Artemio Armenta

Artemio is a communications professional with extensive experience in public affairs, media relations, crisis communications, strategic communications, reputation management, rapid response, earned media, social media, marketing, journalism, television news production, policy analysis, and governmental affairs.

He is team-oriented with a solid background as a bilingual spokesperson (English and Spanish), on-the-record and on-camera media experience, managing large teams, and coordinating multiple projects from the planning phase to delivery.

Artemio received academic honors from Brown University and graduated with a double major in International Relations and Hispanic Studies. In June 2021, he completed the CDFA Executive Leadership Academy from the UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education program.

He was on the frontline of COVID-19 response, in a supervisory assignment of contact tracers and vaccine outreach coordinators for Los Angeles County, with California Connected, the state's COVID-19 contact tracing program.

Artemio brings senior staff and organizational experience to the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Department of Motor Vehicles. While at the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), he bridged new relationships in the State Capitol. He has developed strategies for reaching new coalitions, building and supporting stakeholders, and using innovative, digital solutions to conduct high-stakes and public-facing goals.

He has experience managing large, sensitive, high-level, and complex projects. For example, he worked on the Farmer Equity Act's communications and outreach strategy at CDFA, led the strategic communications campaign for the DMV's Unlicensed Vehicle Dismantler Program and the Gender Recognition Act. He also worked on the implementation of AB 60 and REAL ID.

He worked for the late Congressman Robert Matsui in Washington, DC. He then returned to Sacramento, where he led news teams at Univision as Senior Political and News Producer and Senior Assignment Editor. He began his state service career as an Executive Fellow in the nationally recognized Capital Fellows Program and worked at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA).

He commits to working with diverse populations, understanding cultural humility (race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, language, and cultures).