Board of Directors
2024-2025 Board of Directors
CAPIO’s Board of Directors is elected by the membership each spring. Board terms are two years, with approximately half of the positions rotating each year according to the schedule outlined in our bylaws. All CAPIO members in good standing are eligible to serve on—and vote for—the CAPIO Board.
Tom Christensen
President
Tom Christensen has been a communications specialist with the County of San Diego since 2006 and has worked in government communications for nearly 30 years. He coordinates and monitors nearly 100 accounts as part of the County’s nationally-recognized social media efforts. He was the 2021 CAPIO Communicator of the Year and part of the team that won the 2018 CAPIO Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communications Leader Team Award. He previously served on the CAPIO Board as the Vice President – Conference.
County of San Diego
1600 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92101
Brie Anne Coleman, APR
President-Elect
Treasurer
Brie Anne Coleman, APR is the communications specialist at the Placer County Water Agency. Since 2014 she has evolved her role within the agency, integrating the power of visual storytelling into her work. With a background in freelance photography and graphic design, she applies a “more than words” approach to effectively communicate complex concepts in an accessible and impactful manner. She coordinates projects with cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative and results-driven work environment.
Placer County Water Agency
144 Ferguson Rd
PO Box 6570
Auburn, CA 95603
Lael Wageneck, APR
Immediate Past President
Lael Wageneck, APR is the Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department which serves over 400,000 residents. He has over 15 years of experience in media production, public relations and public administration, and has presented a many CAPIO conferences on topics from photography to ethics. He previously served on the CAPIO Board as the Central California Regional Chair from 2015-17.
Santa Barbara County Public Works Department
123 E. Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Sylvia Ornelas
Vice President - Conference
Sylvia Ornelas is a seasoned strategic communications professional, water education coordinator, and event planner. Sylvia has more than 10 years of combined experience in both the public and private sectors and non-profits. She is currently the Community Affairs Supervisor for the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District.
Prior to EVMWD she held a position as the Senior Strategic Communications Representative for Western Municipal Water District.
31315 Chaney Street
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Steven Baird
Vice President - Awards
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.
Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
4232 Las Virgenes Rd
Calabasas, CA 91302
Pam Allen
Vice President - Communications
316 Vernon St, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95816
Robin Rockey, APR
Education and Development Chair
RockSpark Communications + Marketing CEO Robin Rockey, APR, is a
nationally recognized government communications and public
relations leader. Her company, RockSpark Communications +
Marketing is an award-winning, full-service agency specializing
in government communications, marketing and public relations with
a focus on helping cities, special districts and public agencies
achieve their goals.
Christine Brainerd, APR
Strategic Partnerships & Initiatives Chair
Christine Brainerd is a seasoned communications professional with nearly 20 years of experience in public information, public relations, and journalism.
City of Folsom
50 Natoma Street
Folsom, CA 95630
Eric Palmer
Social Media Chair
Eric has nearly 20 years of experience in local government communications and social media management in Monterey, California. Eric served the City of Monterey as their media specialist for 15 years before moving to his current communications role at ReGen Monterey (Monterey Regional Waste Management District). He’s brought his storytelling skills to these agencies as an award-winning documentary filmmaker. He is also politically active as a 2024 city council candidate, political campaign advisor and appointed city commissioner.
ReGen Monterey
14201 Del Monte Blvd.
Salinas, CA 93933-1670
Maurice Chaney
Northern CA Regional & Membership Chair
Maurice Chaney is a strategic communication professional with more than 20 years of combined experience in both the public and private sectors. He is a Public Information Officer for the City of Roseville’s Environmental Utilities—a suite of community-owned utilities for a community of 140,000.
City of Roseville
2005 Hilltop Circle
Roseville, CA 95747
Sonja Dosti, APR
Central CA Regional & Membership Chair
Sonja Dosti, APR is the Communications Director for the County of Fresno (County Administrative Office), which serves over one million residents. She has more than eight years of experience in public sector communications and PR, having served as the head of communications at Central Unified School District before moving to the County of Fresno. Prior to working in communications and PR, she worked in the film and TV industry in Los Angeles as a production, studio, and network executive.
County Administrative Office
County of Fresno
2281 Tulare Street, Room 304
Fresno, CA 93721
Teresa Collins
Southern CA Regional & Membership Chair
Teresa Collins has been in the communications field for over 18 years, holding various jobs in both the private and public sector. She started off her career by writing copy for radio commercials and found her way to a role as the marketing director for a local non-profit. She eventually ended up as a professional government communicator.
City of Escondido
201 N. Broadway
Escondido, CA 92025
Amy Orr
Association & Conference Manager
Amy Orr began working with CAPIO in 2010 as conference manager. In 2015, her role expanded to association management, and she now handles the day-to-day operations of the organization in addition to managing the annual conference under the direction of the conference committee and Board leadership.
P.O. Box 8840
Chico, CA 95927