Interested in elevating your personal brand to establish credibility and trust? During our Mentorship Monday webinar four seasoned public-sector communication pros will share their invaluable insights and experiences in cultivating powerful and authentic personal brands. Learn the essentials of personal branding, its significant impact on your career, and actionable steps to elevate your professional presence. This is your opportunity to stand out in the industry and shine!

Key Takeaways

• Why personal branding is important to your career
• How to identify your unique value proposition that makes you stand out
• Practical steps to build and maintain a strong personal brand
• Strategies to enhance your digital presence
• Importance of networking and collaboration in personal branding

CAPIO’s quarterly Mentorship Monday series offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for communications up-and-comers to obtain priceless advice and guidance from the most respected leaders in our industry today. Learn from seasoned communications professionals from across the state and from varying backgrounds to support achievement, success, learning and growth.

Speakers

Date: Monday, September 9, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Cost: Free for CAPIO members/$30 Non-members

Register

This session qualifies for an APR Continuing Education Unit

BIOS

Kevin Strauss

Kevin Strauss is the Communications Manager for the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (SCV Water) and is responsible for all internal and external Agency communications. Previously, Strauss spent six years as a Communications Specialist with the City of Santa Clarita. During his career, Strauss has produced a number of award-winning public relations campaigns and led SCV Water’s brand relaunch initiative and crafted the Agency’s first digital media strategy. For his work, he was named the 2024 Communicator of the Year by the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO). When he was with the City of Santa Clarita, the Communications Division was named the 2020 Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communications Leader by CAPIO for its response to the Tick Fire and Saugus High School shooting in 2019. His work on the Heads Up traffic safety campaign received statewide and national recognition as well. Prior to joining the City of Santa Clarita, Strauss worked for six years in the Athletics Department at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), first as an intern then as Assistant Sports Information Director before being promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Digital Marketing. Strauss earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from CSUN. He and his family reside in Santa Clarita.

Wendy Aguilar

Wendy Aguilar, a seasoned journalist turned award-winning communicator and public relations professional. With a background in reporting for major television networks and a track record of innovation and creativity, Wendy has earned accolades, including the 2023 “Communicator of the Year Award” by the California Public Information Officials (CAPIO) and the “Rising Influencer of the Year” by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) California Capital Chapter.

Wendy has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to inform, engage, and inspire diverse audiences. Currently serving as the Media and Communications Specialist for the Sacramento Fire Department and the co-owner of Second Alarm Communications Group, Wendy is a dynamic storyteller, a champion of diversity and inclusion, and a recognized industry leader.

Wendy’s journey began in the world of journalism, where she honed her skills as a television reporter, anchor and producer for different networks, including ABC, CBS, CW, and Telemundo affiliates. Her journalistic endeavors took her across multiple states, from Arizona to Texas and back to the Golden State.

In 2018, she transitioned from journalism to public relations. She served as a communications specialist for a local school district and soon after, she joined the Sacramento Fire Department. Her groundbreaking social media campaigns, including the Sacramento Area Girls Fire Camp, the widely acclaimed “What’s for Lunch?” and the “I AM SACRAMENTO FIRE” series, have redefined how organizations engage with their audiences. These award-winning campaigns offer a captivating and behind-the-scenes look into life at the firehouse, fostering community understanding and connection.

In 2021, she launched the Department’s Tik-Tok account which now has more than 123,000 followers. Some videos have gone viral reaching more than 8-million views.

With a keen eye for diversity and inclusion, Wendy ensures that every story she tells reflects the rich tapestry of our society. Born in Guatemala, Wendy is not only a master communicator in English but also fluent in Spanish, a skill that allows her to connect with a broader and more diverse audience.

Wendy Aguilar’s career trajectory from journalism to public relations exemplifies the power of storytelling and effective communication. Wendy continues to inspire and lead, using her expertise to ensure that vital messages reach the right audiences, fostering understanding, resilience, and unity within communities.

Mary-Joy Coburn

Mary-Joy Coburn is a seasoned executive manager and communications professional with more than  15 years of experience in government management, strategic planning, and crisis/emergency communications. She currently serves as the Director of Communications for the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS), where she is responsible for leading the organization’s overall internal and external communications strategy.

In her previous role as the Director of Communications for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, Mary-Joy spearheaded impactful public relations, media relations, government relations, and public education and outreach initiatives. She helped put the vector control industry on the map by bringing innovative ideas, conducting over 100 radio, print, and television interviews, and achieving numerous “firsts” in the field. Her exceptional skills have resulted in successful projects and recognition, including awards for best community outreach, best communications campaign, and social media best use overall, in California.

Mary-Joy’s passion for effective communication extends beyond the office. She is the founder of the Los Angeles Public Information Officials (LAPIO) and the Orange County Public Information Officials (OCPIO), auxiliary groups to CAPIO, where she has fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing among communicators in the region. She also mentors several young and journey-level professionals in government communications.

Dominique Samario

Dominique Samario is passionate about public service and community engagement. She received her undergraduate degrees in Communication and Theatre from the University of Southern California and went on to work in news production, traveling the world. She transitioned into television production for local governments on the Central Coast of California and fell in love with the impact possible when working in local government. She now has her professional certificate in marketing from the University of California, Santa Barbara; her Professional Certificate in Advanced Public Engagement from Pepperdine, a Graduate Certificate in City/County Management from USC’s Price School of Public Policy. She graduated with her Master of Public Administration from USC in 2018. She has served as the public information officer for multiple cities. In 2023, she was fortunate to find the perfect combination of engagement and  her desire to create lasting change for the community through education. She now serves as the administrator of community engagement and partnerships for the Riverside County Office of Education, which serves 23 school districts and 430,000 students. She lives in Murrieta with her husband and two young children.