2026 CAPIO Conference Agenda

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Registration & Information Desk Open
Town & Country Foyer
 
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Big Impact, Less Stress: Mastering Large-Scale Events
Town & Country Ballroom C
 
Ethics in Capturing Behavioral Health Content: Dignity, Consent, and Impact
Town & Country Ballroom D
CE Credit: Ethics & Communications Leadership
From Pushback to Partnership: How Pleasanton Turned the Tide on Water Rates through Authentic, Strategic Communication
Palm 1 - 3
 
Track & Win: Turning Analytics into Local Government Content Gold
Palm 4 - 6
CE Credit: Strategic Communications
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
From Curiosity to Confidence: A PIO’s Journey into AI, Privacy, and Ethical Innovation
Palm 1 - 3
 
JIC Happens: Building Crisis Communications Capacity Without a Big Team
Town & Country Ballroom D
CE Credit: Emergency Communications
LinkedIn for Public Communicators: From Afterthought to Strategic Asset
Town & Country Ballroom C
 
The Part-Time PIO: Strategies for Success on a Shoestring
Palm 4 - 6
 
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Building Better Videos: From Smart Planning to Polished Results
Town & Country Ballroom C
CE Credit: Video
Leadership Roundtable
Sunset 1
 
Leadership Roundtable - Ask Me Anything
Sunset 2
 
Speaking Everyone’s Language: Using AI Translation Tools to Communicate Clearly and Accurately in Spanish
Town & Country Ballroom D
CE Credit: Digital Media
The Brand Guide Blueprint: Finding Your Voice and Building Consistency
Palm 4 - 6
 
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Industry Meet Up - City
 
 
Industry Meet Up - County
 
 
Industry Meet Up - Education
 
 
Industry Meet Up - Public Safety
 
 
Industry Meet Up - SCAN Broadband
 
 
Industry Meet Up - Special District
 
 
Industry Meet Up - State / Federal
 
 
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Welcome Reception sponsored by JPW Communications
Flamingo Lawn
 
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Restaurant Roundup | Dinner on your own
 
 
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Registration & Information Desk Open
Town & Country Foyer
 
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
CAPIO Coffee Cafe with Sponsors
Town & Country Foyer
 
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
CAPIO Speaks
Palm 1 - 3
 
Leverage CAPIO's Education and Development Opportunities to Elevate Your Career - Learn about the Certificate in Communications, APR, Upcoming Trainings and Events
Town & Country Ballroom C
 
So You Came to the CAPIO Conference - Now What?
Town & Country Ballroom D
 
9:00 AM - 10:10 AM
Conference Welcome and Opening Keynote
Town & Country Ballroom A-B
 
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Morning break, sponsor exhibits, & networking
Town & Country Foyer
 
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Crop It Like It’s Hot: Batch Editing Hacks in Lightroom
Palm 4 - 6
 
From Strategy to Success: A Hands-On RPIE Workshop for Public-Sector Communicators
Palm 1 - 3
CE Credit: Strategic Communications
Picture This - Visual Storytelling on a Budget
Town & Country Ballroom D
CE Credit: Photography
Practical AI Tools for Public Communicators
Town & Country Ballroom C
CE Credit: Digital Media
Professional Portraits
Sunset 3
 
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
CAPIO Networking Luncheon
 
 
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
Inside the Newsroom: Think Like a Reporter, Be Your Own Newsmaker
Town & Country Ballroom C
CE Credit: Media Relations
Lessons from AFC Richmond: Ted Lasso-Inspired Tactics for Getting the Most Out of Your Team at All Levels of the Organization
Town & Country Ballroom D
 
Orange County Registrar of Voters: Navigating a U.S. DoJ Lawsuit, Allegations of Election Fraud, a Bomb Threat and Other Crises with Transparent Communications
Palm 1 - 3
 
Professional Portraits
Sunset 3
 
Three Weeks, Three Languages, One Transparent Process: Rebuilding Trust Through Rapid, Inclusive Outreach
Palm 4 - 6
CE Credit: Community Engagement
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Create a Strategic Communications Plan that Generates Results
Town & Country Ballroom D
CE Credit: Strategic Communications
Leading with Creativity: How Storytelling Builds Trust When the Message Is Tough
Palm 4 - 6
 
