Startups are innovating at a fever pitch, but with so many new companies hitting the market, getting noticed can be a challenge. It’s hard to compete with the next Uber. There’s a lot of noise out there and attention spans are short. Also, journalists are increasingly being bombarded with pitches, making it hard to sort out the substance from the fluff.
That’s exactly why tech startups need good PR.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (or genius programmer) to know that positive media coverage can introduce your company to new customers. But it also enhances your credibility, making investors more confident in the promise of your product or service.
That’s why at (W)right On, we always advise tech startups to invest in PR before anything else. But many times, especially with new, early stage tech startups, there isn’t an outlined budget for marketing. Or, the startup founders are too busy to dedicate the time and resources toward a successful PR program.
You don’t have to be as grandiose as Steve Jobs and captivate the world at MacWorld to get media coverage, but a successful launch or program does require creativity. Here are a few best practices that we’ve learned over the years for getting PR for your startup:
A splashy launch is worth its weight in gold:
Your product is out of beta, the bugs are worked out, and you’ve nailed your messaging, value proposition and competitive differentiation. Now it’s time to let the world know you exist! The old adage, “if you build it, they will come” no longer applies. No offense to Kevin Costner and “Field of Dreams,” but it just doesn’t work that way anymore.
We recommend that tech startups hire a PR firm to develop a killer launch strategy to get in the media and in front of customers. Yes, it is an investment, but it’s one that will pay for itself if done correctly.
Depending on the startup and their customers, we’ve done everything from influencer targeting, giveaways, press conferences (in-person and digital), launch parties, desksides (one-on-one meetings with journalists) and more.
It takes creativity to get noticed:
Say you’ve already launched. Maybe the company has been around for a year or more. Things are going well, but you could stand to get more buzz. The most important thing we tell our clients is that an old product won’t continue to get press unless the company does something creative to earn it. Tech journalists tend to cover:
Company launches
New products/product launches
Data/trends/statistics
Helpful infographics
Important partnerships
Case studies
News coming from top companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc.
If you don’t have any “news,” case studies or product launches in the queue, then you’re going to need to get creative to get attention. Often for clients who have this dilemma, we’ll develop a thought leadership campaign where we’ll draft a series of topical articles and shop them to various magazines and blogs in the target market. Or, we’ll design an infographic, develop a creative stunt or commission a survey to earn media attention.
Form relationships with media contacts:
Your PR firm has scored you a media interview. At first you think, “awesome, this is going to be great!” Then, the next thought might be, “oh sh*t, I hope I don’t screw this up.”
First, we always encourage that our tech startup spokespeople get media training if they’re not already experienced in that area. This gives said spokespeople the confidence to know they are not going to look like a complete wanker to the journalist.
Next, remember that every media interview is an opportunity to form a relationship with someone new. You’re not simply adding that journalist to your Rolodex, but potentially meeting someone who could become an advocate for your company. When you form genuine relationships with the media, they will often look to you as a source for stories (yay, more press!) and perhaps they’ll be more benevolent (within the limits of their job) if crisis strikes.
So keep in touch with the journalist. Comment on their articles. Follow and RT them on Twitter. Send them articles you think they might want to read, or email feedback about the things they write themselves. Be open and transparent (not defensive) during the interview process. Take them out to lunch or drinks with your PR rep on a quarterly basis to learn more about what they’re working on.
Do you have anything to add? Let us know in the comments!
https://wrightoncomm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/tech-startup.jpg665281(W)right On Communications(W)right On Communicationshttps://wrightoncomm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/tech-startup.jpg
Julie Wright serves as President of (W)right On Communications, the strategic communications firm she founded in 1998. She leads the firm’s two specialized agencies—WOC | Signal, serving clean energy, manufacturing and cybersecurity organizations, and WOC | Resonance, serving senior living, tourism and community-facing institutions—and its centers of excellence in crisis communications, creative services and AI-optimized PR.
