CAPIO

California Public Information Officials

CAPIO announces 2026 EPIC Award Winners and Special Award Winners
View winners gallery and photos from last week's awards events

News May 17, 2026

During last week’s 2026 Annual CAPIO Conference in San Diego, our EPIC Award and Special Award programs celebrated some of the very best projects and professionals from 2025.

Keeping with our “Making Waves” theme, the EPIC Awards ceremony delivered swell-sized creativity, energy and plenty of surprises, with four fun waves of competition and a live “beach reporter” correspondent interviewing winners as they received their trophies. In total, 105 awards were presented to EPIC Award and Award of Distinction recipients from a record-breaking pool of more than 500 submissions. Categories included social media, video, graphic design, events, websites, branding, crisis communications, communications campaigns and many more.

The following evening, CAPIO’s formal Special Awards Dinner recognized an exceptional year for several CAPIO members, honoring recipients whose work reflects not only the spirit of these awards and our professional association, but also their meaningful impact in the communities they serve. The Rising Star Award, Scott Summerfield Communicator of the Year Award, Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communicator of the Year Award and Paul B. Clark Award each celebrate excellence in public service communications, leadership and dedication.

Read on to meet CAPIO’s 2025 EPIC Award winners and 2026 Special Award recipients.

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Learn more about our Special Award winners below: Tom Christensen, City of Palm Springs, Mary Haddad, and Sarah Krieg

Tom Christensen selected as the 2026 Paul B. Clark recipient

Tom Christensen joined a prestigious group of Paul B. Clark Award recipients when he was awarded the 2026 Paul B. Clark Award during CAPIO’s Special Awards Dinner on May 13 held during the 2026 CAPIO Annual Conference in San Diego. This outstanding Achievement Award recognizes change-makers who demonstrate exceptional leadership and career-long achievement in the field of public information through professional commitment.

Beginning his career at a daily newspaper in 1985, advancing into government communications in 1994, and joining the County of San Diego in 2006, Tom has demonstrated a consistent ability to lead and elevate communications across all his roles. Serving six years on the CAPIO Board of Directors, including Board President and Vice President of Conference, Tom has helped elevate CAPIO’s conferences into premier experiences. His conference contributions span more than a decade, where his vision for high-quality programming and dynamic keynote speakers significantly increased both attendance and value for members.

Post May 17, 2026

City of Palm Springs Wins 2026 Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communicator of the Year Award

CAPIO is proud to recognize the following City of Palm Springs team members as the recipients of the Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communications Leader Award, honoring their exceptional leadership, professionalism, and expertise during an unprecedented crisis response.

The recipients are Amy Blaisdell, Chief Communications Officer, Lt. Mike Villegas, Palm Springs Police Department, Capt. Ronald Skyberg, Palm Springs Fire Department, Kitty Alvarado, Palm Springs Public Information Officer, Denise Goolsby, Palm Springs Neighborhoods Manager, and Benjamin Eye, Communications Specialist.

Post May 17, 2026

Mary Haddad awarded the 2026 Communicator of the Year Award at CAPIO’s Special Awards Dinner

On May 13 at the 2026 CAPIO Annual Conference Special Awards Dinner, Mary Haddad was awarded the 2026 Scott Summerfield Communicator of the Year Award. This award is presented to the individual who, in the judgment of the CAPIO Awards Committee and Board of Directors, demonstrates exceptional abilities, skills and talents in leading their organization to greater and more successful communications and public engagement. In 2025, this award was renamed the Scott Summerfield Communicator of the Year award in recognition for Scott’s decades-long involvement and many contributions to CAPIO and its membership.

Mary Haddad exemplifies the very best of public sector communications—strategic, innovative, and grounded in a deep commitment to community. As Communications Manager for the City of Agoura Hills, she has transformed the City’s communications function into a high-performing, trusted, and modern system that informs, engages, and connects residents.

Post May 17, 2026

Sarah Krieg Named CAPIO’s 2026 Rising Star

On May 13 Sarah Krieg was awarded CAPIO’s 2026 Rising Star Award. This award recognizes someone who demonstrates exceptional abilities, skills and talents in growing their skillset and contributing to the advancement of public engagement and outreach for a public agency in the first five years of their public communications career.

Since joining the Town of Apple Valley in 2022 as the community’s public information officer, Sarah Krieg has redefined what municipal communications can look like in a modern, digital-first world. Bringing a professional background in commercial photography and videography, she entered public service with a rare and highly relevant skillset. What distinguishes Sarah, however, is not only her technical expertise, but her ability to translate information into measurable public impact.

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CAPIO announces 2026 EPIC Award Winners and Special Award Winners
View winners gallery and photos from last week's awards events

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CAPIO announces 2026 EPIC Award Winners and Special Award Winners View winners gallery and photos from last week's awards events

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CAPIO announces 2026 EPIC Award Winners and Special Award Winners
View winners gallery and photos from last week's awards events