Being involved in local city government can take many paths. Hugh Plappert talks with Dana Healy of Tightrope Media Systems about her journey from video production to serving the government as a vendor. Dana shares how a high school class accident sparked her passion for video and how that path led to managing television stations, working with nine cities, and eventually supporting accessibility for local governments.

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She describes learning how communication flows differently inside government, the importance of budgets and measurable outcomes, and how leadership transitions can reshape projects overnight. From turning around a struggling television station to creating MediaScribe for real-time meeting transcripts, Dana highlights how understanding pain points and focusing on inclusivity can transform city communications. Her story emphasizes patience, empathy, and trust as the foundation for any long-term partnership with local government.

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👤 Guest Bio

Dana Healy is Chief Operations Officer at Tightrope Media Systems and host of the Government Video Podcast. Her career began in video production and evolved into decades of partnership with city governments. Dana’s focus includes ADA Title II and WCAG compliance, closed captioning, and accessible communications. Based in Minnesota, she also runs a small-batch soup company, bringing the same care for connection and quality to every project she leads.

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📌 What We Cover

• How a high school video class led to a lifelong career in communication
• Lessons learned managing television stations and serving nine cities
• Understanding government cadence, budgets, and measurable outcomes
• Navigating leadership transitions and changing council priorities
• Turning around a struggling organization through focus and collaboration
• The creation of MediaScribe and the importance of accessibility in civic life
• Building trust and relationships as a long-term vendor to local governments
• Why patience, empathy, and partnership matter more than flashy technology

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🔗 Resources Mentioned

• Tightrope Media Systems
• Government Video Podcast
• MediaScribe
• Hugh Plappert