Team GSM

Meet Kristy Dalton

Kristy Dalton is the founder and CEO of Government Social Media®, an ecosystem dedicated to public sector social media managers and digital communicators in government.

A pioneer in the "Gov 2.0" movement, she began launching city social media profiles back in 2008 – a time when the idea of local government being on social media was still an uncharted area.

Driven by a belief that public service should be transparent, accessible, and human, Kristy became widely known across the country as “GovGirl.” Through her unique, lighthearted online video show and her subsequent column in Government Technology magazine, she shared the real-world successes and challenges of digital government, proving that public sector communications could be both informative and engaging. She later authored the first Social Media for Government course for LinkedIn Learning, helping establish practical, professional guidance for government agencies navigating social media.

What started as a passion project quickly revealed a deeper need: government social media managers lacked a dedicated space to connect, learn, and navigate the unique legal and ethical hurdles of public communication. To solve this, Kristy and her team built an infrastructure to support and elevate the profession:

Kristy Dalton,
Founder & CEO

GSMCON: She created the Government Social Media Conference in 2015, THE premier annual event that brings over 1,500 public sector employees together with representatives from major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Google, Nextdoor and TikTok.
GSM Training: Bridging the gap for interactive, real-world instruction, Kristy co-leads the GSM Training brand alongside GSM Social Media Manager Ariana Donley. Together, they develop and deliver highly specialized government masterclasses, workshops, and summits focused on topics like advanced content and video strategies, crisis response, policy and building public trust.
Association: Recognizing the need for year-round community, Kristy founded the Government Social Media Association (GSMA) in 2015. After serving as its Executive Director for over a decade, she passed the leadership torch to trusted long-time Team GSM member Sarah Rihaly, who now leads GSMA alongside its council and volunteer committees, allowing Kristy to focus fully on the broader growth and strategic vision of the GSM ecosystem.
Golden Post Awards: Kristy established the Golden Post Awards in 2015 to recognize excellence in government social media. Today, dedicated committees and volunteers champion the program, culminating in an Oscar-like awards ceremony at GSMCON.

Over the years, Kristy has keynoted in nearly every U.S. state, guested on numerous podcasts and interviews, and served as a delegate at a NATO social media summit in Sarajevo. Today, much of her focus is on helping others grow in their careers and continuing to elevate the profession as a whole. Outside of work, she enjoys continuous learning and spending time with her family in Reno, Nevada.