Randle Communications Announces Promotions of Jenna Sharp and Rachael Serrao
SACRAMENTO – Randle Communications (Randle), Sacramento’s top-ranked public relations and public affairs firm, today announced two promotions. Jenna Sharp and Rachael Serrao have each earned the title of assistant account executive due to their growth and shared commitment to teamwork, high standards and delivering exemplary results for clients.
“Rachael and Jenna’s aptitude and contributions have been invaluable, and we are proud to reward their strengths with these well-deserved advancements in their careers,” Jeff Randle, President and CEO of Randle Communications said. “They both embody many of the wonderful traits we seek to build in our team and we look forward to their continued growth with Randle Communications.”
Sharp assists with a variety of Randle Communication’s public relations utilities clients. She joined Randle Communications in May 2017 after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with a concentration in Marketing from Pepperdine University.
“There is no greater pleasure than to work with a group of individuals who all share the same passion for exceeding industry standards and redefining success,” said Sharp. “I am thankful for this new opportunity and look forward to the exciting challenges to come.”
Serrao joined Randle Communications in December 2017 as an account coordinator and quickly advanced to the role of assistant account executive. She attended the University of Nevada, Reno, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations.
“I am privileged to work with such a tremendous team of professionals dedicated to the development of exceptional client work, said Serrao. “I am eager to continue growing and contributing at Randle Communications, and I look forward to the new opportunities and challenges the future holds.”
Daniel Wetter Joins Growing Public Affairs Team at Randle Communications
Randle Communications (Randle) today announced the hire of Daniel Wetter as an Assistant Account Executive to support the company’s growing public affairs and local ballot initiative practice. Adding Wetter to the team represents the firm’s continued commitment to recruiting talented professionals who marry passion, communications and political savvy to help clients win.
“We are thrilled to have Daniel on board. His newsroom and public relations experience paired with his political and campaign involvement brings tremendous value to our clients,” Randle President and CEO Jeff Randle said. “Daniel has an ideal blend of experience in digital communications, marketing and politics that supports our firm’s innovative approach to public affairs.”
Wetter, who recently graduated from George Washington University, is founder and owner of DW Digital Consulting, a former Northern California-based firm that specialized in the design and execution of social media and digital advertising strategies for political candidates and Northern California non-profit organizations. Previously, Wetter served as digital coordinator for the Marco Rubio for President campaign, where he produced and hosted the official campaign podcast featuring the candidate’s daily activities. Wetter then served in the Bakersfield field office of U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy as political director before coming back to Sacramento to work for Campaign Solutions as an account coordinator.
Wetter will support a wide range of Randle clients including the California Association of REALTORS®, California Hospital Association and California Trailblazers.
“I am incredibly excited to begin working at Randle because it has been abundantly clear from day one how invested Randle is in my future,” said Wetter. “The reason Randle is the top public affairs firm in Sacramento stems from their commitment to employees and a deep belief in teamwork. I’m grateful to join such an outstanding team.”
A Roseville native, Wetter graduated in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Communication from George Washington University, School of Media and Public Affairs.
Randle Communications Announces Promotion of Scot Murdoch to Senior Account Executive
SACRAMENTO – Randle Communications (Randle), Sacramento’s top-ranked locally owned public relations and public affairs firm, today announced that Scot Murdoch has earned a promotion from account executive to senior account executive after nearly four years with the firm. Randle is committed to recognizing and rewarding professionals who demonstrate growth and share a commitment to teamwork, high standards and delivering exemplary results for clients.
“Scot is a well-rounded professional with strengths that range from media relations and project management to public affairs and digital advocacy,” Jeff Randle, President and CEO of Randle Communications said. “He is an integral member of our public relations and public affairs teams and continues to show a steadfast commitment to delivering value to our clients. We are pleased to announce his well-deserved promotion and look forward to his continued success with Randle Communications.”
After more than a decade in the media, Murdoch joined Randle Communications in 2014 as an assistant account executive, supporting several accounts, including Golden 1 Credit Union and healthcare clients the California Hospital Association and John Muir Health, where he created robust digital advocacy programs. In his role as senior account executive, Murdoch will support a diverse range of clients and continue to grow his expertise in digital advocacy, stakeholder engagement and health care communications.
