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East Coast meets West Coast at CAPIO 2023
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and FBI's Cathy Milhoan to speak in Monterey
This just in! CAPIO is pleased to announce our two keynote speakers for the CAPIO Annual Conference: the FBI’s Cathy L. Milhoan and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.
CAPIO President kicks off membership month with a personal video message
Erin Morales, Government and Public Affairs Supervisor, Cucamonga Valley Water District
During the month of February we will be highlighting our members and having fun discussions on social media with with a chance to win prizes! Enjoy this video from CAPIO President Erin Morales as she shares a personal message to the membership about the value of CAPIO.
Watch your email and your Facebook & Instagram feeds to connect with your fellow CAPIANS and your chance to win!
So you want to start a government agency podcast?
Tune in to CAPIO Chirp's Episode 7
Did you know that podcast listening has grown by almost 30 percent in the past three years? And with that growth comes an opportunity for public agencies to better engage with their communities. But what does it take to develop a government podcast and how do you attract listeners?
In this episode of CAPIO Chirp, we talk with the City of Agoura Hills and the Cucamonga Valley Water District about what it takes to launch a successful podcast.
It’s a podcast about podcasting!
Listen now: So you want to start a government agency podcast?
CAPIO Board Welcomes Mid-Term Appointees
Board members appointed to fill vacancies
CAPIO is pleased to announce the appointment of board members assuming three positions due to mid-term shifts. While this is a rare occurrence, it can happen due to any number of things including promotions, job transitions or new responsibilities that conflict with a position. Because we will be holding an election in just four months, the Board has appointed Board members to assist in finishing out the current terms through the end of April. These positions will then be up for election.
Special Award Winners Announced during CAPIO’s EPIC Awards Gala
August 31, 2022 - San Diego
During CAPIO’s EPIC Awards Gala in San Diego last Wednesday, CAPIO honored three individuals who exemplify what it means to be top-notch government communicators – over the course of a year, during a crisis, or through a career-long dedication to the craft. We celebrate these individuals and congratulate them on their achievements. Read on to learn more about Olivia Applegate, Jennifer Carey and Jennifer Cabral.
2022 Communicator of the Year Award Recipient
Olivia Applegate
Honored for her exceptional leadership and excellence in strategic communications, Olivia has raised the bar in public communications.
Most recently, Olivia has transformed the San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association’s communications program that serves over 44,000 members and 16 employers throughout California.
With great drive and vision, Olivia led SBCERA through an organizational rebrand, website redesign, member engagement survey designed to help drive member experience efforts, and an employer survey designed to establish mutual priorities and help build consensus on strategic initiatives, electronic newsletter campaigns, and others. Olivia also led her team through an ambitious strategic communications plan, which has served as a guide to define, shape, and communicate SBCERA’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
2022 Paul B. Clark Recipient
Jennifer M. Cabral, MPA
Jennifer M. Cabral has been the voice of the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) for over 20 years. She oversees the Public Affairs Office and Board Services, a joint staff of 15 people, managing marketing communications, community relations, public affairs, legislative and government affairs, branding, stakeholder relationships, event planning, media relations, and board relations for the third largest wastewater treatment facility west of the Mississippi River.
Jennifer has become the sounding board for OC San’s executive management team and has gained a seat at the decision-makers’ table. Her value to the agency is demonstrated by the trust, confidence, and respect she has earned from her staff, peers, management, and Board of Directors.
Congratulations New APRs
Brie Anne Coleman, APR and Julie Prayter, APR
Two CAPIO Members took a big step this year in their professional development and achieved their APR credentials this year: Brie Anne Coleman, APR and Julie Prayter, APR. Congratulations Brie Anne and Julie!
CAPIO is one of only nine public relations organizations to offer its members the internationally recognized Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).
The APR recognizes timeless communications principles with contemporary strategies and tactics. The process of earning your APR takes your skills to the next level by exposing you to today’s cutting-edge strategies and practices, assessing your skills to identify strengths and opportunities for growth, and demonstrating your personal and professional commitment to excellence. If you’re interested in learning more, join us at the APR informational session at the CAPIO Conference on Tuesday morning at 8:30, or if you’re not attending, learn more online.
Mentors needed for this year’s mentoring program!
The William Nash mentoring program fosters two-way learning
Make a difference this year as a mentor supporting a younger professional in the field by signing up for our mentoring program! CAPIO’s Mentoring Program was developed to help foster the growth of our members through two-way learning. In 2021 the mentoring program was renamed in honor of William Nash, longtime CAPIO member, leader and mentor. This is a great opportunity to expand your leadership skills, share your experiences and insights, and learn from the experiences of your mentee. Learn more
CAPIO matches 15 mentor/mentee pairs annually. *Mentee spots filling up quickly – sign up today!