Julie is known for her trusted crisis communications counsel and as a recognized expert on the intersection of AI and public relations. With more than three decades of experience advising organizations navigating complex reputational and market environments, she began her career as a journalist and has held senior roles in both agency and in-house marketing leadership.
Julie currently serves as a director of Innovotech Inc., a Canadian publicly traded boutique contract research organization; Reposit Carbon, a privately-held company focusing on enhanced rock weathering for carbon dioxide removal; the California Travel Association, a statewide advocacy group for the tourism industry; and a director and past chair of the San Diego North Economic Development Council. Her previous community leadership includes board service with the International Association of Business Communicators, La Jolla Village’s business improvement district, Tri-City Hospital Foundation and California State University San Marcos’ President’s Council.
She has been recognized nationally and regionally for excellence in communications leadership, including honors from IABC San Diego as 2025 Communicator of the Year and the San Diego Press Club’s 2025 Andy Mace Award recipient.
Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Journalism from the University of Western Ontario. She is a graduate of Leadership North County and the Corporate Directors Forum Governance Academy.
Roman is an accomplished video production specialist with over 15 years of experience contributing to various corporate and commercial video projects. Throughout his career he successfully completed jobs for some of the world’s most recognized brands including Amazon, Nike, UCLA, Airbnb, HP, US Navy, and T-Mobile, with some videos reaching millions of online views.
Roman’s expertise covers every stage of production—from pre-production planning and professional on-set cinematography to post-production, including video editing and motion graphics design. His portfolio spans diverse video formats, from corporate training and recruitment films to commercial documentary, testimonials, and animated explainers, delivering high-quality visual storytelling that engages audiences and achieves business goals.
Tatiana Martinez leads Spanish-language media outreach and community relations efforts for the agency and its client partners. She acts as a spokesperson for Spanish-language media and business or community group outreach. Tatiana has provided translations, Spanish voiceovers and strategies for reaching Spanish-speaking stakeholders. A former journalist for Mexican and American media outlets, Tatiana has a journalism degree from the University of Arizona and communications degree from Mexico’s Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara.
Phelan Riessen is a passionate web and graphic design artist with over 25 years of experience designing and building more than 60 websites for a variety of organizations. Skilled in fontography, web design, Photoshop and web marketing strategies; Phelan also holds a strong presence in the San Diego tech community by serving as an organizer of several large-scale events including RefreshSD, March Mingle and Startup Week.
Mindy supports senior living and tourism engagements within WOC | Resonance, helping client partners strengthen community trust and stakeholder alignment.
Mindy provides (W)right On client partners more than 10 years of experience in internal and external communications, media relations, content development, campaign and crisis leadership, fundraising support, social media, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. She is a LEAD San Diego Impact Leadership Program Graduate; healthcare communications and marketing campaign platinum award winner from MAR-COM Awards; and recipient of a silver award for crisis and executive communications from the San Diego/Imperial County chapter of PRSA.
A native San Diego resident, Mindy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Security and Conflict Resolution from San Diego State University.
Marsha Kelly has dedicated her career to assisting American Indian tribal communities and businesses with strategies to diversify their economies through wind farms, solar arrays, EV charging infrastructure and other initiatives. Her tribal relationships include the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association with consulting to other tribes across California, Michigan, New Mexico, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor of Science in English and Communications from the University of Minnesota.
Larry Smalheiser serves as Managing Director of WOC | Signal, the specialized agency within (W)right On Communications, where he leads market development and client strategy across clean energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and cybersecurity. He advises executive teams navigating regulatory complexity, competitive markets and high-visibility growth environments — aligning communications with business objectives in sectors defined by scrutiny and consequence.
With more than 20 years of in-house and agency experience, Larry has built and led communications strategies for global technology and enterprise organizations including Sony, Dell, VMware, RSA, Xerox, Virgin Galactic and Underwriters Laboratories. His work consistently sits at the intersection of corporate narrative, analyst and media influence, sales enablement and executive positioning.
Prior to joining (W)right On, Larry served as Public Relations and Analyst Relations Lead for Sony Electronics, working closely with the North America President & COO and global leadership teams. In that role, he helped shape corporate messaging, engage influential analysts and media and ensure alignment between business priorities and market perception across a complex, matrixed organization.
