The Strategist: Our AI + PR Edition

Hello Julie,

What’s faster than the speed of PC adoption? Able to design a skyscraper from a single prompt? Is it a bird, a plane…? I’m sure you’ve already guessed that the answer is artificial intelligence. After just two years in the wild, AI is expected to fundamentally change the nature of more than half of all businesses in the next year, according to a KPMG survey, and 37% are in the process of piloting AI agents with 12% having deployed them.

In this issue of The Strategist, we’re looking at the pros and cons of AI in our industry and others. AI is changing how we communicate and how we’re being communicated with. We hope you find a few nuggets to help you navigate this brave, new world.

Cheers,

Julie Wright

1. Smart PR Teams Use AI – But Wisely

– (W)right On Communications blog

Read

2. PR Company to the Rescue? Maybe…

– (W)right On Communications blog read by Julie’s AI avatar

Listen

3. Why CEOS Should Think Twice Before Using AI to Write Messages

– Harvard Business Review

Read

4. U.S. High School Student Maps 1.5M Forgotten Space Objects with AI

– Daily Galaxy

Read

5. The American Trust in AI Paradox: Adoption Outpaces Governance

- KPMG Press Release

Read

WE'VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE

OUR COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR

Join us in congratulating WOC President and Founder Julie Wright. She has been named IABC San Diego’s Communicator of the Year! On May 14, IABC is hosting its annual awards event to recognize Julie’s efforts and contributions to strategic communications. Hope to see you there.

OUT AND ABOUT

SENIOR LIVING

OAKMONT COMMUNITY TOUR TRIP

We took a trip up to Sacramento to tour five communities in our client partner Oakmont Senior Living’s portfolio including their beautiful, 55+ active adult community, Anindell.

CLASS ACTIONS

EPIQ'S MASS & CLASS CONFERENCE

Julie Wright joined client Xan Bernay, a partner with Robbins Geller, at Mass + Class, an annual mass torte and class action conference hosted by Epiq, one of America's leading settlement administrators.

WORK + PLAY

SEATTLE CLIENT MEETING

A client meeting in Seattle was a great opportunity for Larry Smalheiser and Julie Wright to toast the Seattle waterfront, visit the original Starbucks and check out the Pike Place Market.

CLEAN ENERGY

SAN DIEGO CLEAN ENERGY EVENT

Larry Smalheiser and Andrea Saxenhofer ran into Hamid Sayadi at the Intersolar and Energy Storage North America conference in San Diego. It felt great to be surrounded by clean energy innovators and thought leaders!

CLEAN ENERGY

POWERING UP AT TEVCON IN SAN DIEGO

David Cumpston and Grant Wright immersed themselves in the latest on advanced microgrids, operational energy and next-gen mobility solutions at TEVCON. Dynamic conversations and cutting-edge tech made for an energizing day. We’re inspired and ready to drive what’s next!

COLLABORATION

IPRN NORTH AMERICA MEETING IN D.C.

In Washington, D.C. a regional IPRN meeting brought together agency leaders from New York City, D.C., Chicago, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Regional meetings like these foster collaboration, knowledge sharing and alignment among IPRN members worldwide.

CLEAN ENERGY

ACP SITING + PERMITTING, SEATTLE

The American Clean Power Association’s Siting & Permitting Conference was buzzing with energy! Julie Wright and Andrea Saxenhofer connected with industry leaders, dove into smart conversations around clean energy development and shared ideas with fellow community engagement pros.

CLEAN FLEET

2025 ACT EXPO FOR ELECTRIC FLEETS IN ANAHEIM

Featuring the latest innovations in clean transportation, ACT Expo was a busy event for Julie Wright, Andrea Saxenhofer and our client partner team from Zenobē with meetings, presentations, media briefings and more.

WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON

ELECTRIC FLEETS

Financing for EVs

We shared good news for Canada's electric fleet. Our client Zenobē provided CA$48M in debt financing for Canadian EV-as-a-service startup 7Gen just in time for ACT Expo.

CYBERSECURITY

Raising Executive Visibility

Our continuous thought leadership content for ID Dataweb gives company executives a platform to showcase their technology’s differentiators and strengths.

TOURISM + CULTURE

San Diego in the CBS Spotlight

We drew national attention to the closing ceremonies of the World Design Capital 2024 San Diego Tijuana with CBS News covering its binational youth symphony.

Watch now

SENIOR LIVING

Dahlias & Dedication

Residents at Oakmont of Redding delighted media with their colorful community garden on National Gardening Day, spotlighting the health benefits of hobbies.

NEW TEAM MEMBERS

SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST

ANDREA SAXENHOFER

Andrea is a communications professional with 9 years’ experience in B2B and tech. Based in San Diego, she has supported energy infrastructure projects through outreach, sustainability communications and content creation. She’s held roles at BKW Power Grid, Swiss Post and the Swiss State Executive Office. Andrea holds degrees and certifications from Zurich, Columbia and MITx and speaks English, German, Spanish and French.

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

DANIELLE CREBBIN

Danielle brings over a decade of experience in design and marketing, delivering cohesive brand identity across print, digital and motion content. She has worked with agencies and freelance clients in the U.K. and EU, most recently leading creative localization for Dyson. She holds a BFA in Visual Arts & Graphic Design and an MSc in International Creative Advertising. Danielle has lived in the Caribbean, U.K. and Austria.