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published on July 8, 2016 - 9:53 AM
Written by

Adrienne Young, Owner

Adrienne young communications

What I do: I am the owner and chief strategist of Adrienne Young Communications, a PR and social media firm with a focus on food, flowers and wine.   

Education: I graduated from Fresno State in 1995 with a degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations.

Age: 43

Family: Married for 21 years with two children, age 11 and 13.


How did you first get involved in the public relations business, Adrienne?

In kindergarten I won a fire prevention poster contest. That was my big moment.

Who are your main clients and what are the greatest challenges involved in representing them, Adrienne?

My main clients are California Grown, the California Cut Flower Commission, the California State Floral Association and Certified American Grown Flowers. My biggest challenge is always figuring out how to use our resources in the most effective manner possible. There are so many tools for reaching consumers today, much more than when I started in the business. New tools emerge almost daily, which is great, it just means PR firms need to be agile.

What are the most important issues facing the public relations industry today, Adrienne?

Maintaining ethical public relations practices throughout the industry has always been and continues to be important. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is a great resource for practitioners wanting to maintain high standards of professionalism and the Central California PRSA chapter is no exception. It’s a must-join for local PR pros.  

Working with the media is a big part of the public relations business. What are your secrets for dealing effectively with local and out-of-area media, Adrienne?

Make sure the story you are pitching is newsworthy and do your research to ensure you are reaching out to the correct reporter, producer or assignment editor. Having a solid news release with pertinent information is important as well.  

If you are going out of the area, it’s a good idea to partner with a local PR firm for help understanding that market. We have pitched stories to local news outlets nationwide for one of our clients, but we do a lot of research beforehand. We research the publications and reporters and do some digging to make sure we are pitching the right person.  Reporters are busy and we don’t like to waste their time.  

What was the best advice you ever received and who did it come from, Adrienne?

I’ve received a lot of great advice over the years, but probably the one that sticks out the most was from a photographer I was working with in Seattle. She said, “If you are working with the right people, it should be easy.”

Who or what has been the biggest influence on your career?

Living in California, surrounded by agriculture has had the biggest influence on my career path.  

What are your roots in the Central Valley, Adrienne?

My husband and I went to high school together in Salinas, and when I applied to Fresno State, he decided to do the same. We love it here so we built our life and our family in this community.  

What was your very first job and what did you learn from it?

My first full-time job out of college was at ABC 30 — I was a promotion producer.  Working alongside seasoned journalists, I learned what a good story was and how to tell it.

What do you like to do in your spare time, Adrienne?

My husband and I spend a lot of time with our kids, either cheering them on in their favorite sports (my son is a baseball player and my daughter an equestrian), or playing with them. We like to hike, ski, travel and play tennis and golf. And go to Giants games.


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