pressing matters

pressing matters... 

  She was known as Rachel Gardner in high school.  She was smart, driven, loyal, reliable, liberal-minded,  aggressive, and frequently spoke her mind.  

  Rachel was a leader on Franklin Central High School's (Indianapolis, Indiana) speech team and served as program director on the high school radio station.  Her knowhow behind the camera while on the school's television school-news team was legendary and as a testament to her skillset, she would later work professionally in that field.  

  Rachel was involved in other school-related activities too numerous to mention, but you get the idea.  

  And, she was class salutatorian, barely missing the title, Class Valedictorian, by a numerical curiosity.  

  HUH?  What's up with that?        

  That was in 2007.  Today, Rachel Gardner is Rachel Hoffmeyer and she is Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb's press secretary.  

  Rachel is married to Evan and the two share space with a mini-schnauzer named Chloe.  The couple met the summer of Rachel's senior year at Harding University while she was working at the Little Rock NBC television affiliate, KARK.  The station offered her a full-time position producing the morning newscast.

  This was during the recession and many of my friends were graduating and unable to work, she said.  So, I started working the overnight shift while I rushed to finish my degree and graduate a semester early.  

  You stayed in Little Rock for a while after finishing college, didn't you.  

  Yes, I left KARK after I graduated and went to work for the ABC affiliate in Little Rock before moving back to Indy in 2015, she said.  When I came back, I produced the evening newscasts at WISH-TV.

  Rachel said it wasn't long before another opportunity came along.  A friend saw a posting of a job she thought would be a great fit for Rachel.  

  It was at Franklin College, south of Indianapolis.  I applied for and got the job of director of their  program, TheStatehouseFile.com, she offered.  Students reported on state government at the Indiana Statehouse 40 hours a week and provided coverage for more than 30 newspaper, radio and TV partners.  

  So, you went from television news producer to being in charge of a college program to one of only 50 people in America with the same job, press secretary to a state governor. There has to be a story here.  How did that happen?

  The StatehouseFile.com program is located in the basement of the Statehouse and I started that job the same year Governor Holcomb launched his historic 100-day campaign in 2016, she said.  I had been working for about nine months when the governor's press secretary, Stephanie Sample, came down to see me and asked if I had any graduates who would be interested in applying for Digital Communications Director. 

  That question made you stop and rethink career choice, didn't it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

  I actually thought about it for 48 hours before I went upstairs and told Stephanie I was interested, Rachel answered.  We had a professional relationship, but I had no idea how she would react.  As it turned out, she was thrilled I was interested.  I interviewed with the team and was hired.  

  But, you weren't in the digital business long.

  Stephanie was incredibly gracious and gave me many opportunities to work with the governor to develop my own relationship with him, she confided.  About 10 months after I started, Stephanie wanted to move up in state government and her job was offered to me.  

  What is Governor Eric Holcomb like on a personal level?

  During my time as a journalist, I was impressed with his honest and straightforward nature, Rachel admitted.  When he held a press gaggle, it felt more like talking to a friend than an elected official.  He'd joke around with the media and they would dish it right back to him.  

  He recently bought me a little lamp in the shape of a cartoon word bubble, Rachel said.  You can write on it with a dry erase marker and he scribbled, You're Muted, on it which is a phrase I occasionally have to say to reporters during our virtual meetings.  

  What about taking care of business. How did he come across at press conferences?

  When he was grilled by the press, he was well-informed and confident in his choices, she said.  He wasn't afraid to make the right choice even if it wasn't the popular one.  

  What's a typical day like for you if the governor is in his office?

  The day is driven by his priorities, current events, and the news cycle, which means every day is different, Rachel allowed.  Sometimes we hit the road and spend time in communities listening to their needs and sharing information about how we can help. Sometimes I'm drafting recommended messaging in response to a breaking news event.  Other days, I'm working with the governor's mini-schnauzer, First Dog Henry, on his social media strategy.  

  Do you like traveling around the state?

  That's one of my favorite parts of the job.  If he has a public event, I usually go with him.  I connect with local reporters and arrange opportunities for interviews, she said.  I love to see how people are working together to improve their community and our state.  