Larry brings a steady, commercially literate point of view to communications strategy — advising leaders on thought leadership, competitive differentiation and reputation management in highly technical and fast-evolving markets. He is a two-time PRSA Silver Anvil Award recipient and fluent in Japanese and Spanish.
While Larry is based in San Diego today, he was raised in the Bay Area and lived for several years in Japan. Larry holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service and International Affairs from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science in Linguistics from UC Santa Barbara.
Formerly with VisitBritain and Showtime Networks, Katrina Early provides (W)right On client partners’ integrated and creative partnerships with film and TV studios, retailers, and media outlets such as Sony Pictures, Universal, Warner Brothers, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Entertainment Tonight to name a few. Experienced in the hospitality, travel, entertainment industries among others, Katrina coordinates all aspects of B2B industry events, as well as grows client partners’ audience social media engagement through highly sharable digital content. Results achieved include positive media placement in top tier outlets including National Geographic, Robb Report, Forbes, USA Today, LA Times, NBC/Today Show, E! News, Extra, The Tonight Show, People and many others.
Katrina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Public Relations from CSU Long Beach and a Master of Arts in Communications from the prestigious University of Southern California Annenberg School of Communication.
Justin Beach brings over 25 years of expertise in web development, programming and technical support to his role at (W)right On Communications. As the agency’s Web Developer and Technical Resource, Justin ensures our client partners’ digital platforms are optimized for success and deliver seamless functionality and a compelling user experience.
Justin’s career spans leadership and entrepreneurial roles with experience building corporate websites, e-commerce platforms and electronic marketing campaigns for a diverse client base. His technical fluency extends across PHP, ASP, MySQL, CSS, JS and multiple database architectures.
Previously, Justin supported strategic SEO campaigns at Myers Media Group, creating platforms responsible for deploying over a million search-optimized web pages. He also led the development of an online shopping platform for Kodak subsidiary ENCAD, Inc., driving e-commerce growth through sophisticated web solutions and marketing integrations.
From guiding print marketing clients into the digital age to deploying hundreds of websites across various frameworks, Justin’s ability to blend design and technical expertise has benefited industries ranging from finance and bioscience to wellness and nonprofit organizations.
At (W)right On Communications, Justin’s creative problem-solving, deep technical know-how and passion for excellence power our clients’ digital strategies, elevating their brands in the digital space.
As Director of Research & Analytics based out of (W)right On’s Vancouver office, Hamish leads (W)right On’s survey and stakeholder information gathering initiatives North America-wide. A former advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, Provincial Premiers, City Mayors and dozens of elected officials, he also served in the government of Canada overseeing the quantitative and qualitative research activities of federal government agencies. With experience using every sort of data collection method to provide critical insights for strategic planning, marketing and other organizational activities, Hamish has worked with dozens of private and public sector client partners, including the world’s largest mining company. In 2004 he worked in radio business development in Kabul, Afghanistan, and he has volunteered in democracy-building activities in Bangladesh and Jordan. Today, Hamish is frequently sought out by the media as an expert commentator for national television, radio and print publications. Prior to joining (W)right On, Hamish worked as the Research Director for Angus Reid Public Opinion, conducting and performing analysis on surveys in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Oxford in England, a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree from the University of Toronto and enjoys history, writing and sailing.
Grant Wright serves as CEO and Managing Partner of (W)right On Communications. He brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience in external affairs, business development and strategic communications for major American and Canadian corporations. His background spans regulatory and governmental affairs, stakeholder engagement, infrastructure development, M&A integration and brand strategy for organizations from growth-stage ventures to Fortune 500 companies.
As CEO and Managing Partner of (W)right On Communications, Grant provides executive-level counsel to client partners and oversees agency management and operations across WOC | Signal and WOC | Resonance. His experience navigating complex regulatory and infrastructure environments strengthens the firm’s ability to advise organizations operating under scrutiny and high consequence. Grant is often called upon to lead media and presentation trainings for the agencies’ client partners ahead of high-stakes market, media and community opportunities.
