Strategic Marketing & PR for Government, Utilities and Mission-Driven Organizations

Serving Sacramento-area agencies, utilities, and nonprofits with communications that connect and deliver results

Hi, I’m Darren Huppert.

With more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communications and public relations, I help government agencies, public utilities and mission-driven organizations connect with the communities they serve — clearly, credibly and effectively.

I have led programs at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), Placer County and the Northern California Power Agency, managing everything from day-to-day social media strategy and website development to crisis communications inside an Emergency Operations Center. I understand how public agencies and utilities operate from the inside, allowing me to hit the ground running and deliver results without a long learning curve.

I’m a Gold Country native based in Rocklin, California, and I have a genuine stake in this region’s success. When you work with me, you get a seasoned communications professional who knows the local landscape, understands your audience and brings a track record you can point to.

Services

Marketing & Social Media Strategy

From social media campaigns to email marketing and beyond, I develop strategies that meet your audience where they are — and move them to action. I've managed accounts with tens of thousands of followers and built campaigns that earned regional and national attention.

Web Design & Digital Presence

A strong digital presence starts with a website that works. I build clean, effective sites that reflect your organization's mission and make it easy for your community to find what they need.

Public Relations & Community Outreach

I have established relationships with Sacramento-area media and local elected officials. Whether you need to manage a news cycle, build community awareness, engage hard-to-reach audiences or develop executive communications and thought leadership content, I know how to get the right message to the right people

Strategic & Crisis Communications

Public agencies face unique communications challenges — rate increases, service disruptions, emergencies and public scrutiny. I've developed and executed communications plans for all of it, including firsthand experience managing communications inside an Emergency Operations Center.

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A track record that speaks for itself

Managed social media programs reaching 100,000+ followers across multiple platforms
Led crisis and emergency communications on social media for a regional utility serving 1.5 million customers
Produced a COVID-19 digital communications campaign recognized by Adobe as a best-in-class example

Directed digital communications strategies, generating measurable increases in community engagement and web traffic
25+ years of experience spanning government, utilities, nonprofits and the private sector

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His ability to navigate the complexities of local government paired with his love of the digital world was amazing to watch and learn from. Darren constantly strove for perfection and excellence, bringing new innovative ideas to the team while simultaneously managing Placer County's website, internal communication between departments, and all of the events. He was never overwhelmed even in the most stressful situations and his fierce determination will always be a treasure to whoever is lucky enough to employ him.
Nathan GardnerPlacer County

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His unique balance of technical, analytical, and people skills is a rare and beneficial combination for organizations that require leadership at every level and collaborative decision-making. Darren would be an asset to any organization needing to innovate, improve business processes, and enhance the customer experience.
Sally KlaussPlacer County