  On any given non-travel day, what are some of your duties?

  I prepare the governor for interviews and public appearances, she responded.  I also negotiate and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate depictions of the governor and his administration.

  You deal with the press a lot.

  Yes, I communicate on the record with members of the media and the public on behalf of the governor, she replied.  I also create and implement strategic communications plans around the governor's key goals and initiatives. 

  Do you write press releases or do you have a staff that takes care of that part of the job?

  I write press releases, statements, editorials, talking points and briefings, she said.  The governor is very engaged in his communications and often puts his own touches on our projects.  On the communications team, we often say we aren't architects, we are carpenters.  Our goal is to present the governor with a solid draft and he perfects it.  

  You were pretty liberal in high school.  Governor Holcomb would not be considered in that camp.  Have your beliefs changed?

  Was I liberal or libertarian, she laughed.  I remember asking school leadership about the constitutionality of student drug testing.  

   She added, The governor likes to say good ideas are not partisan.  Despite our often politically divided culture, the majority of bills that pass the General Assembly and are signed into law by the governor receive bipartisan support. 

  I don't think  I understood or appreciated fiscal responsibility as a teen, she reflected.  We all learn more about what we believe and why as we gain life experiences.  My time covering state government as a journalist certainly solidified my support of small government and responsible spending. 

  What part of your job is nothing like you imagined?

  I certainly could have never predicted a pandemic.  The day we limited social gatherings to 250 people, I got on my knees in my office and prayed because it seemed an extreme measure to me, she remembered.  Little did I know we would go on to order Hoosiers remain in their homes...but, I know those decisions saved lives. 

  Do you find your work challenging?

  One of the fascinating parts of the job is to be a part of major discussions that influence public policy.  These meetings often have multiple opinions and viewpoints discussed and I'm honored to be able to share my thoughts, she proudly voiced.  

  What's something funny that's happened on your watch?

  The governor invited Hoosier Olympian Nick Goepper to his office to receive the state's highest honor, a Sagamore of the Wabash, she recalled.  Nick won the silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics.  We invited a TV crew to film the event and I was standing in the room to make sure everything went smoothly.  The two of them were discussing Nick's previous injuries when the governor asked him what his worst scar was.  Nick dropped his pants and showed a giant scar on his right butt cheek.  

  That had to be a surprise for everyone.

  Well, I immediately turned to the governor to gauge his reaction and he was laughing heartily, she said.  I'm always grateful that he has a wonderful sense of humor and can roll with the punches.  

  What's something most people don't know about your boss?

  He's deeply thoughtful in both professional and personal matters, she opined.  He does his own research and isn't afraid to address difficult topics.  He's able to build unlikely coalitions because he believes good ideas are non-partisan. 

  On a personal note, I threw my back out a couple years ago and had to miss work, she mentioned.  The governor called me to check up on me and he gave me some doctor recommendations.  I appreciated that.

  What about 10 years from now.  What's Rachel Gardner Hoffmeyer's long-term goal?

  I'm not sure what's next.  I never dreamed I would serve a governor and I never imagined I would serve a state during a once-in-a-century pandemic, she mused. I've gotten very comfortable with accepting the opportunities and challenges presented to me and I hope my future allows me to serve in meaningful ways. 

  Coming up:  you are going to meet 95 year old Al Benninger; and in a different story, you'll have a chance to improve your language skills!

  One final thought about Rachel.  

  We met in the spring of '05 when she was a student in my Mass Media class.  She is responsible for my introduction to the true digital world.  As teachers, we had computers on our desks back then, but no technology like Rachel held in her hand on a particular day.  

  The class discussion had ended, and while waiting for the bell to signal the end of the class period, Rachel was holding a small, rectangular device with a cord going from the apparatus to her ear.  When asked about it, she immediately gave me an iPod tutorial.  

  It was a marvel, it was brand new, and not for the first time in this digital age, a 15 year old student was educating the communication teacher. 

  HUH?  What's up with that?