Carolyn Justice-Hinson

Carolyn Justice-Hinson brings over 35 years of proven expertise in customer service excellence, community relations, and crisis communications to her role as Vice President of Nexus Carolinas. Her extensive background in public sector communication and stakeholder engagement makes her uniquely qualified to help law enforcement and local government agencies enhance their community relationships, improve public trust, and navigate complex communication challenges.

While Carolyn continues her role with the PWC (Fayetteville Public Works Commission) as the Chief Customer Officer, she has agreed to take on a Communications Consulting role as Vice President Nexus Carolinas. 

During her distinguished career with PWC (Fayetteville Public Works Commission), Carolyn established herself as a transformational leader in public service communications. She created PWC's first Public Information Office in 1997, which grew significantly under her leadership to become a model for customer and community engagement. In 2012, she made history as one of PWC's first female officers when she was named Communications/Community Relations Officer, joining the executive team where she directed comprehensive communication strategies for major public initiatives.

Carolyn's exceptional ability to manage large-scale public communication projects directly translates to the complex challenges facing agencies today. She successfully coordinated communications and implementation for major customer-facing projects including AMI meter deployment, system-wide LED streetlight conversion, mandatory Time-of-Use electric rates, and Phase V Annexation Utility retrofit projects. Her establishment of PWC's Community Advisory Group in 2002 demonstrates her understanding of proactive community engagement strategies that law enforcement agencies need to build and maintain public trust.

Her crisis communication expertise is particularly valuable for law enforcement consulting, having successfully managed communications during major events including Hurricane Florence in 2018 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. This experience in high-pressure, time-sensitive communication scenarios provides agencies with proven strategies for managing public information during critical incidents while maintaining transparency and public confidence.

Under Carolyn's leadership, PWC's Communications/Community Relations Division received more than 30 state and national awards for Communications Excellence, demonstrating her ability to create award-winning communication programs that could transform how agencies interact with their communities. Her coordination of PWC's annual United Way Campaign, which raised $2.3 million and earned 18 United Way of North Carolina's "Spirit of NC" awards, showcases her exceptional ability to build community partnerships and enhance organizational reputation.

Carolyn's community involvement and leadership extend far beyond her professional accomplishments. As a past Chair of the American Public Power Association's Public Communication Section and Past President of the Rotary Club of Fayetteville, she brings extensive network connections and community insight that benefit agencies seeking to strengthen their community relationships. Her service on the United Way of Cumberland County's Board of Directors, the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Committee, and numerous other civic organizations demonstrates her deep understanding of community dynamics and stakeholder management.

A native of Jacksonville, North Carolina, and 1989 graduate of East Carolina University, Carolyn began her career in collegiate athletics as ECU's Assistant Sports Information Director from 1990-1997. This early experience in managing public information, coordinating media relations, and producing professional communications materials laid the foundation for her expertise in strategic communication and stakeholder engagement.

Her professional recognition includes the NC3C Chris Coulson Communicator of the Year award in 2019, recognition as a United Way Community Ambassador in 2022, and selection as the 2012 Leadership Fayetteville Alumni Association's Alumni of the Year. As a 1998 graduate of the Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Fayetteville Program, she later served as program Chairman in 2014-15 and as Lead Faculty for the Program's Adult and Youth Government Days, demonstrating her commitment to developing leadership and communication skills in others.

Carolyn's extensive professional affiliations include membership in the Public Relations Society of America, the N.C. Government Information Officer Association, the N.C. City and County Communicators Association (NC3C), and the Public Relations Alliance of Cumberland County. These connections provide Nexus Carolinas with access to best practices and innovative approaches in public sector communication that can transform how agencies engage with their communities and manage their public image.