KAPIO Conference Materials

Thanks for attending the KAPIO Conference. Below are bios from each of our presenters. If we are able to post presentations here post-conference, they will also be included here if permission has been granted.

2022 Keynote: Kristin Graham Presentation: kapio_graham_sept2022.pdf

Additional Speaker Bios (if provided / listed alphabetically)

Julie Briethaupt (Exposing Employees - In a Good Way!):  exposing_employees..._in_a_g.pdf

Julie Breithaupt is the Communications Manager for the City of Shawnee, Kansas. She is a graduate from the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism. Julie worked for nearly 15 years in local television news in Topeka, Kansas and in the Kansas City metro as an Emmy award-winning TV news executive producer. After realizing that having kids meant not being able to regularly work 80 hour weeks, Julie made the jump to local government in 2016 in an attempt at a more “normal” life. Ask her how that’s working out! 

AJ Dome (Media Panel):

AJ Dome is a journalist currently writing for The Manhattan Mercury. A southwest Kansas native, AJ's interest in journalism formed at Garden City High School, where he won a few Kansas Association of Broadcasters awards for radio and television projects. He was also a writer and editor for the oldest student newspaper in Kansas, "The Sugar Beet." After two unsuccessful attempts at college, AJ accepted his first journalism job in Emporia, where he was a reporter/anchor for KVOE Radio AM/FM. He transitioned from radio to television in 2016 when he became the morning show producer at WIBW-TV in Topeka. During that time, he would win more KAB awards for his professional TV and radio work. AJ took a break from journalism in 2019, but in 2020 he began writing environment and climate articles for the Kansas Reflector. Later that same year, he was hired as education reporter for The Manhattan Mercury, covering K-State and the local school district. Additionally, AJ is co-writing a book about the devastating Greensburg tornado of 2007. He is passionate about severe weather and enjoys storm chasing when he can. AJ also crafts a daily poem for social media, and a book of his pandemic poetry was released last year.

Carlin Daharsh (Facebook Best Practices Session):

Carlin Daharsh works on Meta’s, formerly known as Facebook’s, Politics and Government Outreach Team where she supports local elected officials, political candidates, advocacy groups, and government agencies build their presence on Facebook, Instagram, and their family of applications. In her role, Carlin works closely with local emergency management agencies, county elections offices, and public health departments to foster community engagement, respond to crisis, and ensure the integrity of local elections. Prior to Facebook, Carlin has dedicated her professional career to working in the state and local government space, most recently at the National League of Cities and for the Nebraska State Legislature.

Jennifer McCausland (Andover Tornado Panel): andover_powerpoint.pdf

Jennifer has spent much of her life in South Central Kansas, growing up in Derby, KS and then attending both undergrad and graduate school at Wichita State University. She received her bachelor’s degree from the WSU School of Business in 2002 in Marketing. In 2007 Jenni earned her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the WSU Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs. Prior to her career in public administration, she recruited students to her alma mater as a member of the WSU Office of Admissions staff.

Jenni left her position at WSU in 2006 to become a Management Intern for then Sedgwick County Manager Bill Buchanan, her professional mentor. Jenni was hired as a full-time employee in the County Communications office at the start of 2007. In 2010, Jenni moved from County Government to City Government when she accepted the position of Assistant City Administrator for Andover, KS. In October 2017, Jenni successfully completed the process to become an ICMA Credentialed Manager, a designation she maintains today.

Jennifer was promoted to the role of Andover City Administrator on September 23, 2019. In the short two and a half years she has served in this capacity, she has led the city through COVID and a tornado recovery.

Jenni’s family is her pride and joy: she married AJ in 2008 and their family includes two happy, energetic boys, Miles (age 10) and Finn (age 6). While much of her “spare time” is spent cheering on her boys at sporting events, she also spends time on the Andover YMCA Advisory Board and at the RiverWalk Church of Christ in Wichita, where she and her family are members.

Chasity Page (Andover Tornado Panel): andover_powerpoint.pdf

Chasity grew up in southeast Kansas and moved to Wichita in 2005.  She took the scenic route when it came to determining what she wanted to be when she “grew up”, with a detour leading her to become a certified bench jeweler before deciding on Human Resources.  As a non-traditional student, Chasity attained her BA in Human Resource Management from Friends University, completing classes in the evening.  She received her SHRM-CP certification in 2018 and is currently pursuing her Master’s of Human Resource Management from Wichita State University.

