About SAE Communications

SAE Communications provides senior-level communications counsel to public agencies throughout California. Our work is grounded in a simple belief: public agencies make difficult decisions every day, and those decisions are better understood when they are communicated clearly and accurately, with respect for the people affected by them.

Since 1991, SAE has helped cities, counties, special districts, schools, colleges, ports, state agencies, water agencies, and other public organizations plan and implement communications programs that educate, inform, and involve residents, businesses, staff, media, elected officials, partner agencies, and other key audiences.

SAE is often called upon when an agency needs experienced, on-call communications support for a sensitive issue, major project, emergency incident, leadership transition, media inquiry, public meeting, or crisis of confidence. Our strength is the ability to quickly understand a public agency’s operating environment, clarify the communications challenge, develop practical messages, and help leaders communicate with accuracy, empathy, and confidence.

Bay Area Office

2934 Victoria Meadow Court
Pleasanton, CA 94566
510-714-4470

Southern California Office

1737 Paterna Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
805-450-4886

Scott Summerfield, SAE Principal

Scott Summerfield, SAE Principal, is a strategic communications veteran with four decades of experience advising public agencies to prepare for and respond to issues-related crises and natural disasters. He specializes in strategic and crisis communications planning/response for cities, counties, special districts, colleges, and universities.

As a principal of SAE Communications, Scott brings a unique blend of public and private sector experience to guide public agency staff through highly challenging and sensitive situations when public trust can be solidified or lost. He has worked on issues ranging from arrests of protesters and mass casualty incidents to agency leadership departures and related sensitive situations. Scott’s natural curiosity blends with his strong communications skills, empathy, and commitment to guiding those in public service.

A special area of expertise is creating and implementing training programs to prepare elected and appointed executives to conduct sensitive media interviews and challenging community presentations. He’s a leader in helping subject matter experts prepare and present complex public presentations to policy leaders and key stakeholders.

Scott has extensive experience helping public agencies prepare for and respond to cyberattacks, participating in and conducting numerous exercises and drills involving sophisticated attack scenarios. He also advises regarding Public Records Act requests and First Amendment Auditor scenarios.

Scott is the former Director of Communications for the City of Newark and Director of Communications for the Oakland Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves as a Dean of Instruction at the California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI). He is a past president and lifetime member of the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO), CAPIO Paul Clark Award winner in recognition of his exceptional leadership, grants chair of the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, past executive board member of the City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA), past board member of the Bay Area Cable Excellence Awards, and guest lecturer at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication. Scott is a graduate of the Telecommunications and Film program at San Diego State University and is a member of its Alumni Association Board of Advisors Executive Committee.

Find Scott on LinkedIn.

Sheri Benninghoven, APR

Sheri Benninghoven, APR, (SAE principal) is the former Communications Director of the League of California Cities, and one of California’s most experienced public relations professionals in helping state and local governments and colleges/universities develop strategic public communications programs.

Sheri has extensive experience and working knowledge of journalism, local government operations and finance, public relations and public affairs, State government, crisis communications, and communications research. She regularly serves in public agency emergency operations centers to advise regarding public information programs during major disasters.

A graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Communications and Public Relations, she also graduated from the Public Sector Marketing program from Public Technology, Incorporated (PTI) in Washington, D.C.

She is a former member of the adjunct faculty of the University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication in Los Angeles and a former Vice President/Group Manager for Ketchum Public Relations, the world’s fifth largest public relations firm. She founded their Public Sector Marketing Group and also created their California Technology Practice Group. Sheri served in Ketchum’s renowned Media Training Unit, which trained corporate executives from around the world in media relations.

Sheri also served as Public Information Officer for the City of Anaheim, where she developed an award-winning crisis communications training program, which was adopted by the California Specialized Training Institute. She also authored portions of the State’s Multi-Function Hazard Response Plan and has counseled the California Office of Emergency Services.

She is a past president of the California Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, from which she’s accredited; a member and past board member of the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award; is a founder/past board member of the City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA); and received California State University, Fullerton’s prestigious alumni award. Sheri is a former volunteer with the American Red Cross and is active at All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara.

Find Sheri on LinkedIn.

John Pope, Senior Counselor

John Pope is an award-winning communications professional with extensive public-sector experience in media relations, community outreach, marketing, writing, public information, and crisis communications.

Before joining SAE Communications as Senior Counselor, John served as Public Information Manager for the City of Newport Beach. He previously served as Public Information Officer for the City of South Pasadena and Communications Director for Long Beach City College, where he managed public affairs, marketing, and government relations.

John also spent several years with the City of Long Beach Harbor Department / Port of Long Beach, where he led strategic communications efforts for more than $2.5 billion in port construction projects, including the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project and the Middle Harbor terminal redevelopment.

Throughout his career, John has helped public agencies respond to and manage sensitive and high-profile issues, including the COVID pandemic, air and water quality issues, public safety emergencies, protests, labor strikes, organized opposition campaigns, and major crisis events. In 2018, he worked with the County of Santa Barbara following the deadly Montecito debris flow, and in 2011 he assisted the City of Seal Beach following the largest mass shooting in Orange County history.

Before entering public-sector communications, John was a journalist with the Los Angeles Times, Long Beach Press-Telegram, and other Southern California media outlets.

He is the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Paul B. Clark career achievement award from the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO).