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CAPIO Chirp Episode 28
Make Waves at CAPIO 2026 in San Diego
The countdown is on! ⏳ The annual CAPIO Conference returns the week of May 11 in San Diego! Are you ready to make some waves?
In this episode of the CAPIO Chirp, we preview what’s ahead in conversation with CAPIO President-Elect Sonja Dosti, APR. Conference highlights include sessions on AI, social media, emergency response, media relations, and building public trust. Plus networking opportunities, tips for first-time attendees, and updates to this year’s EPIC Awards celebration.
Don’t miss your chance to connect, learn, and be inspired.
We also have some bonus material for you. At the conference, be sure to connect with our sponsors/vendors. We had an opportunity to talk with a couple of them at last year’s conference in Napa.
Lights, Camera, All Aboard!
Cruise into the spotlight with the 2026 STAR Awards Video Contest
The wait is over! Submissions for the 2026 STAR Awards are officially open! With more than 50 categories, there are more opportunities than ever to showcase your agency’s best work.
This year features exciting additions, including Annual Report/Budget, Interview/Talk Show/Podcast, General Interest Story, and State of the City/County/Town. We’ve also expanded our social media recognition with new categories for Best Trending and Event Promotion/Recap, along with three dedicated Water categories.
Don’t miss your chance to be recognized! Start preparing and submitting your entries today.
And mark your calendar: the STAR Awards ceremony returns to the iconic Queen Mary on October 1 for an unforgettable day celebrating excellence in public communications.
Winners announced at the STAR Awards Luncheon + Compact Symposium aboard the iconic Queen Mary in Long Beach on October 1, 2026
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Eligibility Criteria:
All entries must be submitted by a local government, such as a city, county, public school district, police, sheriff, or a non-profit organization whose scope of programming includes government access, or other entity serving local government interests in California and Nevada. Each STAR Award is granted only to the jurisdiction or organization, not to individual contributors.
Videos must have originally aired or published online between June 1, 2025 – May 8, 2026. Videos must have been created in-house for all categories except those as noted under Agency/Consultant categories.
All entries must be submitted individually through our online entry form. On the entry form, include a link to the video. (For example: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo or your channel’s On-Demand).
Categories and Operating Budget Breakdowns may be modified to accommodate the number of entries received.
Entries Open: April 15
Early Bird Entry Deadline: May 15
Deadline to enter: 11:59 p.m. May 29, 2026
Entry Fees
CAPIO Member Price:
$65 per entry – April 15 - May 15 (early bird)
$80 per entry – May 16 – 29
Non-Member Price: $95 per entry
Payment must be received by the entry deadline May 29, 2026.
Election Results Announced for CAPIO’s 2026-2027 Board of Directors
CAPIO is pleased to announce the results of the recent Board election.
CAPIO Chirp Episode 27
In the latest segment, we’re diving into what it’s REALLY like to be a government PIO in the fire service.
Learn how a former TV reporter and social media influencer use their backgrounds to help create award-winning fire communications content. Every day is different: from posting alerts on working fires to educating the public about illegal fireworks, highlighting “What’s for Lunch” at the firehouse and even showing crews rescuing cats from trees!
Now accepting applications for the 2026 CAPIO Young Communicator Scholarship
Deadline: April 10
Do you know an aspiring communications professional that could use some financial help? Applications are now being accepted for the CAPIO Young Communicator Scholarship. This program awards one $1,500 scholarship to an undergraduate or graduate student seeking a career in government communications.
Eligible candidates must be enrolled full- or part-time at a California state college or university, or must have graduated within one year of applying for the scholarship. Candidates must be majoring in a communications-related field such as communications studies, public relations or marketing with a GPA of at least 3.0.
CAPIO Chirp Episode 26
Harnessing the power of AI Tools
AI is evolving fast and it’s changing how PIO’s communicate every day.
In this episode, we chat with Chris Shepard, Communications Officer for the City of Folsom, about how best to harness the power of advanced AI tools.
Chris explains how to use platforms like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Claude to save time, spark ideas, and strengthen your messaging.
Whether you’re experimenting with AI or ready to level up your strategy, this conversation is packed with practical tips you can start using right away.
CAPIO Chirp Episode 24 & 25
Interviews with CAPIO's Special Award Winners
Award season is here and it’s time to celebrate excellence in public communication! In this special episode, we dive into CAPIO’s prestigious Special Awards, recognizing the individuals shaping the future of public communication, through leadership, innovation, and service. We sit down with last year’s honorees, including the Communicator of the Year, Crisis Communications Leader, Rising Star, and the distinguished Paul B. Clark Award recipient. Hear what inspires them and get an inside look at what it takes to achieve award-winning excellence.
Gear up for the 2026 EPIC Awards Program
What projects will you submit?
CAPIO’s EPIC awards program recognizes the most creative and effective efforts in the areas of communication and marketing campaigns, newsletter production, photography, special events, writing, website development and video production.
The EPIC Awards honor work that transcends innovation and craft - work that made a lasting impact, providing an equal chance of winning to all entrants regardless of company or agency size and project budget. If your work moved people, we want to give it a chance to take home an EPIC!
