Jessica Murdock
Jessica Murdock is a dedicated community development professional known for her organization, reliability, and commitment to excellence in every aspect of her work. Currently serving as a Community Development Program Manager for the City of Fernley, she plays a key role in connecting residents, businesses, and local organizations through strategic communication, project coordination, and community-driven initiatives. Her work reflects a strong focus on collaboration, ensuring that programs and partnerships create meaningful and lasting impact across the community.
Her career journey is rooted in perseverance and steady growth. Jessica began working in education, spending seven years in a California school district while putting herself through college and gaining valuable administrative experience. She later transitioned into municipal government with the City of Napa, where she supported multiple departments including planning, economic development, and public works. After relocating to Nevada, she joined the City of Fernley as a permit technician and quickly advanced into leadership roles, ultimately earning her current position through her work ethic, initiative, and ability to build strong relationships across departments.
In her current role, Jessica leads communications efforts, organizes large-scale community events, and manages projects that bring people together—from business expos to public space initiatives like community gardens and art parks. She is passionate about bridging gaps between nonprofits, local businesses, and city leadership to strengthen the community as a whole. With a background in criminology, communication, and business studies, Jessica brings a unique blend of analytical thinking and interpersonal skill to her work, consistently demonstrating her dedication to service, growth, and creating positive change.
• Intercultural Communication Certificate
• Speech and Communication Studies Certificate
• Southern New Hampshire University- B.A.
• Humboldt State University- B.A.
• Ohlone College- A.A.
• Southern New Hampshire University- Bachelor's
• Community Garden Partnership with Lyon County School District
• Main Street Art Park
• Community Planting Days
• Adopt-A-Park Program
• Annual Business Expo
• Spooktacular Halloween Event
• 25th Anniversary Festival Planning
• Irvington High School
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents, who drilled into me that if I wasn't going to be the smartest person in the room, I needed to be trying my best in every room. I have learning disabilities and I'm dyslexic, so I struggled throughout school. Always having to advocate for myself and advocate for my work has really served me in my adult years, because as a kid, you're always seen as a slacker when you don't understand your homework. I have always been a very driven person, and I have to say that's because of my parents and because of overcoming dyslexia and learning disabilities. Being reliable and trustworthy, being the person that gets things done, has carried me through my career. I answer my phone, I respond to emails, I get things done. Having an honest personal brand gets me in the door, because people know if I say there's something I can't do, they know without even asking that I have tried every avenue to try and get it done.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is: Don't slow down just to fit into someone else's idea of what you should be doing. If you're setting the bar, keep setting the bar.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is that you can be the most well-dressed person in the room, but if you don't have people listening to you and willing to work with you, you're not going to get very far. Be the person they want to work with. Be the person that gets things done. That is what has served me well over the last few years, is being that person that you can rely on. I answer my phone, I respond to emails, I get things done. That will carry you through your career if you are known as a go-getter and that you accomplish things. And if you're truthful, having an honest personal brand, like I do, gets me in the door. Because people know, if I say there's something I can't do, they know without even asking I have tried every avenue to try and get it done. And if it's something I can't get done, that's why I'm coming to you, because I know you can get it done.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In Fernley specifically, the biggest challenge is that Fernley is becoming the hub, and we are growing faster than we can build. Right now, a lot of what I'm doing is trying to meet with developers and trying to convince them to come to Fernley. We need developers, we need hotels here, we need fun things for our family and for our kids. Fernley is going to become the hub whether we have it or not, and we need to be able to grow as we're predicted to, because our infrastructure needs to keep pace with our growth.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Community is the most important value to me. I grew up in California, so I'm a transplant to Fernley, and in my childhood, all I did was volunteer. I volunteered in the schools, I volunteered outside of school. We had a program in high school where you had to graduate with at least 40 hours of volunteer hours, and I had 453 hours. It's printed on my transcript, that's the only reason why I know the number. I love giving back to my community. I love supporting my community, and if there's a way I can do it through work, I find a way. The city's always looking for ways to get involved in our community and support our community, so it goes hand-in-hand with my job. I absolutely love my job. The community is our backbone. We can't get anywhere without the community. Beyond that, being reliable and trustworthy is essential to me. Being the person that gets things done and having an honest personal brand are values that guide everything I do.