Grant is a Canada Global Executive, a director on the Downtown San Diego Partnership board and recently chaired the International PR Network (IPRN) North American chapter board and served as a global board director. He is a past director of Connect San Diego board and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Victoria and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from McMaster University.
A longtime San Diego resident, Grant is a commercial pilot licensed in both Canada and the United States and founding board chair of the Southern California Aviation Association, which has awarded more than $500,000 in student scholarships.
David Cumpston serves as Director of WOC | Resonance, the specialized agency within (W)right On Communications serving senior living communities, tourism organizations and other community-facing institutions. He advises executive teams and boards on how to strengthen trust, shape narrative and protect reputation in environments where public perception and stakeholder confidence directly influence success.
With more than two decades of strategic communications leadership experience, David has guided organizations through growth initiatives, executive transitions, reputational challenges and high-visibility moments. His work spans narrative development, reputation management and integrated communications strategy for organizations including Oakmont Management Group, Episcopal Communities & Services, the San Diego Tourism Marketing District (SDTMD), Visit Napa Valley, Visit Modesto, Stanford Children’s Health and national hospitality and retail brands.
Known for pairing disciplined strategic judgment with creative clarity, David helps organizations cut through noise with communications that are thoughtful, differentiated and grounded in long-term credibility. His ability to respond decisively under pressure has earned two Bulldog Media Awards for Best Response to Breaking News.
David holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Texas State University and is a certified member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Based in San Diego, he brings a global perspective and deep appreciation for culture and context to the organizations and communities he serves.
Outside of work, David is an avid traveler and lifelong student of culture — experiences that inform his approach to community-centered communications.
With more than 10 years of design and marketing experience, Danielle creates compelling visual identities and creative assets that strengthen brand recognition and audience engagement. Danielle supports (W)right On Communications’ creative services across WOC | Signal and WOC | Resonance, leading design initiatives including brand development, website experiences, annual reports and strategic visual storytelling.
From website design and digital campaigns to print materials, billboards and motion graphics, Danielle ensures every execution reflects strong branding and cohesive visual storytelling. Her capabilities span content creation, marketing collateral, animations, websites, print and motion graphics, all grounded in thoughtful design and storytelling.
Prior to joining (W)right On Communications, Danielle worked with creative agencies and freelance clients across the Caribbean, the U.K. and European Union. Most recently, she oversaw creative localization for Dyson’s Central European and Emerging Markets. She also brings a strategic perspective to her work, incorporating SEO and generative search optimization (GEO) insights to support campaign performance.
Danielle holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts & Graphic Design from Barbados Community College and a Master of Science in International Creative Advertising from Manchester Metropolitan University. She has lived and worked in the Caribbean, U.K., Austria and now the USA.
Claudia Askew, APR is based in Washington, D.C. and draws on her 30 years of experience in strategic communications to serve client partners in the energy, cleantech and B2B sectors. She led marketing and PR planning for the NeighborWorks America program for eight years helping low-income residents in all 50 states access down payment assistance through the Neighborhood LIFT program. She has a long history of volunteerism helping underserved youth and low-income women, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from Wake Forest University and her Accredited in PR (APR) designation from the Public Relations Society of America.
Responsible for communication programs research and analysis, Brian provides administrative and functional support to the agency’s program leads as well as senior management. With experience managing a retail store in the complex pool supply industry, Brian is a key contributor for social media programs, media relations, content development, vendor management, software programs oversight and other critical program aspects. He brings an innate sense of the agency’s GSD attitude to help ensure the agency remains at the industry forefront.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, is an FAA-licensed Private Pilot, and is an accomplished musician and music producer in his spare time.
Andrea focuses on clean energy client engagements within WOC | Signal, advising organizations navigating infrastructure development, regulatory complexity and energy transition communications.
