About four years ago, Amy Hawkins decided to leave her home state of Kentucky and move somewhere she had never lived before. She didn’t just throw a dart at a map, but had several key things she wanted to consider.
“I chose multiple different places to research,” Comanche County’s Emergency Management Public Information Officer said. “I chose Lawton for multiple reasons – the cost of living and the cost of homes and I liked the fact that it’s a military town. My son was getting ready to join the Army. Plus, it’s still close enough for me to get my daughter to Kentucky to visit family. It’s easy to find a job here. And, it’s someplace I had never visited before.”
In 2018, Hawkins made the move and began working at the InStyle Salon in JCPenney located in the former Central Mall. She had been a hairstylist for almost 20 years.
“I had been offered a full ride scholarship to the University of Central Florida for vocal music, but I turned it down to go to cosmetology school,” she said. Hawkins needed a career to support herself and didn’t look back. “My mom always said I was someone who marched to the beat of a different drum. I just picked a career and turned out to be really good at it. I enjoy making people feel better.”
Hawkins has experienced her share of high notes and low notes in life. She spoke openly of being in an emotionally abusive marriage for 17 years and how she found ways to cope. One avenue she pursued while still living in Kentucky was a group called “Rebels & Readers” that she organized with a friend.
“It started out as a blog for independent authors, and it blossomed into hosting events in the eastern United States. We donated the profits to area charities,” Hawkins said. “Authors – we even had them from the United Kingdom and Australia – would purchase table space and bring their books and swag. We would sell tickets to the readers in that area. It was full of their favorite independent authors, and we would hold after hours events, dinner, and have an awards ceremony. Readers were able to meet-and-greet with the authors all weekend long.”
When she decided to move, her connection to “Rebels & Readers” also ended. “I miss it,” she said. “Maybe eventually I can bring that to Lawton.”
Hawkins’ message to others who may be in difficult situations is, “Don’t settle. Just because you’re in the trenches doesn’t mean there isn’t a way out. There’s always a way out. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.”
After moving to Lawton and working as a hairstylist, a client told her about the open PIO position at Comanche County Emergency Management.
“I thought about it and realized that I had always been a go-to person and decided to apply for it. The former director, Michael Merritt, took a chance on me. I began to learn about emergency management and public relations. I’ve had wonderful mentors from Cameron University and have just never stopped trying to learn and develop,” she said.
Hawkins was hired for the position in July 2020 and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from CU in Strategic Communication and Public Relations in 2021. She is now studying for a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in Strategic Communication and Digital Strategy with a projected graduation date of May 2023.
As PIO, her duties include checking news stations for mention of Comanche County and forwarding information to the current director, Clint Langford, and issuing responses, if necessary.
Hawkins built and monitors the Comanche County website.
“Our old website was attacked by hackers,” she said. “We lost everything. I built the website from the ground up in less than two weeks.”
In addition to her office monitoring emergency dispatches for Comanche County from Nixle – a mass notification provider for organizations, law enforcement agencies and schools, according to the company’s website – Hawkins manages the county’s email system, keeps the media updated in emergency events, such as the recent wildfires, handles emergency broadcasts for mobile devices and also creates public relations releases. She also manages social media pages for Comanche County/Lawton Emergency Management and Comanche County.
“I’m just part of an amazing team,” she said. “We all work together.”
Hawkins did find her light at the end of a challenging period in her life. “I love this town,” she said. “I feel content with myself and my position.”
She remarried and together with husband Ryan Hawkins they enjoy a large family of five children and three dogs.
“I’m thankful for everything I’ve gone through in my life,” she said. “It’s made me who I am.”