Meet the Team
Kristin Smith Dunlop, Director of Communications and Community Engagement
Kristin joined Hanover County in February 2023. She leads the communications team’s efforts to connect residents and businesses with their local government.
Kristin’s entire career has focused on communication. She spent more than twenty years as a broadcast journalist in Tucson, Cleveland and Detroit. Her work has appeared on NBC, CNN, VH1 and HGTV. For five years, Kristin covered Hanover County news as a reporter for WRIC-TV in Richmond. She is a five-time Emmy Award nominee and the recipient of numerous accolades from the Associated Press and the Virginia Association of Broadcasters.
Kristin believes transitioning from reporter to government communications was an obvious choice. Both jobs aim to keep people informed with 100% transparency. In 2019, she left the private sector for a role as a public relations specialist in Henrico County.
Kristin grew up in St. Louis and earned her Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and City County Communications and Marketing Association.
Kristin loves running, live music and cheering on her beloved St. Louis Cardinals.
Shelby Walker, Deputy Director
Shelby Walker is the Deputy Director for the department specializing in videography, social media and graphic design. She is responsible for filming County events, maintaining the County’s social media pages and designing County communication materials.
Shelby started with the County in September 2022. She designed the FY2022-FY2026 Strategic Plan, designed and filmed the 2023 State of the County presentation and created the County’s online Government Complex directory highlighting the history behind the building names here on campus. Her favorite project thus far was filming a 7-year-old resident’s first day as a Hanover firefighter as part of a partnership with Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia.
Shelby is a May 2022 graduate of James Madison University and is a Hanover native. She enjoys concerts, cooking and spending time with her family.
She is excited to continue to tell the stories of Hanover residents and showcase our great community. Have a story? Send it her way!
Saundra Martin, Executive Assistant
Saundra Martin joined Hanover County in 2016. She serves as the executive assistant for Communications & Community Engagement and the County Administrator's Office. Saundra spearheads event planning for the County. She’s the logistical coordinator behind groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, receptions and also supports the Administration office assisting with various committees and other duties.
When Saundra’s not in the office, she’s likely at the beach. She loves sun, sand, and water. Saundra enjoys spending time with her husband and two grown children. An avid sports fan, you’ll find Saundra cheering on the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Seahawks.
Joe Hutzler, Multimedia Communications Specialist
Joe is a hands-on content creator responsible for developing striking visuals through video and photo formats, contributing graphics to the social media landscape, and interacting with residents who rely on timely and accurate information.
Joe's experience spans more than ten years and two states. The majority of his background is in athletic communications, specifically at the University of Lynchburg, where he laid the foundation and built the house that is the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network. After leaving Lynchburg, Va., in 2021, he broadened his horizons to include commercial video advertising and wedding videography as part of his small business, Joe Hutzler Media.
Joe is a 2013 graduate of High Point University, 2024 husband of Heather, and 2026 father of Maverick. His enjoys biking riding, playing pickleball, watching rugby, and listening to movie scores while at work — especially John Williams and Hans Zimmer.
He is excited to bring his polished skills and outside-the-box creativity to a welcoming community like Hanover County, Va.!