Andrea brings more than ten years of strategic communications experience, with a strong focus on energy, B2B and tech. Most recently based in San Diego, she has worked as a freelance communications consultant supporting numerous energy infrastructure projects across the country through community outreach, corporate and sustainability communications, and digital content creation. Prior to this, Andrea led comprehensive internal and external communications initiatives at BKW Power Grid, Swiss Post and the State Executive Office in Switzerland.
She currently serves as Chair of Communications for the San Diego Chapter of WRISE (Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy).
Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Public Management and Policy, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Political Communications from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. She also earned a Digital Marketing Certificate from Columbia Business School and most recently completed the MITx Resolving Renewable Energy Siting Disputes course.
She is bilingual in English and German, fluent in Spanish, and proficient in French.
Roman is an accomplished video production specialist with over 15 years of experience contributing to various corporate and commercial video projects. Throughout his career he successfully completed jobs for some of the world’s most recognized brands including Amazon, Nike, UCLA, Airbnb, HP, US Navy, and T-Mobile, with some videos reaching millions of online views.
Roman’s expertise covers every stage of production—from pre-production planning and professional on-set cinematography to post-production, including video editing and motion graphics design. His portfolio spans diverse video formats, from corporate training and recruitment films to commercial documentary, testimonials, and animated explainers, delivering high-quality visual storytelling that engages audiences and achieves business goals.
Mindy Wright
Senior Communications Strategist
Mindy provides (W)right On client partners more than 10 years of experience in internal and external communications, media relations, content development, campaign and crisis leadership, fundraising support, social media, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. She is a LEAD San Diego Impact Leadership Program Graduate; healthcare communications and marketing campaign platinum award winner from MAR-COM Awards; and recipient of a silver award for crisis and executive communications from the San Diego/Imperial County chapter of PRSA.
A native San Diego resident, Mindy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Security and Conflict Resolution from San Diego State University.
Justin Beach
Web Developer + Technical Resource
Justin Beach brings over 25 years of expertise in web development, programming and technical support to his role at (W)right On Communications. As the agency’s Web Developer and Technical Resource, Justin ensures our client partners’ digital platforms are optimized for success and deliver seamless functionality and a compelling user experience.
Justin’s career spans leadership and entrepreneurial roles with experience building corporate websites, e-commerce platforms and electronic marketing campaigns for a diverse client base. His technical fluency extends across PHP, ASP, MySQL, CSS, JS and multiple database architectures.
Previously, Justin supported strategic SEO campaigns at Myers Media Group, creating platforms responsible for deploying over a million search-optimized web pages. He also led the development of an online shopping platform for Kodak subsidiary ENCAD, Inc., driving e-commerce growth through sophisticated web solutions and marketing integrations.
From guiding print marketing clients into the digital age to deploying hundreds of websites across various frameworks, Justin’s ability to blend design and technical expertise has benefited industries ranging from finance and bioscience to wellness and nonprofit organizations.
At (W)right On Communications, Justin’s creative problem-solving, deep technical know-how and passion for excellence power our clients’ digital strategies, elevating their brands in the digital space.
Claudia Askew, APR
Senior Communications Strategist
Claudia Askew, APR is based in Washington, D.C. and draws on her 30 years of experience in strategic communications to serve client partners in the energy, cleantech and B2B sectors. She led marketing and PR planning for the NeighborWorks America program for eight years helping low-income residents in all 50 states access down payment assistance through the Neighborhood LIFT program. She has a long history of volunteerism helping underserved youth and low-income women, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from Wake Forest University and her Accredited in PR (APR) designation from the Public Relations Society of America.
Marsha Kelly
Tribal Media + Outreach Specialist
Marsha Kelly has dedicated her career to assisting American Indian tribal communities and businesses with strategies to diversify their economies through wind farms, solar arrays, EV charging infrastructure and other initiatives. Her tribal relationships include the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association with consulting to other tribes across California, Michigan, New Mexico, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor of Science in English and Communications from the University of Minnesota.