John Pope selected as the 2025 Paul B. Clark recipient
During the Special Awards Dinner at CAPIO’s Annual Conference, John Pope received the prestigious 2025 Paul B. Clark Achievement Award that recognizes change-makers who demonstrate exceptional leadership and career-long achievement in the field of public information through professional commitment.
CAPIO’s COTY renamed the Scott Summerfield Communicator of the Year Award
In a surprise announcement at the 2025 CAPIO Conference, outgoing
President Tom Christensen revealed that one of the year’s top
honors in government communications will now bear a new name: the
Scott Summerfield Communicator of the Year Award. The
announcement came during his final moments as President.
Jennifer Nance Wins 2025 Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communicator of the Year Award
Jennifer Nance, Communications Manager and Public Information Officer for the City of Ventura, is proud to be recognized as the recipient of the CAPIO 2025 Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communications Leader of the Year Award for her exemplary efforts during the Pierpont Gasoline Leak incident in September 2024.
Introducing CAPIO’s 2025-2026 Board of Directors
CAPIO is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 Board of Directors who oversee and guide the strategic direction for the association. As the state’s leading government communications association, the California Association of Public Information Officials serves our 1200-member network of public communicators through training, networking and professional development opportunities. The new board members will be officially inducted as officers during the April 3 luncheon at the CAPIO Annual Conference.
CAPIO Chirp Episode 17
Celebrating Women's History Month with three CAPIO entrepreneurs
Enjoy learning more about three women’s professional journeys from PIO to entrepreneur during this episode of the CAPIO Chirp. CAPIO’s podcast hosts interview Rachel Dickman, MBA, APR, CEO and Founder of RMG Communications; Jenny Windle, President and Founder of JPW Communications; and Sheri Benninghoven, APR, Principal, SAE Communications. Hear about their adventures and tips for success in business from these three Paul B. Clark recipients and longtime CAPIO members.
CAPIO Chirp Episode 16
CAPIO Conference Preview
Listen in while our podcast co-hosts interview CAPIO’s incoming president, Brie Anne Coleman, APR, as she shares conference highlights and insights about how to make the most of your time at the CAPIO Conference this spring. Learn about our keynote speakers, EPIC Awards, Special Awards and networking tips for our 2025 CAPIO Annual Conference being held April 1-4 in Napa, CA.
CAPIO—Are you ready to Make Waves?
Registration Deadline - April 27
We can’t wait to welcome you to sunny San Diego, May 11–14, 2026 for the California Association of Public Information Officials’ 2026 Annual Conference. Our agenda is packed with amazing sessions and registering by March 6 ensures you the best pricing!
This is your opportunity to showcase your work, connect with colleagues from across the state, and learn from industry experts leading the way in public sector communications. Dive into sessions covering media relations, strategic communications, social media, emergency response, branding, emerging technologies (hello, AI!), analytics, public speaking and more.
CAPIO Chirp Episode 15
Special Edition: Behind the Scenes at the Palisades Fire
In this special edition of the CAPIO Chirp podcast, Chloe Castillo, a Deputy Public Information Officer for CAL FIRE, takes us behind the scenes of the Joint Information Center (JIC) during the Palisades Fire. From managing international media attention to balancing the multilingual and localized communication needs of the community, Chloe shares invaluable insights for communicators tackling the complexities of crisis communications on the front lines and advice for communicators looking to assist.
CAPIO Chirp Episode 14
Celebrating Great Communicators
During this episode our podcast hosts interview CAPIO’s 2024 Special Award Winners. Each year CAPIO honors several individuals with distinctions including our Communicator of the Year, Rising Star, Crisis Communications Leader and Paul B. Clark awards. These awards recognize individuals who have had a distinctive impact at their agency or in government communications state-wide. We begin this interview with our 2024 Paul B. Clark recipient, Maurice Chaney, PIO for City of Roseville’s Environmental Utilities. Next, we hear from the County of Fresno’s communications team Sonja Dosti, APR, Joshua Dean and Michelle Avalos who were honored with our 2024 Crisis Communications Leader of the Year. Joshua Dean was also recognized as our 2024 Rising Star. The episode wraps with an interview with our 2024 Communicator of the Year, Kevin Strauss, Communications Manager for the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency. Congrats to these outstanding communicators! Nominations are now open for our 2025 Special Awards. Learn More
Did you Miss our Partner for Success Webinars?
Catch up by watching the recorded webinars.
Are you seeking solutions to take the load off of your staff in 2025? Learn more about how our CAPIO Annual Partners can assist you with your upcoming projects or technology through these recordings featuring our CAPIO Annual Partners.
PARTNER FOR SUCCESS WEBINAR 1
Learn more about CAPIO Diamond Partner Tripepi Smith and CAPIO Platinum Partners Public Input and FlashVote through this 45 minute webinar.
CAPIO Chirp – Episode 13
Working on the BIG Stage - an Interview with Chris Meagher, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense
In this episode, we find out what it’s like to work for the government…the BIG government. Chris Meagher, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense, discusses how he went from writing about sports to a position on the big stage working for the Pentagon and the White House.