CAPIO is pleased to announce the results of the recent special election for VP Communications.  Congratulations to Eric Palmer who will take on the VP Communications role as Pam Allen moves into the President-Elect position.  The final slate of officers is listed below.  The CAPIO Board of Directors oversees and guides 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 May 13 luncheon at the CAPIO Annual Conference.  

The 2026-2027 CAPIO board members include:

• President - Sonja Dosti, APR, Communications Director, County of Fresno, Administrative Office
• President-Elect | Treasurer – Pam Allen, Marketing & Communications Manager, City of Roseville
• Immediate Past President – Brie Anne Coleman, APR, Communications Manager, Placer County Water Agency
• Vice President – Conference – Steven Baird, Public Affairs Associate II, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
• Vice President – Awards – Kevin Strauss, APR, Communications Division Manager/PIO, Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency
• Vice President – Communications – Eric Palmer, Senior Communications Coordinator, ReGen Monterey
• Education & Development Chair – Julie Prayter, APR,  Public Affairs Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation
• Strategic Partnerships & Initiatives Chair, Christine Brainerd, APR, Communications Director, City of Folsom
• Northern CA Regional & Membership Chair – Maurice Chaney, Public Information Officer, City of Roseville Environmental Utilities
• Central CA Regional & Membership Chair — Shelly Cone, Public Information Specialist, County of San Luis Obispo
• Southern CA Regional & Membership Chair — Kevin Lee, Chief Communications Officer, City of Long Beach
• Social Media Chair – Kristi Jourdan, Director, Office of Communications & Media, Contra Costa County

CAPIO’s board members are elected and serve rotating two-year terms. Each year, board members are voted on by CAPIO members throughout the state and represent the organization’s diverse membership, including board members from state organizations, special districts, school districts, cities and counties.

To learn more about CAPIO’s Board of Directors, visit CAPIO’s website.