Communication Team

Natalie Sosa has a distinguished career in public service and communications. With 15 years of dedicated service in El Paso County, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the community and her passion for effective communication. Her journey began as a telecommunicator, ensuring residents’ and first responders’ safety through timely and effective communication. She then progressed through various roles within the Sheriff’s Office, including an important position as a Public Information Officer. In this capacity, she honed her skills in disseminating vital information to the public and the media, helping to keep the community informed during critical situations and emergencies. Her ability to communicate effectively under pressure and provide accurate information made her an invaluable asset to the office.

Natalie Sosa is currently the Interim Executive Director of Communications, leveraging her extensive experience and expertise in public information. In this role, she plays a pivotal part in shaping and executing communication strategies, ensuring accurate and timely information dissemination to the public and the media.

Mike Madsen is the Open Records Manager with the El Paso County Communications Department and has served in this role for over six years. Prior to joining the county, Mike was a math teacher at Air Academy High School located on the United States Air Force Academy. During his fourteen years there, he taught courses in Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, and his favorite, Chess Theory.

Mike is a 2005 graduate from San Diego State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and in 2011, earned his master’s degree in mathematics from UCCS. He and his wife Cindi moved to Colorado Springs over 20 years ago and absolutely love it here. Together they have raised three amazing kids and two super spoiled cats. He enjoys participating in all kinds of sports but his favorite pastime is playing chess.

As the Communications and Public Relations Coordinator for El Paso County, Dominic Manzo splits his time between open records requests and the maintenance of internal and external County communications. He started the newly created role in the spring of 2025.

In the past, Dominic attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and double majored in Communication and Media and the German language. Before joining El Paso County, he worked for 2 years as a judicial clerk with the 1^st Judicial District in Jefferson County, CO, where he processed legal filings for domestic and juvenile court proceedings.

In his personal pursuits, Dominic writes, records, and performs original music. On any given day, he can be found playing tennis, climbing, watching basketball, or enjoying a history podcast.

Blake Nielsen is an accomplished Audio-Visual Production Engineer with extensive experience in video production, live broadcasting, and technical system management. Known for delivering high-quality content, Blake has played a key role in producing impactful video series such as Dead on Arrival, Tough Jobs.

In his role at El Paso County, Blake manages end-to-end AV production, from pre-production planning, video production, to post-production editing, ensuring projects meet both technical standards and communication goals. He is skilled in operating and maintaining professional equipment, including Blackmagic cinema cameras, drones, and advanced editing systems, with superior knowledge of how technology works together to produce polished, engaging media. Beyond his technical skillset, Blake is passionate about innovating workflows, mentoring through example, and bringing stories to life that connect communities.

Brandon O’Dell serves as Senior Communications & Public Relations Specialist for El Paso County, where he specializes in strategic communications, media relations, public outreach, and stakeholder engagement. With a professional background spanning government operations, executive leadership, and public-facing communications, Brandon brings a results-driven approach to strengthening public trust through transparent messaging, community engagement, and impactful storytelling.

Brandon’s experience combines executive leadership with hands-on operational knowledge, allowing him to effectively translate complex issues into clear, accessible communication for both internal and external audiences. Throughout his career, he has led public education initiatives, coordinated cross-departmental communication efforts, served as an on-air spokesperson, and developed strategic messaging campaigns that support organizational goals and enhance community relationships.

A lifelong El Paso County resident, Brandon is deeply invested in the long-term success and vitality of the community he proudly calls home.

Aiden joined the Communications Department in Spring of 2026 as an Audio/Visual Specialist. He is a recent graduate of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs with a B.A. in Communication. He brings years of hands-on experience in full-service video production and digital media across Academic, Non-profit and Government sectors. He is skilled in scripting, cinematography, editing, and post-production, with expertise in DaVinci Resolve Studio, Final Cut Pro, and Adobe Creative Suite. His work earned him the Audience Choice Award at the 2024 Dassanowsky Film Festival for one of his independent film projects.

Prior to his role in communications, Aiden worked for El Paso County’s Children, Youth, and Family Services as a Case Aide, where he developed formulas for data tracking and workflow optimization, overhauled digital spreadsheets, and improved digital asset management systems.