Melody Hendrickson, Riverside County’s first and only non-traditional PIO II, has been crucial in shaping content, campaigns, and events across Riverside County platforms. Her unique position enables her to influence messaging while collaborating with elected officials and 40 departments. Her award-winning, innovative campaigns have redefined government communications, bringing warmth, relatability, and creativity to public messaging. Recognized as a creative force, Melody leads with imagination, crafting compelling narratives that resonate deeply.

A leader in creative teams since 2007, Melody is highly skilled in Adobe Creative Cloud, producing standout graphics, newsletters, and videos. Her background in media production, spanning film, television, and commercials, enhances her strategic content leadership. In 2024, she spearheaded Riverside County’s social media strategy, focusing on Instagram and elevating EO department employees as micro-influencers. Under her leadership, Instagram followers increased by 34%, and her team produced 175 graphics and 50 videos. Notable campaigns included Thank You Notes Day, End-of-Year graphics using Adobe Aero, and Heroes of Valentine’s Day, which engaged the community in fresh ways.

A major achievement was the in-house production of the 2024 State of the County videos, a high-stakes project requiring months of collaboration. She ensured alignment with District 3’s vision and her team utilized Photoshop, Premiere, Adobe Firefly, and Runway for high-quality production. Melody also brought her expertise to the Emmy-award-winning DEIA video series, which gained over 10,000 views and became a pillar of the county’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

For four years, she has led the Illegal Fireworks campaign, achieving a 33% reduction in fire activity. In 2024, she rebranded the initiative with impactful peer-to-peer messaging and new calls to action, generating 18.5 million impressions and reaching over 3 million residents. Her innovative leadership is also evident in the Board Brief, a digital series delivering direct updates from the Board of Supervisors. The 2025 rebrand received praise from Scott Summerfield of SAE Communications, further cementing Melody’s influence in government storytelling.

She serves as content lead for the Faces of Fentanyl campaign and spearheaded a fentanyl-focused school curriculum in partnership with the Riverside County Office of Education—18 months ahead of the state-mandated timeline. Her work extends beyond strategy, making a lasting impact on public awareness and education.

In crisis communications, Melody has managed high-pressure situations, such as addressing a reputational crisis at CAPIO and handling a bomb threat at an awards banquet. As second-in-command for Executive Office communications, she led messaging efforts during the 2024 presidential election coverage and has contributed to messaging on fires, floods, and pandemics since joining in 2019.

Committed to mentorship, Melody organizes bi-monthly PIO meetings, guides new communicators, and fosters collaboration among teams. Her hybrid marketing model, first developed during the COVID Joint Information Center, has influenced government agencies seeking similar strategies. In 2024, her efforts led to seven CAPIO awards for Riverside County departments. Highly respected by peers and leadership, Melody’s legacy is defined by her exceptional creativity, mentorship, and dedication to impactful communication.

ABOUT CAPIO

CAPIO is the premier professional association for California’s government communicators, serving more than 1,200 professionals across the state.

For more information about the Communicator of the Year award or CAPIO, visit www.capio.org.