Allentown city spokesperson Genesis Ortega will assume a new position with the city in January, overseeing policy development, communication and community engagement for City Council.
The new senior position was established this year.
According to a news release, the Ortega’s new role as “public affairs and policy officer” will expand “her scope of responsibility and supports cross-government collaboration between City Council and the Administration.”
“Serving in the Mayor’s Office has been an incredible honor, and I’m grateful for the trust placed in me to tell the City’s story and help amplify its voice across the media, online, and throughout the community,” Ortega said in a news release. “This new role allows me to take on broader responsibilities and continue serving Allentown at a higher level. I appreciate the confidence shown by both the Administration and City Council, and I look forward to this next chapter.”
Ortega had been the city’s communications manager since January 2022, when Mayor Matt Tuerk took office. In a statement, Tuerk said Ortega is “leaving the Mayor’s Office better than she found it and will continue to be a huge ally to our work to build a city that promotes the well-being of our residents.”
City Council Vice President Cynthia Mota said that Council has been looking to fill the public affairs position for “quite some time,” and lauded Ortega’s “exemplary skill set.” Prior to serving as Allentown’s communications manager, Ortega was a regional affairs and politics reporter for PBS 39.
Ortega is a graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School and holds a degree in international management and French from Moravian College in Bethlehem, now Moravian University.
Ortega will assume the new position Jan. 2. The city will hire a communications manager to replace her position in the mayor’s office.