Michelle McGurk was born in Vallejo and raised in San Pablo. She brings twenty years of experience in media relations, journalism and public policy to the role of Public Information Officer.

Michelle began her career as the Bay Area editor for McClatchy’s Senior Spectrum division and a managing editor for NurseWeek magazine in Sunnyvale.

Michelle was on staff for former San José Vice Mayor Frank Fiscalini from 1995 to 2000, serving as first as Legislative Aide, then Chief of Staff. Her work included media and community relations, public policy, land use and budget issues.

Michelle served as Senior Director for Media and Community Relations for the $1.7 billion Silicon Valley Community Foundation, overseeing outreach to the press, community and civic leadership. She joined the Community Foundation in 2000 as Director of Communications and Marketing and coordinated the foundation’s marketing strategy, websites and online outreach, community research, and public relations.

She is an active member of the Rotary Club of San José and is the President of the Rotary Club of San José Endowment for 2007-2008. She also serves on the marketing committee for the Entrepreneurs Foundation. Michelle has been a frequent speaker on communications strategies for nonprofits, foundations, and public organizations. She is a past board member of CommA, the national Communications Association for Community Foundations.

Michelle graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and has lived in San José’s Shasta-Hanchett Park neighborhood since 1994 with her husband, Santa Clara University photographer Chuck Barry.