MarketInk: Jean Walcher sells agency to longtime colleague Sandy Young

Sandy Young left and Jean Walcher Photo courtesy of the agency A minimal years ago during Sandy Young s previous years working for San Diego community relations agency J Walcher Communications agency founder Jean Walcher and Young had a private conversation According to Young Jean commented to me When I m ready to not be owner of the agency I would like you to be owner if you are interested I was extremely honored to be considered I commented yes and here we are in contemporary times This past summer Young previously the agency s VP acquired ownership of the PR agency and was named CEO and owner overseeing agency operations and strategic leadership In late October a press release reported Jean Walcher names long-time employee Sandy Young as new owner The official handover was effective June Young advised Times of San Diego We focused on the transition itself over the summer and then developed a marketing plan to get the news out in the fall Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed It has been a whirlwind of a journey the past sparse months to step into Jean s shoes and leading all sides of the operation explained Young who believes she is San Diego s only Asian PR agency woman owner Jeans mother San Diego PR legend Laura Walcher founded her PR agency in At the time Walcher was held to be the first woman in San Diego s marketing history to own a PR agency Jean began her PR career working for her mom before moving to New York to work for several PR agencies including Ruder Finn Rotman She then spent eight years in Los Angeles working in film production and advancement and served five years as VP of marketing and PR for the American Council on Exercise She founded her agency in The agency now has four full-time employees including Young and also works with a half-dozen independent contractors I m honored to continue building on the legacy of that Jean and Laura Walcher have created Young revealed Our band and clients are a testament to their dedication and impact embedded in our work ethic Young a native of Sacramento arrived in San Diego in to attend UC San Diego where she earned a bachelor s degree in communication and a minor in literature-writing She also studied abroad at Pembroke College University of Cambridge in Film Studies and Italian Renaissance Art She has years of experience working in PR Her areas of expertise include PR and marketing strategy writing-editing media relationship building district partnerships situation communications and media training She has also served as a freelance writer columnist and contributor for various media outlets She is a member of the national Community Relations Society of America s Counselors Academy for senior inhabitants relations practitioners In Young was named the Deborah Baker PR Pro of the Year by the PRSA s San Diego-Imperial Counties Chapter and made the San Diego Business Journal s Asian Pacific Islander Leaders of Influence list According to Young Jean is not retiring and will continue as an integral part of the agency including consulting with clients and attracting new business Jean also is evolving in the district as a member of the city of San Diego s Commission for Arts and Civilization I ve gotten so much satisfaction from running J Walcher Communications for the last years and I look forward to seeing where Sandy takes it next mentioned Jean in a comment She s been an effective right-hand and has played a pivotal role in mentoring staff cultivating long-standing client relationships and evolving strategic communications and problem management programs that have earned client and media respect and trust Young mentioned Laura Walcher is still a source of advice and expertise We call her our PR Fairy Godmother The agency s current and latest clients include Jewish Family Organization of San Diego Strategy and Innovation Center City Heights Locality Growth Corporation Greystar the Invictus Games San Diego bid Civico Comic-Con Museum MVE Partners Circulate San Diego the WelcomeWithDignity Campaign and Bazaar del Mundo restaurants and shops Services include media relations and strategy social and digital media content creation situation communications media training digital optimization award and speaking coordination influencer relations branding and graphic design and advertising The agency has been included on Forbes Best PR Agencies in America list San Diego AMA to discuss how AI is not replacing creativity The American Marketing Association San Diego chapter will present a plan titled The Future is Now How AI Artificial Intelligence is Empowering Not Replacing Marketing Creativity starting at p m Wednesday Nov at the San Diego Wine Culinary Center West Harbor Drive The speaker will be Mary Ann O Brien founder and CEO of OBI Creative Her consulting firm has worked with plenty of companies to steer their strategic direction evolve their brand positioning and guide their marketing and communication efforts the AMA reported Discussion topics will include how AI can enhance not replace creativity in marketing practical tools to elevate campaigns and client relationships and the future of marketing and consumer engagement Rather than replace creativity AI expands it opening doors to smarter strategies deeper insights and more impactful campaigns a declaration revealed Cost to attend is for members for nonmembers which includes appetizers and one complimentary drink For more information send an email to info sdama org or visit sdama org MarketInk earns San Diego Press Club writing awards Times of San Diego s MarketInk a weekly marketing and media column covering trends and news in the news media marketing advertising branding and creative industries was presented with a first-place writing award at the San Diego Press Club s up-to-date Excellence in Journalism awards scheme The column was recognized in the Online and Daily Newspapers division Profile category for profiles about food blogger Darryl Gordon who goes out to eat every night and radio talk-show host Mark Larson s fight with lymphoma The food blogger profile received a first-place award and the radio talk-show profile received an honorable mention The column also was recognized in the Online and Daily Newspapers division Column Light Subject category with an honorable mention The column now in its th year is posted on Monday mornings Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based masses relations and marketing consultant His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego