Thank you again to everyone who joined us at CAPIO’s 2025 Conference and EPIC Awards. Whether you were with us in Napa, cheering from afar, or catching up afterwards on LinkedIn, I hope you felt proud to be part of this incredible community!

We’ve grown to more than 1,200 members, and we had over 700 attendees at the conference this year! With that growth comes new opportunities, new challenges, and new voices. Every year, we send out a post-conference survey to attendees. This year’s results showed thoughtful praise and heartfelt critiques—all of which we take into consideration. We heard that many of you found the conference inspiring, productive, and valuable. Others shared constructive input about experiences and expectations. All of it is valuable.

As professionals, we know that going through the process of research, planning, implementation, and evaluation (RPIE) is key to being effective. We apply that same approach to CAPIO’s programming, using survey insights to identify trends and build future efforts.

Here’s a snapshot of what we heard:

• Most attendees rated the conference as valuable or very valuable
• Breakout sessions and networking ranked among the highest-rated elements
• Several members asked us to be mindful of event flow, expectations across session topics and keynotes, and perceptions of tone

For newer members, if the awards or board recognition felt unfamiliar, we understand. CAPIO is growing, and not everyone enters with the same level of knowledge or connection. But these awards moments are meant to spotlight individuals and teams doing meaningful, outstanding, and often behind-the-scenes work to advance the field. We invite you to get to know who they are, why they were honored, and how you might step into those spaces in the future.

Additionally, every member of CAPIO’s Board and committee leadership is a volunteer and joined CAPIO initially as a member, too. We all have full-time jobs in cities, counties, special districts, and agencies throughout the state. We work alongside you, so please feel free to reach out to us as your peers and as your resource for this membership.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey. I can assure you, CAPIO does its best to be professional and inclusive, and respectful to all members. Your feedback helps guide conversations and decisions.

We welcome ideas and new voices—so if you have suggestions, consider how you can turn them into action. There are numerous ways to get involved. Join a committee. Submit a session idea. Be a mentor or a mentee in the mentorship program. Sign up to host or participate in tours and trainings. If you’ve got a great campaign, case study, or lesson, write an article for our bi-monthly newsletter, or propose a session at the next conference. Most of what you see at our events and online is made possible by fellow members who stepped forward to help others grow.

The work we do as government communicators is not easy. Sometimes we make it look fun—and often, it is! But the stakes can be high when issues arise, and we live in a time when public trust is strained. Our work is more visible than ever, which can be exciting, but it also comes with pressure.

That’s why clear, consistent, and strategic communication isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. People depend on us to help them understand complex issues and to know we care enough to listen and follow through. CAPIO exists to support you in that mission—and in your professional growth.

The CAPIO community helps keep us grounded, engaged, and growing in a profession that asks so much of us. Having a statewide network of members makes our work more fulfilling when you can share space with others who do what you do, can relate to your challenges, partner with you on campaigns, and celebrate your successes.

Thank you for being part of this community. For your trust, your feedback, and your commitment to your craft. Let’s carry this momentum forward—and make this a year of continued growth, connection, and purpose.

Brie Anne Coleman, APR
President, CAPIO 2025

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