Board of Directors
2023-2024 Board of Directors
CAPIO’s Board of Directors is elected by the membership each spring. Board terms are two years, with approximately half of the positions rotating each year according to the schedule outlined in our bylaws. All CAPIO members in good standing are eligible to serve on—and vote for—the CAPIO Board.
Lael Wageneck, APR
President
Lael Wageneck, APR is the Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department which serves over 400,000 residents. He has over 15 years of experience in media production, public relations and public administration, and has presented a many CAPIO conferences on topics from photography to ethics. He previously served on the CAPIO Board as the Central California Regional Chair from 2015-17.
Santa Barbara County Public Works Department
123 E. Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Tom Christensen
President-Elect
Treasurer
Tom Christensen has been a communications specialist with the County of San Diego since 2006. He coordinates and monitors nearly 100 accounts as part of the County’s nationally-recognized social media efforts and writes stories for CountyNewsCenter.com. He was part of the team that won the 2018 CAPIO Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communications Leader Team Award and has worked on crisis communications during several wildfires, a county-wide blackout and an outbreak of hepatitis A.
County of San Diego
1600 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92101
Erin Morales
Immediate Past President
Erin Morales has nearly 20 years of experience in the public sector, specifically working within the water industry. Erin joined the Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) in 2007 and is the Government and Public Affairs Supervisor. In this role, she oversees a team who is responsible for CVWD’s legislative, public outreach, education, and water use efficiency programs.
Cucamonga Valley Water District
10440 Ashford Street
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Jillian Keller, MPA
Vice President - Awards
Jillian Keller has been working in the marketing and communications field for over 10 years, with experience in the public and nonprofit sectors. Her specialties include community engagement, social media management, program development, and event planning. Jillian currently serves as the Sustainability Coordinator for Walnut Valley Water District, overseeing public information and water sustainability programs and activities
Walnut Valley Water District
271 South Brea Canyon Road
Walnut, CA 91789
Sylvia Ornelas
Vice President - Conference
Sylvia Ornelas is a seasoned strategic communications professional, water education coordinator, and event planner. Sylvia has more than 10 years of combined experience in both the public and private sectors and non-profits. She is currently the Senior Strategic Communications Representative for Western Municipal Water District.
Western Municipal Water District
14205 Meridian Parkway
Riverside, CA 92518
Brie Anne Coleman, APR
Vice President - Communications
Brie Anne Coleman, APR is the communications specialist at the Placer County Water Agency. Since 2014 she has evolved her role within the agency, integrating the power of visual storytelling into her work. With a background in freelance photography and graphic design, she applies a “more than words” approach to effectively communicate complex concepts in an accessible and impactful manner. She coordinates projects with cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative and results-driven work environment.
Placer County Water Agency
144 Ferguson Rd
PO Box 6570
Auburn, CA 95603
Teresa Collins
Social Media Chair
Teresa Collins has been in the communications field for over 18 years, holding various jobs in both the private and public sector. She started off her career by writing copy for radio commercials and found her way to a role as the marketing director for a local non-profit. She eventually ended up as a professional government communicator.
City of Escondido
201 N. Broadway
Escondido, CA 92025
Robin Rockey, APR
Education and Development Chair
RockSpark Communications + Marketing CEO Robin Rockey, APR, is a
nationally recognized government communications and public
relations leader. Her company, RockSpark Communications +
Marketing is an award-winning, full-service agency specializing
in government communications, marketing and public relations with
a focus on helping cities, special districts and public agencies
achieve their goals.
Maurice Chaney
Northern CA Regional & Membership Chair
Maurice Chaney is a strategic communication professional with more than 20 years of combined experience in both the public and private sectors. He is a Public Information Officer for the City of Roseville’s Environmental Utilities—a suite of community-owned utilities for a community of 140,000.
City of Roseville
2005 Hilltop Circle
Roseville, CA 95747
Sonja Dosti, APR
Central CA Regional & Membership Chair
Sonja Dosti, APR is the Public Information Officer for the County of Fresno which serves over one million residents. She has over seven years of experience in the public sector, having served as the head of communications for a Fresno school district before moving to the County of Fresno. Her communications department recently won two awards at the 2023 CAPIO Annual Conference. Prior to working in PR, she worked in the film and TV industry in Los Angeles as a studio or network executive as well as a developer on the production side.
County of Fresno
2281 Tulare Street, Room 304
Fresno, CA 93721
Rudy Alvarado
Southern CA Regional & Membership Chair
Rudy has experience in marketing, creative writing, communications, and public administration. He joined the City of Pico Rivera’s newly established Marketing and Communications division in 2015. Since then, the division has grown in staff and has accomplished large-scale projects and communication efforts. As the Supervisor for Pico Rivera’s Marketing and Communications team, Rudy leads a talented and diverse team that has won over 9 CAPIO awards.
Amy Orr
Association & Conference Manager
Amy Orr began working with CAPIO in 2010 as conference manager. In 2015, her role expanded to association management, and she now handles the day-to-day operations of the organization in addition to managing the annual conference under the direction of the conference committee and Board leadership.
P.O. Box 8840
Chico, CA 95927