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Julianne Pelusi serves as the Manager of Media & Government Relations at Pittsburgh Water, where she focuses on cultivating ties with local leaders and strengthening the utility’s communication with the press. Bringing years of on-air experience to a public-utility environment, Julianne acts as a translator between technical teams, elected officials, and everyday residents. Her work centers on building trust and making the invisible parts of public service feel understandable and relevant to the people who depend on them.
Her role includes leading media relations, coordinating with government partners, and supporting broader communications strategy to ensure messaging reflects the organization’s commitment to delivering safe, clean drinking water. Julianne describes her professional focus as taking complex infrastructure topics and shaping them into narratives people can rely on. That approach creates a clearer connection between the technical work happening behind the scenes and the communities that benefit from it.
From broadcast newsroom to public communications
Julianne’s path to public service began in television, where she spent about a decade telling sports stories on air. Her early assignments took her from Steubenville, Ohio, to Buffalo and South Bend, covering major college and professional teams as well as golf tournaments. Those years sharpened her instincts for timing, clarity, and audience engagement—skills she now applies off-camera. She views storytelling as the common thread: whether describing a game-winning drive or a water-main replacement, the goal is the same—make the audience care and understand.
Broadcast highlights and lessons learned
On the sports beat Julianne covered moments ranging from college championship runs to seasons with the Buffalo Bills and Sabres, and even worked features around major golf events. More than the headlines, she credits the grind of daily reporting and deadline pressure for teaching her how to simplify intricate subjects without losing nuance. Those lessons inform how she handles fast-moving public information situations today, where clear, calm communication during high-pressure moments is essential.
What she does at Pittsburgh Water
In her current role Julianne functions as a bridge: she helps translate engineering and construction details into plain language, connects staff with elected officials, and manages media inquiries with transparency and timeliness. She supports the development of messaging that reflects Pittsburgh Water’s dual priorities of operational excellence and community trust. By explaining why projects are necessary and what residents can expect, her team strengthens the relationship between the utility and the people it serves.
Translating invisible work into public understanding
A recurring challenge Julianne enjoys is making the underground, day-to-day aspects of utility work feel meaningful. Much of the most critical infrastructure work is out of sight, so she focuses on using human-centered stories, visuals, and clear explanations to show impact. Her communications emphasize accountability and reliability, reinforcing why investments in pipes, treatment, and maintenance matter to everyday life—hot showers, safe drinking water, and community health.
Personal motivations, memorable moments, and contact
Julianne’s personal values inform her professional priorities. She keeps a simple gratitude practice and often notes that clean drinking water and a hot shower are small comforts that reveal larger systems at work. Off duty she seeks experiences that stretch her perspective—she’s planning an overnight hike up an active volcano in Guatemala and prefers quieter travel routes, as illustrated by a family photo she treasures from the Colosseum in Rome. An aside from colleagues: she was the Steelers in-game host in 2018, a fun reminder of her broadcasting roots.
Her first paid job was at Rita’s Italian Ice in Cranberry when she was 15, where an early supervisor named Megan taught her responsibility and teamwork—lessons she still cites. The best advice Julianne has received is simple and guiding: focus less on being understood and more on understanding. That orientation toward listening and service underpins how she approaches both government relations and community outreach.
Members of the media or government representatives who wish to reach Julianne can contact her at [email protected] or call or text 412-925-5380. She welcomes inquiries related to press coordination, public information requests, and partnership opportunities that advance the delivery of safe, clean drinking water across the region.