One of the most common frustrations for public agency communicators is the lack of opportunity to provide advice, counsel, and strategy, especially during crises but also to help avoid a crisis. We are often tasked with tactical and administrative assignments while decisions are made by senior staff and elected officials without a communications perspective. The result is all-too familiar: our agency reacts to the story rather than getting ahead of it, and we are left with the unenviable responsibility of mopping up the mess.  This session will provide communicators with solid, specific steps to move from tactician to counselor. We will look at recent success stories and encourage session participants to share their own experiences as a foundation for changing-up the way communicators are perceived within local agencies.   Attendees will leave the session with a Top-10 tip list to guide their transformation; increased confidence in their ability to shape agency credibility; and a new awareness of how we can help influence public opinion day-to-day and also during the toughest of times.