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AREA’s office is in Albuquerque, where our dedicated staff is ready to assist you.

Rebecca Swanson

Director of Marketing & Communications

Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA)

Rebecca Swanson leads AREA’s marketing and communications efforts, and is responsible for creating engaging marketing initiatives for developing and advancing the greater Albuquerque regional’s internal and external story, helping it to create national and international positive business brand awareness. She brings a unique background to her role as is a former broadcast journalist who made the transition to marketing and communications.

Previously, Rebecca was a spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department at the City of Albuquerque handling daily media inquiries, planning weekly press conferences and overseeing social media and marketing for the state’s largest law enforcement agency. She created and launched the police department’s first video series and podcast, an idea few departments have embarked on. The two series’ highlight cases that have gone unsolved, and detectives are seeking leads and tips to help further the investigations.

Rebecca joined APD in 2020, during the middle of protests and unrest being seen and heard across the nation. She also assisted in crisis communications for three major incidents to include the shooting of four police officers in the city’s foothills, a multi-agency investigation into the deaths of four Muslim men, and the shootings at four elected officials’ homes, all which garnered national media attention. Within just a few months of joining APD, she was selected to assist with communications for President Biden’s inauguration through the Major Cities Chief’s Association.

Rebecca helped creating the marketing plan for a new recruitment campaign that launched in 2022 showcasing the diversity of not only the department but of the greater Albuquerque area. The campaign led to a significant increase in recruitment and many applications from both cadets and lateral hires.

From 2016-2020 Rebecca was a reporter for Albuquerque’s CBS affiliate KRQE. She covered a multitude of stories with an emphasis in economic development, government and crime. As a weekday reporter, she often reported on the top news of the day whether it be a large announcement by the city, the state or a large trial. Rebecca also was a fill-in anchor, covering every newscast from the morning show, to the evening newscasts and weekends. During this time, Rebecca interviewed people from across the state of New Mexico sharing their stories.

From 2014-2016, she was a reporter for the Fox affiliate in Greenville, SC reporting for the evening newscasts which covered four cities within the region. Rebecca covered many stories in the City of Greenville, highlighting its exponential economic growth in a short period of time, making it among one of the most desirable places to live. She also reported on several nationally covered stories and enjoyed the unique experience of living in the south. From 2013-2014, she began her journalism career for the Fox affiliate in Abilene, TX learning all about a small town in West Texas. Rebecca covered many stories throughout the West Texas region before making the move to South Carolina.

Rebecca attended New Mexico State University, receiving her degree in Journalism and Mass Communications with a minor in Spanish. During her senior year, she traveled to Spain to attend a month-long language intensive program in Barcelona. An east coast native, Rebecca was born and raised in New York, about twenty-five minutes outside the city. Her family moved to New Mexico shortly before attending high school and has developed an immense love for New Mexico and specifically the Albuquerque area. She enjoys spending time with her family, husband and three dogs who enjoy walks in the city’s many parks and open spaces, to include the Bosque.

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