(Joplin, MO) – A longtime area communications professional is passing the baton to another as Lynn Onstot, public information officer with the City of Joplin, makes plans to retire May 8.
Onstot, who has worked in the field of public relations for 40-plus years, has served the City for 23 years, developing and distributing communications and news to the citizens of Joplin. As a City spokesperson, she has managed media relations, spearheaded special events, and guided the City in its comprehensive communication efforts.
Onstot regularly appears at City Council meetings to provide updates to City leadership and the community, and has helped guide Joplin through numerous significant moments over the years, including the relocation of City Hall to the historic Newman Building. She also served as Public Information Officer during multiple natural disasters involving ice, snow, and flooding. During the 2011 Joplin tornado, she managed the extensive communications required both during the disaster and throughout the recovery efforts. Since then, she has continued to actively communicate City projects, initiatives, and accomplishments to keep the community informed. Onstot also initiated the City’s quarterly print newsletter, The Citizen, which is mailed to every Joplin residential address.
Prior to joining the City, Onstot worked in communications for St. John’s Regional Medical Center (now Mercy), Freeman Health System, and Precious Moments. She is a graduate of Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, Soroptimist International of Joplin, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
On November 19, 2024, MSSU and KGCS-TV recognized Onstot as an outstanding alumnus.
Onstot is being succeeded by Cassie Mathes, another longtime communications professional who got her start in Joplin.
Mathes, who has spent most of her career in marketing and communications for higher education institutions, spent 12 years with Pittsburg State University and Missouri Southern State University before serving in executive roles with the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and the Ozarks Technical Community College system. She worked as a news reporter for The Joplin Globe and assignment editor for KODE-TV prior to her career in higher education. She is a graduate of Missouri Southern State University, Missouri State University, and the University of Tennessee Leadership Academy.
“Lynn has been the cornerstone of government communications for Joplin for over two decades,” says Drew Douglas, the City’s Director of Marketing & Communications. “Lynn was the first Public Information Officer ever hired by the City, and without her, the current marketing & communications department would not exist. She has faithfully served the residents of Joplin through storms and celebrations, always communicating information in an accurate, timely, and strategic manner, with the intent to build public trust and allow our community to make well-informed decisions. She has left an indelible mark on the story of Joplin and helped write the first draft of several chapters of Joplin’s recent history. She has helped educate and encourage many young reporters getting their start in the Joplin media market. She has also collaborated across City departments, with generations of City leaders, and all manner of community organizations. We are happy to see her enjoy retirement with her family and grandchildren, but she will be greatly missed at City Hall.”
“We’re also thrilled to bring Cassie Mathes onto the team as Lynn’s successor,” Douglas adds. “She not only has deep roots in the Joplin community and a journalistic background with our local news media outlets, but also brings experience in leading strategic communications for large institutions. The citizens of Joplin will be well-served through this transition and the passing of the baton from one dedicated communications professional to another.”
Onstot will be celebrated with a retirement ceremony on May 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on the fifth floor of Joplin’s City Hall.
Reference:
Drew Douglas, Director of Marketing & Communications
City of Joplin
417.624.0820, ext. 1204
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