SiOC LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD and PIO OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS FOR 2001

The California State Information Officers Council (SiOC) honored Karen Terrill with Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and Pete Weisser with Department of Water Resources with the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award on April 11, 2002, at its annual SiOC Awards luncheon which honors excellence in government communication. In addition to Weisser and Terrill, SiOC honored Tom Marshall with the California Highway Patrol as PIO of the Year.

Nominations for each of the honors come from public information officials (PIO) in California state government positions. Lifetime Achievement nominees need to have spent a significant amount of their career as a PIO with the state, while the PIO of the Year is recognized for outstanding accomplishments for the year.

Karen Terrill and Pete Weisser have each demonstrated a consistent level of excellence that all public information officers strive to reach. They are respected not only by their peers but by members of the media as well.

Terrill, who has been with the state since 1987, serves as spokesperson for CDFFP. In addition to her crisis communication work during fire season, she also provides training on media and crisis media communication to members of her department and through the California Specialized Training Institute.

Weisser, who has been with the state since 1975, has served with several state agencies include Employment Development Department, Department of Health Services, Department of Fish and Game, and Department of Water Resources where he trained a cadre of PIOs to assist with coverage of the 1997 floods.

Marshall, CHP, was recognized for his efforts in heading an anthrax training effort and development of a special training video that received national and international attention.