Prior to coming to the public sector in January of 2017, Chasity held roles in the private sector as an HR Generalist at Hall’s Culligan and PrairieFire Coffee, and in the education and non-profit sector as the Benefits Manager at Newman University.  Chasity was hired on by the City of Andover as the Benefits and Communications Specialist, a new role created to handle internal and external communications for the city as well as the employee benefits.  In January of 2020, she became the City’s first Director of Human Resources, taking on the remainder of the HR duties, while continuing to do communications as well.  She was officially relieved of her communication duties (or so she thought) with the new Public Information Officer (PIO) was hired in April of this year.  During the tornado recovery, Chasity helped out by serving as an additional PIO when necessary and took calls from individuals wanting to donate specific services and goods to the recovery efforts.

Chasity loves the outdoors and traveling with her husband and two step-daughters .  She keeps track of their adventures through a collage of pictures on a giant 4’x6’ map on their living room wall and creates a photo album each year. 

Meg Ralph (Tips for First Amendment Auditor Success): everyone_is_a_reporter__tips.pdf

Meg Ralph is the Communications Manager for the City of Overland Park, Kansas. A two-time graduate of the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism, Meg got her start in the communications world working as a news producer in Saginaw, Mich. and Kansas City. Now, in her role at the second-largest city in both the Kansas City metro and the state of Kansas, Meg works to bridge the gap between local media, government, and the residents who are at the center of it all. Meg is raising twin Jayhawk fans with her husband, Michael, who researches inclusion in design and architecture. You can reach Meg at [email protected] or follow her for spicy takes on Twitter at @megmralph.

Hali Rowland (Crisis Communication): 2019_flood_response_riley_co.pdf

Hali began her career in communication as a TV producer, web-content producer, assignment desk editor, and on-air talent at KWCH-12 in Wichita. Hali then worked as the Riley County Police Department Public Information Officer for 3 years before relocating to Tennessee. Hali moves with her kindergarten-sweetheart husband and 3 kids every few years due to the military. She currently works as a remote communication consultant specializing in crisis messaging, social media training, and web content management for government agencies.

Megan Schapaugh (Andover Tornado Panel): andover_powerpoint.pdf

Megan Schapaugh has been with the City of Andover for just over four months and was just three weeks into the role when the tornado struck. She recently joined the Andover team after holding the role of Special Events Coordinator at Heartspring for four years, planning large fundraising events for the community. She has worked in a variety of marketing and event planning roles at non-profits and universities.

She grew up in Salina, Kansas for most of her childhood and graduated from Kansas Wesleyan with her bachelor’s degree in Communications and Master’s Degree in Business Administration. During college, she was the editor of the school newspaper, hosted two online radio shows, and took on multiple marketing and communications internships.

Megan loves connecting with others and making them feel valued through events, committees, and special celebrations. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, running, hiking, spending time with friends and family, and thrift shopping.

Vivienne Uccello (Crisis Communication): 2019_flood_response_riley_co.pdf

If there’s a crisis in Riley County, you might find Vivienne right in the middle of it. As a Public Information Officer serving the Manhattan area for the past five years, she has assisted with two floods, one tornado, multiple wildfires, and a pandemic.  Vivienne believes the key to successful crisis communication is a strong network of trusted professionals and a healthy amount of preparation. Vivienne moved from California to Kansas in 2008. She started her Kansas career working in public radio, then moved to the public library, the City of Manhattan, and she is currently the PIO for Riley County.  She’s getting married to her sweetie, Alfonso, next month.

Kansas Sunshine Laws for Public Information Officers: sunshine_laws__kapio_.pdf

Tiktok Presentation: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFLfEntRKo/1lO5cJ_RhVSp6mIdYwn-Rg/view?utm_content=DAFLfEntRKo&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink#1

#OneOlathetheFamily: Community Support After a School Shooting: kapio_presentation.pdf

Who attended KAPIO 2022? Here's the list of attendees.