District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority

Alan Heymann

Chief of External Affairs

Alan Heymann is Chief of External Affairs for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water). He leads a team of 11 in managing DC Water's relationships with its customers, the media, the federal and District governments, and various other internal and external stakeholders. Mr. Heymann also serves as a member of the Authority's executive team and as a senior adviser to the General Manager.

Under Mr. Heymann's direction, the Office of External Affairs is responsible for all of the Authority's internal and external communications through numerous channels -- including publications, web, social media, traditional media, public outreach, graphic design, special events and emergency response. It also houses DC Water's government relations program.

Before becoming Chief of External Affairs in July 2011, Mr. Heymann served as Director of Public Affairs for DC Water. Since his arrival in January 2010, he launched a strong social media strategy, led a rebranding effort to great internal and external acclaim, significantly expanded the agency's public outreach and turned around relationships with the media and advocates through transparency, honesty and responsiveness. He serves as the voice of the @dcwater Twitter feed, and also embarked on the Authority's first-ever marketing campaign for tap water.

Mr. Heymann brings more than 15 years of experience in communications and government to the team at DC Water. Previously, he worked for the Government of the District of Columbia, serving in senior communications roles at the District Department of the Environment, the Office of the Attorney General, the Executive Office of the Mayor, and the office of Councilmember Jim Graham.

Before moving to the District of Columbia in 2000, Mr. Heymann spent several years as a bureau chief, on-air correspondent, anchor and producer at two television stations in Chicago and downstate Illinois.

Alan Heymann holds a Juris Doctorate from The George Washington University Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He is a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of Illinois and of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Mr. Heymann and his wife, Lindy, live in Columbia Heights.