The Comment Section Is Not the Enemy.
Palm 1 - 3
CE Credit: Community Engagement
The Power of Sound: Capturing Audio That Brings Your Video to Life
Town & Country Ballroom C
CE Credit: Video
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Afternoon break, sponsor exhibits, & networking
Town & Country Foyer
 
Professional Portraits
Sunset 3
 
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
EPIC Awards Program & Best of Show Winners
Town & Country Ballroom A-B
 
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Awards Reception & Exhibitor Mixer
Town & Country Foyer
 
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Dinner on your own
 
 
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Networking After Party
 
 
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Registration & Information Desk Open
Town & Country Foyer
 
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
CAPIO Coffee Cafe with Sponsors
Town & Country Foyer
 
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Central CA Regional Meeting
Palm 1 - 3
 
Northern CA Regional Meeting
Town & Country Ballroom C
 
Professional Portraits
Sunset 3
 
Southern CA Regional Meeting
Town & Country Ballroom D
 
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
ADA Compliant Websites: How to finalize and maintain digital accessibility moving forward: Part I (Learning Lab)
Town & Country Ballroom D
 
Adobe Express Part I (Learning Lab)
Town & Country Ballroom C
 
Creating a Branded, Award-Winning Video Series: How to Build, Sustain, and Grow a Recurring Communication Platform
Palm 4 - 6
CE Credit: Video
Quick-Start Guide for Inspired Writing
Palm 1 - 3
CE Credit: Writing
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Morning break, sponsor exhibits, & networking
Town & Country Foyer
 
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
ADA Compliant Websites: How to finalize and maintain digital accessibility moving forward - Part II (Learning Lab)
Town & Country Ballroom D
 
Adobe Express Part II (Learning Lab)
Town & Country Ballroom C
 
Beyond Politics: Communicating for an Elected Official While Protecting Public Trust
Palm 1 - 3
CE Credit: Ethics & Communications Leadership
Crisis-Proofing Your Agency: How PIOs Can Help Prevent Problems Before They Start
Palm 4 - 6
CE Credit: Emergency Communications
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Embracing Change: Strategic Engagement with Social-Media Influencers in Government Communications
Town & Country Ballroom C
CE Credit: Strategic Communications
Let's build an emergency communications playbook before the crisis hits
Town & Country Ballroom D
CE Credit: Emergency Communications
Professional Portraits
Sunset 3
 
"Show, Don’t Tell”: Building Trust in Elections in a Polarized Era
Palm 1 - 3
 
When the Media Plan Falls Apart: A Real-World Scenario Exercise
Palm 4 - 6
CE Credit: Media Relations
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Luncheon, CAPIO President's Address and Keynote Speaker
Town & Country Ballroom A-B
 
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Memorable Storytelling
 
 
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Sponsor Exhibits & Networking
Town & Country Foyer
 
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
After the Headlines Fade - Managing the Aftermath of a Crisis
Palm 4 - 6
CE Credit: Emergency Communications
Defying Gravity: Elevating PIOs from Messenger to Strategic Partner
Town & Country Ballroom D
CE Credit: Strategic Communications
Leading Through Uncertainty: Communicating with Honesty, Empathy and Courage When You Don’t Have All the Answers
Town & Country Ballroom C
CE Credit: Community Engagement
Make them care: Connecting your community with local government
Palm 1 - 3
CE Credit: Community Engagement
Professional Portraits
Sunset 3
 
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Afternoon break, sponsor exhibits, & networking
Town & Country Foyer
 
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Cutting Through the Clutter: Keeping Your Social Media Accessible AND Appealing
Town & Country Ballroom C
CE Credit: Digital Media
Herding Cats: Organizing Work Requests for Efficiency (and Your Sanity)
Palm 4 - 6
 
Más Que Palabras: Communicating with Spanish-Speaking Communities Beyond Translation
Palm 1 - 3
 
The Movement Maker’s Playbook: How to Mobilize, Not Just Message
Town & Country Ballroom D
 
5:45 PM - 8:30 PM
Special Awards Dinner
 
 

All sessions count toward APR continuing education hours.  Sessions that are applicable for the J. Lindsey Wolf Certificate in Communications will be noted in January. Questions?  Contact members@capio.org  

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