The past several years have been like no other for public organizations, including water managers. Unpredictable weather. Multi-year drought. Dwindling snowpack. Vanishing runoff. Intense atmospheric rivers. Increased flood risks. Extreme heat and catastrophic wildfires. These challenges underscore that public service is at a transformative point in time where communications IS mission critical in building the trust with stakeholders that is needed to solve major problems facing our communities. In this session, learn how elevating and partnering with your communications team as an organizational strategist helps advance operational objectives and fast-track solutions – especially when the stakes are high. The session will explore this idea from the first-hand perspective of organizational leaders who did just that with their communications teams, ultimately leading to big gains and creation of a statewide coalition to solve California’s water crisis.