to San Carlos Fire Protection and Rescue Service District.

To contact Public Information Officer/Public Education Specialist McLellan, please call the administrative office at (239) 267-7525.

-->