Tatiana Martinez
Hispanic Media + Outreach Specialist
Tatiana Martinez leads Spanish-language media outreach and community relations efforts for the agency and its client partners. She acts as a spokesperson for Spanish-language media and business or community group outreach. Tatiana has provided translations, Spanish voiceovers and strategies for reaching Spanish-speaking stakeholders. A former journalist for Mexican and American media outlets, Tatiana has a journalism degree from the University of Arizona and communications degree from Mexico’s Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara.
Larry Smalheiser
Vice President, B2B & Tech
Larry is a strategic communications and PR pro who brings more than 20 years’ in-house, agency and independent experience driving brand visibility, supporting sales growth, and establishing executives as thought leaders in the B2B and B2C spaces. He has a track record of building, leading, and excelling on cross-functional global teams for emerging and established brands including Sony, Dell, VMware, RSA, Xerox, Virgin Galactic, Underwriters Laboratories, Purfresh, Radiant Logic, Sumo Logic and more. He regularly serves as mentor to business and community organizations and has earned two PRSA Silver Anvil Awards for his work over the years.
Larry most recently served as Public Relations and Analyst Relations Lead at Sony Electronics, where he worked closely with Sony Electronics North America President & COO, and the global team. He holds a Master’s degree, is fluent in Japanese and Spanish, and lives in San Diego with his wife and their rescue Morkie, Cookie.
David Cumpston
Associate Vice President, Lifestyle & Hospitality
David brings more than 22 years of communication experience to (W)right On’s client partners, currently overseeing the agency’s hospitality, tourism, senior living, wellness and education practice areas. He has developed and successfully led strategic communications for numerous prominent brands including JP Morgan Chase, Oakmont Management Group, Aramark, San Diego Tourism Marketing District, SEGA, RISE Healthcare Group, Horizon Organic, Visit Napa Valley, Stanford Children’s Hospital, Orbitz, Best Western, Walmart and Velodyne Lidar.
He is a two-time winner of Bulldog Media’s Best Response to Breaking News Award and earned a bachelor degree in Mass Communication & Public Relations from Texas State University. David cemented his love for travel early on and has visited more than 45 countries on six continents; he’s also passionate about dogs and, in particular, his Chiweenie mix, Dora.
Andrea Saxenhofer
Senior Communications Strategist
Andrea brings more than ten years of strategic communications experience, with a strong focus on energy, B2B and tech. Most recently based in San Diego, she has worked as a freelance communications consultant supporting numerous energy infrastructure projects across the country through community outreach, corporate and sustainability communications, and digital content creation. Prior to this, Andrea led comprehensive internal and external communications initiatives at BKW Power Grid, Swiss Post and the State Executive Office in Switzerland.
She currently serves as Chair of Communications for the San Diego Chapter of WRISE (Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy).
Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Public Management and Policy, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Political Communications from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. She also earned a Digital Marketing Certificate from Columbia Business School and most recently completed the MITx Resolving Renewable Energy Siting Disputes course.
She is bilingual in English and German, fluent in Spanish, and proficient in French.
Brian Wright
Communications Program Analyst
Responsible for communication programs research and analysis, Brian provides administrative and functional support to the agency’s program leads as well as senior management. With experience managing a retail store in the complex pool supply industry, Brian is a key contributor for social media programs, media relations, content development, vendor management, software programs oversight and other critical program aspects. He brings an innate sense of the agency’s GSD attitude to help ensure the agency remains at the industry forefront.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, is an FAA-licensed Private Pilot, and is an accomplished musician and music producer in his spare time.
Hamish Marshall
Director, Research + Analytics WOC Intelligence
As Director of Research & Analytics based out of (W)right On’s Vancouver office, Hamish leads (W)right On’s survey and stakeholder information gathering initiatives North America-wide. A former advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, Provincial Premiers, City Mayors and dozens of elected officials, he also served in the government of Canada overseeing the quantitative and qualitative research activities of federal government agencies. With experience using every sort of data collection method to provide critical insights for strategic planning, marketing and other organizational activities, Hamish has worked with dozens of private and public sector client partners, including the world’s largest mining company. In 2004 he worked in radio business development in Kabul, Afghanistan, and he has volunteered in democracy-building activities in Bangladesh and Jordan. Today, Hamish is frequently sought out by the media as an expert commentator for national television, radio and print publications. Prior to joining (W)right On, Hamish worked as the Research Director for Angus Reid Public Opinion, conducting and performing analysis on surveys in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Oxford in England, a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree from the University of Toronto and enjoys history, writing and sailing.
