Mr. Leonard is the man behind the scenes at DDM. Photo: VINO

In 2009, DDM teamed up with the MOE to launch two activity books and four disaster preparedness posters for children. Pictured her is Mr. Leonard (left) with Minister for Education, Andrew Fahie.

Meet Linton Leonard, who at age 42 is the Information and Education Manager for the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) for the past two and half years.

He manages the Public Information and Awareness programme area within the department and is responsible for getting information out to the media, schools, civic groups and other organisations on all aspects of disaster management whether it be awareness, mitigation response or recovery.

Mr. Leonard stated, “I have to admit, Communications and the field of Public Relations was not my first choice.” He continued with the story of how he actually went to college to study Business Management at Colombia Union College now renamed Washington Adventist University in Maryland, USA.

However, he confessed that he was not satisfied with only pursuing a degree in business, since business was not his true passion. So, after some thought and early in his college years, the young professional approached his college advisor on his perspective of another field of study. And according to him, it was suggested that he considered a double major. He then decided to pursue a second degree in Communications which included graphics, audio and video production as well as journalism and public relations.

At the end of five years of study, Mr. Leonard obtained degrees in both Business and Communications in the summer of 1994.

Armed with his degrees, his drive and youthful passion, this young professional returned to his homeland in 1994 where he was employed by the Government Information Service (GIS), and with this zeal he orchestrated the implementation of the Graphics Unit in that Department.

Today it is a fully staffed, indispensible Unit within the Department of Information. While still at GIS, Mr. Leonard was awarded the prestigious public service title of Employee of the Quarter in 2007.

His passion for graphic designing that was birthed out of his natural talent as an artist combined with the great demand for design work in the Territory at the time led him to open a Graphic Arts Studio called Dawlin Designs. Through his studio, Mr. Leonard has produced work for clients all over the world from 1994 up to now.

In 2009, Mr. Leonard joined the DDM, and the rest, as he said “is history”.

His current job at the DDM affords him the opportunity to work with a dedicated team of disaster professionals. His job also affords him to utilise his skills in audio and video production, writing for the public and assisting in maintaining the department’s website. While this is just a snap shot of what he does, Mr. Leonard admittedly said that what he likes most about his job is the freedom to be creative.

“It’s never boring because it encompasses everything in the field of Public Relations, whether it may be developing a hazard campaign strategy or managing a project within the department,” he said with a smile.

With his knowledge, the versatile young professional hosts a television programme “Focus” where the emphasis is on disaster management. Two episodes are shot and aired on all local television channels on a monthly basis. There is also a DDM radio programme that is broadcast every two months and is played out on all the local radio stations.

Mr. Leonard told Virgin Islands News Online that he plays a large part in many of the hazard awareness Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and has divulged that with Fire Safety Month approaching, he will be able to assist in ‘coming up with new and exciting ways to promote safety and awareness’.

In May of this year, he had an opportunity to visit the United Kingdom to participate in a course in Crisis Communications, which he feels has helped to build his capacity as a crisis communicator. He was so impressed with the course material that he is now considering furthering his studies by obtaining a Masters degree in the field, and one day would like to distinguish himself as an expert Crisis Communicator in the region.

He sees himself as a role model and has mentored many youths in his village. When asked what advice he has for the youth, he says, “Whatever your hands find to do, do it to the best of your ability. I would like to see them all gainfully employed or pursuing tertiary studies.”

He describes himself as a family man, an easy-going person, who loves sports, and the outdoors. He enjoys interacting with young people of his church and the community. Adding to that, he has also worked with the Pathfinders Club for more than two decades, he has served for many years in his church as the Communications Secretary and he is part of their technical team. He has also offered his services to teach Social Studies at the Alternative Secondary Educational Programme for a short while.

In the future, Mr. Leonard foresees his children grown and accomplished in their chosen careers, and spending time travelling with his wife Dawn, his wife of 15 years.