Heins to be Town’s New Executive Assistant

By Bill Slocum
Contributing Editor

First Selectman Peter Tesei announced the appointment of a new communications manager last week – one who does not need to spend much time getting to know the town.

Barbara Heins, founding editor of Greenwich Patch and a warmly-regarded town media figure for the last five years, assumes her new role as Executive Assistant to the First Selectman on March 28.

In a prepared statement, Tesei pointed to Heins’ seasoned background as a factor in her appointment.

“As a longtime Greenwich resident and journalist, Barbara possesses a wealth of experience, institutional knowledge, and familiarity with the town’s governmental processes and diverse neighborhoods,” Tesei said. “Those assets make her a valuable addition to my staff as we continue our work to grow Greenwich’s valued reputation as a premier town to work, live, and raise a family.”

Heins’ role will include managing communications for Tesei, a Republican serving his fifth term as Greenwich’s chief executive. She will also work as a liaison for Tesei with town department heads, elected officials, and the community at large. Finally, she will also be charged with developing the town’s social-media presence as well as the administration of the Office of First Selectman.

Heins last weekend described herself as “ecstatic” at her appointment, for two reasons:

“Number one, that Mr. Tesei had the confidence in my skills and knowledge that will help him accomplish the goals he has set for the next two years and number two, that I will be able to serve the town that I have called home for more than 30 years. I love this town and can’t think of a better way to serve it and its residents.”

At Greenwich Patch, Heins has covered town government, education, public safety, business, and other areas of concern. During the same period, she also managed eight other local Patch sites in Connecticut.

Heins’ extensive journalism background includes stints at The Advocate of Stamford as an assignments editor and at Greenwich Time as a senior arts writer. She has won numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Associated Press Media Editors Association, the Society of Silurians, and two Pulitzer Prize nominations. In 2013, she received the Patch Mission & Values Award for team coverage of the Sandy Hook school shootings.

“I believe my strengths include having an unbiased journalist’s institutional knowledge of the inner workings of town government along with having a professional relationship with the department heads and their supporting personnel,” Heins said.

Heins was chosen for the executive assistant position after a nationwide search that included 31 applicants and interviews with five finalists. The search followed the departure late last year of Tesei’s prior executive assistant, Michael Rosen, who left to take up the post of assistant town manager in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Heins said that social media will be a priority for her:

“The town needs to expand its social media profile so in turn we will attract more businesses that will employ local residents and help to continue to make Greenwich the optimal place to work, live and raise your family,” she said.

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