Ready to amplify your agency’s voice and contribute to building better communities? With over 100 million monthly listeners, podcasting offers a golden opportunity to engage new audiences and strengthen community ties like never before.

Speakers

Date: July 22, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to noon

Cost: $30 CAPIO members/ Free for professional+/$45 non-members

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Bios

Steven Baird

Steven Baird is a communications and water professional dedicated to impacting the communities he serves and lives in through positive, inclusive and accessible communications.  Creatively driven with a background in photography and graphic design, Steven leverages emerging technologies, platforms and tactics to tell the unique story of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District to create positive change in the public.

Riki Clark

Riki Clark is a passionate strategic storyteller with Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, where she executes the district’s public affairs and outreach initiatives while also managing its education programs and partnerships. Skilled in community outreach, creative storytelling, collaboration, and environmental literacy, she has developed campaigns leading to districtwide reductions in water use and collaborated with regional partners to help them achieve the same. Riki currently hosts the Full Circle Podcast for the JPA’s Pure Water Project, delving into all things pure water and meeting the audience right where they are. Whether through informational tours, media relations, video content, or written publications, Riki is enthusiastic about connecting with the public about climate and environmental related topics.

Paul Hosley

Paul Hosley is the Public Information Officer for the City of West Sacramento. His responsibilities include public outreach, media relations, social media, website content, video production, events, and emergency communications. Paul previously operated his own social media marketing company, helping businesses and organizations engage with and reach their target audiences.In addition, Paul spent several years in radio as the editor for all news KCBS-San Francisco, News and Program Director at KGO news/talk in SF, and as News Director at KFBK/KSTE in Sacramento.

Michael McNutt

Mike joined LVMWD in 2017 as the Public Affairs and Communications Manager after spending time at Palmdale Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, immersing himself in California water and its unique complexities. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Mike received degrees in Environmental Science and Communications from The Ohio State University, where he remains active in the College of Environmental Science Alumni Group. Embarking on a career in public service post-graduation, he worked for various community organizations, elected officials and government agencies throughout Ohio, gaining valuable experience in emergency communications, public health outreach and community services. At LVMWD Mike has used these experiences to respond to emergencies such as the 2018 Woolsey Fire, COVID-19 pandemic and generational drought while developing both internal and external communication strategies rooted in a commitment to transparency, equity, innovation and an ethos of community first. Mike serves the LVMWD on the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, serves the community as the Chair of the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce, serves the water industry as the Chair of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies Communication Committee and a member on their Program Committee, and he serves animals as a proud owner of a rescued greyhound named Wendell and supporter of SaveGrey.org.

Liz Pharis

Liz Pharis is the Communications & Marketing Manager, as well as the Public Information Officer, for the City of Brea. She has 24 years of experience working as a strategic communicator in local government. She currently oversees a division that is tasked with engaging a community of over 47,000 residents. Liz’s professional expertise includes developing marketing and educational campaigns, writing for all mediums, producing videos and podcasts, website development, public affairs, and crisis communication. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications, with concentrations in TV/Film and Public Relations. Throughout her career, Liz has successfully worked with all City departments, elected officials, and community partners. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, being a sports spectator, and watching reality tv.

Carrie Lujan

Carrie Lujan is the Communications Manager for the City of Santa Clarita. She oversees the Communications Division, which is responsible for press releases, speech writing, event planning, Seasons Magazine, social media, video production, articles, media relations, community relations/engagement, internal communications, crisis communications and more.  During her tenure in Santa Clarita, she has brought an out-of-the-box creativity that has taken City communications to the next level. Under her leadership, the City has launched award-winning public safety campaigns, introduced residents to a new (and already beloved) City mascot, grown social media presence by the millions and revamped long running City events. The Communications Division has been honored with several prestigious CAPIO Epic Awards and 3CMA Savvy awards. In addition, she was named the 2021 3CMA Communicator of the Year and her team was recognized with the 2020 Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communication Leader Award from CAPIO. She is also involved in the Santa Clarita community as the TV host of Community Corner, a board member for Bridge to Home (homeless services provider) and the Salvation Army Santa Clarita Corps. 

Lael Wageneck, MPA, APR

Lael Wageneck, APR is the Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department which serves over 400,000 residents. He has 20 years of experience in media production, public relations and public administration, and has presented at many CAPIO conferences on topics from photography to ethics. He is a former CAPIO President and Central Regional Chair.