BreAnda Northcutt, Deputy Secretary for Communications

Biography

In April of 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed BreAnda Northcutt as the deputy secretary for communications for the California Environmental Protection Agency. Ms. Northcutt has more than 10 years of experience in the field of communications, with experience in crisis communication, media and community relations, political campaigns and government affairs.

Before joining CalEPA, Ms. Northcutt served as deputy communications director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, where she was responsible for strategic messaging, media event management and special writing projects. She worked closely with cabinet, policy and agency officials to develop messages that clearly conveyed the Governor’s policy agenda to lawmakers, opinion leaders and the general public.

Prior to being appointed by the governor, Ms. Northcutt was responsible for strategic messaging for California’s Assembly Minority leadership – developing speeches, scripts and other written materials.

Ms. Northcutt served as a senior account manager for a successful public affairs agency where she managed client projects from start to finish. She served as managing editor for the California Department of Corrections newspaper with a 35,000 circulation. She was also part of the winning team that brought Linda Lingle to victory in Hawaii.

As fund development director and media spokeswoman for the regional chapter of the American Red Cross, Ms. Northcutt was nationally recognized for her successful efforts to expand community support. She was responsible for gaining and retaining support for the organization and its mission post 9/11. Despite national criticism, Ms. Northcutt was able to maintain a positive image for the organization with local media, donors, volunteers and the general public.

Ms. Northcutt graduated from Sacramento State with a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a focus on mass communication. She received an English degree from Simpson University, with emphasis in editing, writing and speech communication.

 

Executive Management Biographies