Desert Water Agency earned a 2026 EPIC Award from the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) for its Mission, Vision & Values video, highlighting the Agency’s Strategic Plan and organizational culture.  

The award-winning video project, The Roadmap Ahead, The Compass Within: Bringing Desert Water Agency’s Mission, Vision & Values to Life, features employees from across the organization and was unveiled during the Agency’s all-staff meeting on Dec. 11.

The project received first place in the category of Video Production – Marketing Video – Consultant Supported during the CAPIO EPIC Awards Ceremony held May 12 in San Diego as part of CAPIO’s annual conference.

The video project was designed to reinforce the Agency’s commitment to its guiding principles, while celebrating the employees who help advance its strategic goals every day.

“Rather than simply introducing our Strategic Plan and Mission, Vision and Values through a traditional presentation, this project gave us the opportunity to create something meaningful and memorable for our employees and community we serve,” said Esther Saenz, DWA General Manager. “By featuring staff from multiple departments, the video brought our organizational values to life in a way that felt authentic, engaging and personal. We are honored to receive this recognition from CAPIO.”

The EPIC Awards recognize excellence in public sector communications throughout California, with more than 500 submissions received across all categories this year.

For more information about the video project, please email Victoria Llort, Director of Public Affairs & Conservation and Public Information Officer, at vllort@dwa.org.