By Eric Palmer, Senior Communications Coordinator, ReGen Monterey and CAPIO Social Media Chair

As 2026 begins, it’s a great time to reflect on your professional accomplishments and set your sights on what’s next. Maybe you’re ready to land that Public Information Officer role or build the experience and personal brand that will position you for leadership. Maybe you’re feeling motivated to learn, grow, or step outside your comfort zone.

Whatever your goals, 2026 is a prime opportunity to pursue meaningful professional advancement and educational opportunities with CAPIO.

Level Up to the Board of Directors

Elections for CAPIO’s Board of Directors will open soon. Two years ago, I took a chance and submitted my name for Social Media Chair. I was intimidated by my limited leadership experience and felt like I didn’t have the exposure others did in our profession — but I believed in the work, and I wanted to contribute. Sometimes, the results will surprise you.

You get to experience the fun and rare challenge of advising a professional association, shaping strategy, and digging deeper into public-sector communications alongside some of the sharpest and most creative minds in our industry. You’ll make connections and friends you can call on — people who understand what you’re navigating and can offer advice and encouragement.

We have so many talented members in our organization, and you are one of them. If you’ve ever thought about stepping into a leadership role, take the leap and go for it, just like I did. Is there a role that fits your skillset or sparks your curiosity?

Level Up to Non-Profit Leadership

Is there a cause you’re passionate about? Another powerful way to build your professional toolkit and résumé is to serve on the board of a nonprofit organization. Many nonprofits rely on volunteers and are often short-staffed — especially when it comes to communications.

Creatives and communicators are frequently asked to donate their skills because the work itself is meaningful and aligned with causes they care about. While that can feel rewarding, it’s also an opportunity to advocate for yourself.

When I’m asked to volunteer, I often insist on a director or committee leadership role. That allows me to offer strategic communication guidance while also gaining experience in management, governance, and decision-making — skills that translate directly back into my professional life or strengthen my résumé. Over the years, I’ve served on boards that build and protect local hiking trails, promote sustainability, support civic engagement and political campaigns, and expand access to local media. Each role offered new perspectives, responsibilities, connections, and confidence.

As we head into what will no doubt be an active civic year, there will be countless opportunities to lend your expertise to organizations, community efforts, political candidates, and causes you care about. If you’re invited to help, don’t be afraid to insist on a leadership role. Your skills are needed — and 2026 is the perfect time to put them to work.

Level Up Your Education

Ever since I learned that my government agencies offered tuition assistance or reimbursement, I’ve tried to use every penny, every year. Ask your Human Resources staff if this is a benefit for you. If it’s not, mention it to your union representative as a request to add this benefit to your next contract bargaining effort.

If you’re not in a hurry, a master’s degree in communications or public administration can be a strong asset when job hunting and can help you grow in your current role or agency. I typically take up to three classes a year and give myself permission to pause when work, family, or life gets busy. Slow and steady progress still adds up.

In future years, I hope to pursue an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) through CAPIO, the most widely recognized public relations accreditation in the country. It’s a clear marker of commitment to learning and mastery of strategic communications principles.

CAPIO also offers the J. Lindsey Wolf Certificate in Communications, a free or low-cost program covering strategic and crisis communications, public speaking, media relations, ethics, and community engagement. CAPIO is a respected national leader in public sector communication, and an APR or J. Lindsey Wolf Certificate signals to your agency or prospective employers that a leading association recognizes your education and command of core strategies and tactics.

Level Up Your Visibility

Present at conferences, submit award entries, volunteer or ask for local presentation, press conference, or media interview opportunities, or write about your accomplishments on LinkedIn. Don’t think of “visibility” as self-promotion. It’s about contributing to the profession and helping others learn from your experience. The confidence that comes from being recognized as a subject-matter expert can be career-changing.

For me, growing my public speaking experience was a 2025 goal. I submitted several abstracts and nervously awaited the results. By the end of the year, I had spoken at three conferences, sharing case studies on social media strategy with waste management agencies. What started out as very intimidating became surprisingly energizing once I got a few reps in.

A Final Way to Level Up: Stay Connected

Follow CAPIO on social media and connect with fellow members on LinkedIn. It’s a great way to learn about professional development opportunities, upcoming webinars, and the programs, projects, and advocacy work your peers are leading across California.

Serving as CAPIO’s Social Media Chair has been one of the most rewarding parts of my professional journey. Seeing and sharing the creativity, leadership, and impact of our members inspires me. As we head into 2026, I hope it inspires you too.

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