Katrina Early
Media Integration Specialist
Formerly with VisitBritain and Showtime Networks, Katrina Early provides (W)right On client partners’ integrated and creative partnerships with film and TV studios, retailers, and media outlets such as Sony Pictures, Universal, Warner Brothers, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Entertainment Tonight to name a few. Experienced in the hospitality, travel, entertainment industries among others, Katrina coordinates all aspects of B2B industry events, as well as grows client partners’ audience social media engagement through highly sharable digital content. Results achieved include positive media placement in top tier outlets including National Geographic, Robb Report, Forbes, USA Today, LA Times, NBC/Today Show, E! News, Extra, The Tonight Show, People and many others.
Katrina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Public Relations from CSU Long Beach and a Master of Arts in Communications from the prestigious University of Southern California Annenberg School of Communication.
Phelan Riessen
Lead Developer + Technical Resource
Phelan Riessen is a passionate web and graphic design artist with over 25 years of experience designing and building more than 60 websites for a variety of organizations. Skilled in fontography, web design, Photoshop and web marketing strategies; Phelan also holds a strong presence in the San Diego tech community by serving as an organizer of several large-scale events including RefreshSD, March Mingle and Startup Week.
Danielle Crebbin
Senior Graphic Designer
With a proven track record of success and more than 10 years of design and marketing experience, Danielle optimizes design workflows to ensure consistent brand identity while overseeing a wide range of creative services from concept development, through to delivery of final designs and artwork. Prior to joining the (W)right On Communications team, Danielle worked for various creative agencies and on a wide range of freelance projects for clients in the U.K. and European Union. Most recently, she oversaw creative localization for Dyson’s Central European and Emerging Markets.
Danielle’s capabilities include content creation, marketing pieces, animations, websites, print collateral, motion graphics and more, all with a strong foundation in visual storytelling.
Danielle holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts & Graphic Design degree from Barbados Community College, a Master of Science in International Creative Advertising degree from Manchester Metropolitan University, and embraces emerging technologies in the creative services field.
Danielle has lived and worked in the Caribbean, U.K., and Austria and loves living in San Diego and exploring Southern California with her husband.
Grant Wright
CEO & Managing Partner
Grant Wright has more than 30 years of senior management experience including external affairs and business development leadership roles for major American and Canadian corporations and their subsidiaries. With extensive skills in all aspects of communications including media, regulatory, governmental, community outreach and labor relations; he has also led major infrastructure project development, M&A due diligence and implementation management, marketing and brand development, strategic planning and business plan development for small through Fortune 500 companies.
As CEO and Managing Partner, Grant provides oversight and senior-level communications and business counsel for the agency’s client partners while also overseeing agency management and administration.
Grant holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and an MBA in Marketing and Finance. Professionally, he is formerly a Board Director of the San Diego Venture Group (now Connect San Diego – the region’s venture capital ecosystem). Grant is a two-time Finalist for the San Diego Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Awards, and currently is in his second year as Chair of the North American chapter of the International PR Network (IPRN) based in Brussels, Belgium. He is also one of five board directors chosen by its worldwide membership for a second year to lead IPRN globally. A resident of and advocate for San Diego, and with (W)right On being a prominent tenant in San Diego’s iconic Emerald Plaza, Grant also serves on the board of directors of the Downtown San Diego Partnership.
During his free time, Grant enjoys scuba diving, hiking and family time. He is also a commercial pilot licensed in both Canada and the U.S. and is the founding board chairman of the Southern California Aviation Association that has provided more than $500,000 in student scholarship grants since the organization’s inception.
