Olivia Applegate

Olivia Applegate serves as Chief Communications Officer for the San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association (SBCERA), where she leads the organization’s communications, stakeholder relations, and legislative affairs functions. She oversees strategies that strengthen transparency, build trust, and foster meaningful engagement with SBCERA’s members, participating employers, elected officials, employees, and community partners while advancing the organization’s strategic priorities.

Since joining SBCERA in 2019, Olivia has played a key role in modernizing the organization’s communications program and elevating its public profile. She has led initiatives that have strengthened member engagement, enhanced stakeholder partnerships, expanded educational outreach, and advanced a more strategic, data-informed approach to organizational communications. Her leadership has helped position communications as a strategic function that supports informed decision-making, organizational alignment, and exceptional service.

Since joining SBCERA in 2019, Olivia has played a key role in modernizing the organization’s communications program and elevating its public profile. She has led initiatives that have strengthened member engagement, enhanced stakeholder partnerships, expanded educational outreach, and advanced a more strategic, data-informed approach to organizational communications. Under her leadership, SBCERA has earned multiple state and national awards recognizing excellence in public sector communications. She has also helped position communications as a strategic function that supports informed decision-making, organizational alignment, and exceptional service.

Olivia holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Grand Canyon University, a Certificate in Organizational Leadership from Harvard Business School, a Professional Certificate in Advanced Public Engagement from the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership, and a Public Information Certification from the California Association of Public Information Officers (CAPIO).