2026 Conference attendees and winners of Excellence in Communication Awards

This Is What Excellence Looks Like 🏆

NC3C 2026 Annual Conference

Meet Your 2026–2027 NC3C Board Members

From the mountains to the coast, NC3C members span our state.

We are a network of government communication professionals dedicated to sharing knowledge,
building connections, and raising the standard of public sector communications across our state.


Here, you’ll find the latest NC3C news, upcoming events, and highlights from our members
who are making a difference in their communities.

News & Updates

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Take the 2026 Conference Survey

By Dominique Clark • February 16, 2026
Help choose where NC3C meets next. Cast your vote for the 2027 Annual Conference location and have a say in our statewide gathering.
A hand holding an NC3C Excellence in Communications Award trophy at sunset during the 2023 Wilmington conference

Excellence in Communications Awards Features New Category

By Nicole Hricik • December 16, 2025
NC3C's Excellence in Communications Awards program is expanding. Discover the new category and what it means for government communicators across NC.
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Interested in Presenting?

By Nicole Hricik • December 16, 2025
Share your expertise with North Carolina's government communicators. Learn how to submit a speaking proposal for an NC3C conference or webinar.
ConferenceMichael Reddington, 2026 NC3C Annual Conference keynote speaker

2026 Annual Conference Update: Introducing Our Keynote Speaker

By Nicole Hricik • December 16, 2025
Get to know the keynote speaker for the 2026 NC3C Annual Conference in Beaufort. Learn what they'll bring to our government communications community.

194

Active Members

27

award categories

130

City/Counties represented

Member Spotlights

2026 NC3C

Individual Awards

Liz Cooper, 2026 Communicator of the Year

The North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) is proud to announce the recipients of its top individual honors for 2026:


Liz Cooper, Union County's Director of Public Communications, has been named the NC3C Communicator of the Year.


The Chris Coulson Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded to Gary Herman of Alexander County with more than 20 years in local government communications.



These awards are named in honor of Chris Coulson, a founding member of NC3C who played a pivotal role in establishing the organization in 2007 before passing away later that year following a battle with cancer. 

Testimonials

"Thank you for offering this regional conference and for all the amazing webinars! You guys are doing an outstanding job growing NC3C."

"I just appreciate all your hard work in organizing events like this for NC3C. Means so much to have these opportunities to build relationships and network!"

"The workshop was worth the drive. Just to hear stories from your peers and know that you are not alone."