California Association of Clerks and Election Officials
The California Association of Clerks and Election Officials (CACEO) promotes professionalism and uniformity in election practices statewide. With a focus on transparency, nonpartisanship, and legislative advocacy, CACEO plays a critical role in protecting the integrity of California’s election systems and fostering public trust in the democratic process.
AUDIENCE: 250 election officials, clerks, support staff, spouses, and election tech vendors
LOCATION: San Ramon, California
CHALLENGE: Confront the rising pressure on election officials, from security threats and misinformation to legislative complexity, while reinforcing confidence, resilience, and the human values behind the work of administering elections.
CARA BROOKINS’ SOLUTION:
60-minute keynote presentation
30-minute live Q&A
Evening-before meet and greet
Sound, tech, and videographer check
Award segment in partnership with Heifer International (Goat, Bees, Chickens)
Post-event lunch with informal networking
At the 2025 CACEO Annual Conference in San Ramon, California, election officials and their teams gathered at a time of mounting challenges across the elections landscape. With the growing weight of misinformation, personal threats, and changing legislation, CACEO needed a speaker who could not only inspire, but also equip its members with tools to rebuild confidence from the inside out.
Cara Brookins delivered a powerful 60-minute keynote that focused on resilience, navigating fear, and reclaiming agency in times of high stress. Drawing parallels between her experience building a house from the ground up and the work of securing democracy one vote at a time, Cara reminded attendees of their purpose and the strength found in small, determined steps.
Her message landed deeply with attendees, from frontline clerks to seasoned officials and vendor partners, sparking a highly engaged 30-minute Q&A. Cara also participated in a pre-conference meet and greet, fostering early connections, and later joined guests for a post-keynote lunch to continue the conversation in a more personal setting.
A standout moment came during the awards segment, where Cara honored three attendees with symbolic gifts of a goat, a hive of bees, and a flock of chickens, which she donated in partnership with Heifer International to a needy family across the globe. The gesture underscored CACEO’s commitment to both service and global impact.
