The Davenport Institute Partners with CAPIO for their Inaugural Leadership Summit

The Davenport Institute ​​partnered with the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) and sponsored their inaugural Leadership Summit on September 25-27. This event was designed to provide communications professionals in local government with training and tools to help gain or keep a seat at the C-suite table, manage others, and think strategically within their agency.

The Davenport Institute moderated a panel titled “Leadership Insights” with Davenport Institute Advisory Council members Deb Feng, Andrew Powers, Megan Scheid, Valerie Gaeta Phillips, and ICMA’s western regional director, Pat Martel. This panel brought together seasoned professionals from various areas within local government and focused on what agency leaders are looking for when they promote or hire executive level positions. The panelists also gave guidance on strategically employing soft skills, seeking advancement, and navigating challenging organizational situations. The panel was very well received, with enough audience questions to continue the conversation for hours. 

Following the leadership panel, the Davenport Institute’s executive director Maureen Tobin and assistant director Pooja Di Giovanna gave a talk on public engagement as a vital leadership skill in local government. The premise for the presentation was that good government requires authentic, transparent, constructive, and broad-based civic involvement in the decision making process. It is important for all in local government to have an understanding of what authentic public engagement looks like, how to be a public engagement champion, and how public engagement can help build strong communities. 

The inaugural event held at the beautiful Lake Forest Community Center was a roaring success and the Davenport Institute is already in talks for partnering on future events with CAPIO.