Chef Claudia Sandoval to open CAPIO’s 2022 Conference
CAPIO Annual Conference 2022
The CAPIO conference committee is proud to introduce our opening keynote presenter at this year’s conference, Chef Claudia Sandoval!
CAPIO special recognition awards – nomincation deadline extended through July 12
Paul B. Clark, Communicator of the Year, Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communications Leader Awards
CAPIO is now welcoming nominations for our three individual honors. The Paul B. Clark award - recognizing s a 20+ year career of excellence in communications. The Communicator of the Year award – recognizing a recipient for a stellar year of work in 2021. And the Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communications Leader award - recognizing a team or an individual demonstrating exceptional leadership during a crisis. Nominations are reviewed according to a rubric under each category.
CAPIO announces the 2022-2023 Board
CAPIO is pleased to announce the 2022-2023 Board of Directors. As the state’s leading government communications association, the California Association of Public Information Officials leans on volunteer leaders to guide the association strategically to serve our 800-member network of public communicators. Read on to learn more about our board members.
What EPIC programs did you work on in 2020 or 2021?
EPIC awards program earlybird deadline is Friday, May 13
Recognizing work from 2021 and 2022
CAPIO’s EPIC Awards program recognizes and honors outstanding professional work and accomplishments in the public communications field. We continue to see government communications professionals raise the standard of excellence and creativity in our profession. Your work inspires us and we look forward to celebrating your EPIC work at the CAPIO Exellence in Public Information and Communications (EPIC) Awards events during the CAPIO Annual Conference. Read on to learn about the categories and how to apply.
April is APR Month
Did you know that CAPIO is one of the nine public relations organizations to offer its members the internationally recognized Accreditation in Public Relations (APR)? The APR recognizes timeless communications principles with contemporary strategies and tactics.
If you’re curious about what obtaining your APR could mean for your career, listen to our latest podcast follow these steps in April to learn more.
CAPIO marks February 24 as Government Communications Day
Let’s celebrate!
Our role as government communications professionals is to inform, educate, and engage our communities.
Because, in the end, robust communication in government creates trust and inspires customers to take action and be involved.
We are in the fortunate role of being able to craft a narrative that showcases different perspectives on various topics – from community development and health and safety to education, infrastructure, and general government operations.
- We create relationships and calls to action.
- We build awareness and understanding through storytelling.
- We engage and foster engagement on civic issues.
- We use all channels and include everyone in critical decisions.
It’s essential to have strong communications in government because it is a foundational element of living in a democracy where citizens have the freedom to make their voices heard.
Because of the role of the government communicator, every February 24, starting with February 24, 2022, we honor the incredible men and women who’ve dedicated their careers to ensure local, state, and federal government agencies have effective, impactful, and successful communication strategies that resonate and are relevant.
We want to flood our social media by highlighting fantastic government communicators. So, use #GovernmentCommunicationsDay in your posts or send us an email of you or your team so we can add it to our channels!
2022-2024 Board of Directors nominations
Would you like to be more involved with CAPIO? Be a Board Member! Volunteers are needed to serve on CAPIO’s 2022-2024 Board of Directors. Your expertise and experience is needed to help guide CAPIO into another great year!
CAPIO Special Award Winners honored during 2021 Awards Dinner & 50th Birthday Bash
November 4, 2021
During the November 4 Awards Dinner and 50th Birthday Bash, CAPIO congratulated three communicators who exemplify the gold standard in government communications. Read on to learn more about the winners of CAPIO’s prestigious Paul B. Clark, Communicator of the Year and Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communications Leader of the Year Awards.
2021 Communicator of the Year Award Recipient
Thomas Christensen
Honored for his commitment and excellence in communications, the County of San Diego’s Communication Specialist, Tom Christensen, has made it his top priority to build social media campaigns that educate, inspire, and create change throughout the County of San Diego. Tom oversees more than 100 individual County department social media accounts as an administrator or content creator. His leadership has resulted in the County obtaining some of the highest follower counts for counties in the nation as well as some of the highest engagement numbers.
Poster contest winners announced!
Congratulations!
TOP WINNER
design by: VITO LABELLARTE | WESTAMERICA COMMUNICATIONS
Congratulations to Vito Labellarte and Westamerica Communications on their entry which garnered top honors in our poster contest! Conference participants will be able to pick up a copy of this award-winning poster at the 2021 CAPIO Annual Conference!
Crowdsource videos, images and memories requested!
50 years: Honoring the past, celebrating our future
It was 1971 when CAPIO was formed, since then things have changed on how we send information and get our message to the right audiences. And, along those years, you have seen what you do change, too. Remember sitting at the fax machine to send out press releases? Purchasing Bacons Books so you had the latest reporter listings? Or, clipping the newspapers of stories about your agency to place in a three ring binder? And what about driving around dropping off VHS tapes filled with b-roll.