The Macon-Bibb County Office of Communications is a finalist in the 2025 City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) Savvy Awards for its Class One Recruitment promotional video produced, shot, and edited by Multimedia Manager Olivia Walter.

Last year, the Fire Department needed a compelling way to promote its work and attract new, younger applicants. The Office of Communications was tasked with creating a recruitment video that would stand out among departments across the region. The goal was to capture what it truly feels like to be a firefighter — from responding to emergencies, to the family-like camaraderie, to the pride of protecting the community — all while showcasing the job’s benefits.

Walter, who leads the Office’s graphic design and video efforts, spent a week embedded with two of the department’s most active stations to capture authentic footage on duty. She immersed herself in their daily rhythms to understand how firefighters interact in their downtime, train, and respond to calls.

“Capturing the strength, dedication, and unity of our Class One Fire Department was an incredible privilege,” said Walter. “This video shows exactly why joining their team is both a challenge and an honor, and seeing it named a finalist for a 3CMA Savvy Award is a proud moment for me and for the heroes it highlights.”

The video has been shown at more than a dozen community events and is now used to open presentations by the Fire Chief and senior staff at community gatherings, recruit graduations, and promotion ceremonies — including events for Leadership Macon, Rotary Clubs, and others. Chief Shane Edwards also uses the video to spark conversations about the department’s efforts to overcome recruitment and retention challenges.

“Olivia did a phenomenal job showcasing how skilled and committed our firefighters are to our community,” said Chief Edwards. “I get a wave of pride when I show this to others and see their excitement. We are honored that this video is being recognized nationally.”

The video was also actively used at the Georgia National Fair, where it caught the attention of thousands. Nearly 70 people applied on-site after watching it and stopping to learn more about the department.

“Any city can create a recruitment flyer that outlines a job description, but it takes a special vision to get people to feel and understand what a job entails,” said Chief Communications Officer Chris Floore. “What Olivia created by embedding herself with the Fire Department truly takes you inside what they do — inside the fire, inside their training, and inside their family.”

The award winners will be announced at the 3CMA Conference in September. Click here to watch the video.