At Hutchens PR, we pride ourselves in knowing your business and delivering innovative ideas that have real impact on your sales, brand, and reputation in the market. Informed strategic thinking, combined with innovative programs, is what sets the HPR team apart. For you, the result is a standout communications program that will impact your target audiences and your bottom line.
Karen Hutchens, President
Karen Hutchens is president of Hutchens PR, a strategic communications firm that services clients in the San Diego and Baja California regions. The firm specializes in the management of complex public relations and issue-management projects with the principal objective of delivering exemplary service and results for its clients.
Karen has over 25 years of experience in business management, having worked as an executive in a Fortune 500® electric utility company directing the company’s external affairs function. Subsequent to that position, she founded a communications firm in San Diego and grew the company to be one of the largest and most successful public relations firms in the state of California. In 1999 the agency was named the leading independent public relations agency by Inside PR.
Karen founded Hutchens PR in 2004, after successfully completing the sale of her firm to an international, publicly traded corporation.
Her expertise includes issue and crisis management, public relations strategy development in support of major infrastructure projects including nuclear, LNG terminals, combined cycle power plants, gas and electric transmission lines, airport expansions and other major projects. Some of her clients have included ChevronTexaco, PG&E, Southern California Edison, and the San Diego Unified Port Authority.
Karen also has extensive experience in corporate communications including corporate mergers, acquisitions, high-level crisis situations and executive visibility programs. Client experience includes work for Sevin Rosen Funds, Sharp Health Care, Pacific Bell and Sea World of California.
Over the span of her career she has managed highly complex communications campaigns for land development projects including major planned residential developments, Hyatt Hotels, Hilton Hotels, San Diego Unified Port Authority, and educational facilities.
Karen plays an active role in the San Diego community. She is a member of the board of directors of the San Diego Economic Development Corporation, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way. Her civic involvement includes San Diego Downtown Rotary and Point Loma Nazarene University Presidents Council. Karen is also the chair of United Way’s 90th Anniversary and is the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) 2010 Woman of the Year.
Caitlin Gaffney, Associate
Caitlin Gaffney, associate at Hutchens PR, brings a dynamic perspective to the Hutchens PR team, with a keen eye for market trends and social media platforms. A passionate PR professional, Caitlin manages media relations, social media and project and account coordination for clients in a wide range of industries, including energy, real estate, clean technology and nonprofit.
Caitlin has a proven track record for managing the details of media relations and offers effective approaches to generating coverage for clients in key industry verticals. She has experience in connecting clients with targeted audiences, including opinion leaders, top bloggers and trade, local and national print and broadcast reporters. Prior to joining Hutchens PR, Caitlin gained experience in social media, branding, media relations and market research at full-service public relations firms in Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Diego. Her strong background provides her with a comprehensive knowledge of industry trends and techniques, ultimately allowing Hutchens PR to produce measurable results for clients.
Caitlin enjoys giving back to the San Diego community and is an active member of The Junior League of San Diego, currently serving on the community impact committee Kids in the Kitchen (KITK) Olivewood. A transport from Phoenix, Arizona, Caitlin spends her free time enjoying San Diego’s beaches, mountains, and delicious restaurants.
Caitlin earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Emphasis in Marketing from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Ada Ramos, Office Manager
Ada Ramos is the office manager at Hutchens PR, and an asset to the HPR team with her strong communications skills and ability to multitask. As the office manager, Ada organizes and coordinates office operations and procedures in order to ensure organizational effectiveness and efficiency. She continually surpasses expectations as she designs and implements office policies, controls correspondences, prepares time sheets and client invoices, manages the books, establishes and maintains systems for office records, and liaises with other agencies, organizations, and groups.
On her days off, Ada enjoys spending time outdoors enjoying the ocean, reading mystery books, but mostly spending quality time with her daughter, Kendra, and her two Chihuahuas, Hershey and PipSqueak.
Adrienne Moch, Editor
Adrienne Moch, editor (http://www.adriennemoch.com/), uses the skills she developed as a journalist, corporate communicator, newsletter writer, and PR professional to assist companies with all their writing and editing needs. Her passion is ensuring clients’ written materials aren’t just competent…but compelling. Typical projects for Adrienne include websites, marketing collateral, newsletters, articles, proposals, blogs and press releases.
Adrienne was honored by the San Diego Regional Chamber Commerce in 2006 with its Most Innovative Marketing Micro Business Award. In 2011, she was named Women’s Advocate of the Year at the BRAVO! Awards, hosted by the San Diego chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), which she led from 2008-2010 as president. Adrienne is a member of the 2011-2012 NAWBO California Board of Directors Executive Committee, serving as Director of Communications.
Jill Addison, Online Video Producer
Jill Addison is an online video producer (www.JillAddison.com) who loves blending her skills in video production and marketing to help small business owners gain new clients with 1- and 3-minute online video commercials.
She is also the host of “Bloom Video Blog–Where Budding Entrepreneurs Get Ideas and Inspiration” (http://BloomVideoBlog.com). This video blog features women entrepreneurs who have successfully launched and grown their businesses. It provides valuable free information for aspiring entrepreneurs and powerful exposure for established entrepreneurs. (All guests featured on the show also receive all their video assets to utilize in their own online promotions and publicity.)
Jill lives in San Diego with her husband, Eric, who is also in the video production industry (www.100AcreFilms.com).
Jenni Prisk, Spokesperson Training
An award-winning, international motivational speaker, communications coach and trainer, Jenni Prisk founded Prisk Communication (www.prisk.com) in 1990. Her mission is to provide comprehensive and outstanding training and coaching in public speaking and communication skills.
Jenni works across the United States with companies and individuals in diverse aspects of communication. A native of New Zealand, she holds a Diploma in Adult Teaching and is qualified as a Human Relations and Communications Instructor for the New Zealand Marriage Guidance Council. She also has a Diploma in Speech and Drama from Trinity College of London, England.
Her diverse professional background includes five years in the newspaper industry where she received four writing awards. She wrote and produced 70+ commentaries and interviews for KPBS Radio, for which she also received awards. In 2001, she founded Voices of Women (VOW), to expand knowledge of global issues, advocate for human rights, and support the equal participation of women and men in advancing human security (www.voicesofwomen.org).
Bonnie Schwartz, Branding & Graphic Design
Founder and president of Schwartz Design Group (http://www.schwartzdesigngroup.com/), Bonnie Schwartz, offers clients a service oriented creative resource for branding, marketing, advertising and web development. She helps small to medium size businesses effectively connect with their customers to sell their products or services, and has built a reputation for establishing long-standing relationships, and for providing direct communication, exemplary service and contemporary market driven solutions for her clients.
Bonnie was named recipient of the BRAVO award for Business Woman of the Year 2001 by the National Association of Women Business Owners, San Diego Chapter (NAWBO). In 2008 she received the San Diego Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award.
Bonnie is also a past president of the Downtown Rotary Club 33, a previous member of Toastmasters International, and a 1998 YWCA TWIN (Tribute to Women in Industry) honoree. She is a past president of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) San Diego, the Executives’ Association of San Diego and Women in Business.