Prior to joining the Randle team, Murdoch was an editor, producer and reporter for KFBK where he reported on a wide variety of topics including healthcare, business, sports and local issues.
“I’m honored to be part of an exceptional, dynamic and creative team that prides itself on always exceeding client expectations,” said Murdoch. “I look forward to new challenges and opportunities moving forward.”
A graduate of California State University, Sacramento, Murdoch was a double major in communications and criminal justice. He worked as a media consultant for the California Chapter of Defenders of Freedom, an all-volunteer organization that helps soldiers, veterans and their families.
Randle Communications Bolsters Creative Services Practice to Meet Client Demand
SACRAMENTO – Sacramento’s top-ranked public relations and public affairs firm, Randle Communications (Randle), today announced the promotion of Maikalina Madali from account coordinator to the newly created position of creative services specialist. Madali, who has been with the firm since 2015, will oversee the continued expansion of Randle’s in-house creative services practice, which has grown to meet industry demand for visually dynamic and engaging content. Randle’s creative services team specializes in video, logos, print collateral, advertisements, digital content and website development, as well as social media graphics and infographics for Randle clients.
“Maikalina is incredibly talented, and her creative leadership and fresh design ideas have been a catalyst for new opportunities for our clients,” said Randle CEO and Founder Jeff Randle. “Compelling visual content is critical in today’s communications landscape, and Maikalina is helping our clients tell their stories in a profound way.”
As creative services specialist, Madali will consult across multiple client accounts to ensure Randle is delivering the very best design work and pacing the industry with an innovative approach that helps clients reach their goals. With a full-time creative portfolio, Madali can now help the firm expand its design services to ensure that Randle continues to be a one-stop communications partner that can meet every organization’s needs.
“My passion for design is only matched by Randle’s unwavering commitment to exceed the expectations of our clients,” said Madali. “I am excited to advance our creative services practice, working alongside the Randle team to help clients visually tell the story they want and ensure their messages are heard loud and clear.”
Madali graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. While pursuing her degree, she served terms as vice president, treasurer and secretary of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), duties that led her to become communications director for the group during the 2012 PRSSA national conference.
Mike Gazda Earns Promotion to Director at Randle Communications
SACRAMENTO – Sacramento’s top-ranked public relations and public affairs firm, Randle Communications (Randle), today announced that Mike Gazda has been promoted to the firm’s senior leadership team as a director. Gazda joined Randle Communications in 2013, after 15 years as a communications executive in professional baseball. He helps lead Randle’s public relations practice and specializes in water and electric utility customer education programs.
“Mike is an excellent strategist and media relations expert who has done an exceptional job managing Randle Communications’ utility clients,” Randle President and CEO Jeff Randle said. “We are pleased to recognize Mike’s achievements with promotion to director. His commitment and contributions as a leader with our organization will benefit clients, his colleagues and the firm.”
Gazda leads a talented team that provides customer education for Golden State Water Company, Liberty Utilities in California and Bear Valley Electric Service. The outreach programs are designed to inform, educate and improve engagement with customers, stakeholders and local media.
“There is no better public relations and public affairs team than Randle Communications, and I enjoy working with professionals who share a passion to perform at the highest level,” said Gazda. “I appreciate the opportunity I’ve been given to help lead Randle’s public relations practice, grow our utility practice and work with great clients.”
Prior to joining Randle, Gazda spent nearly two decades in professional baseball, building and executing media relations and crisis communications programs for regional, national and global audiences. During nine seasons in Major League Baseball, he worked with several of the world’s most recognized professional athletes including Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez and Miguel Cabrera—to successfully navigate a diverse array of challenging issues. Gazda helped open Nationals Park and served as media relations director for the Washington Nationals from 2008-13, after three seasons as media relations manager for the Miami Marlins.
Gazda has Sacramento roots in professional baseball. He led the Sacramento River Cats’ communications program during the team’s first five seasons (2000-2004) and played a key role in the Grand Opening of Raley Field. Gazda helped establish the iconic River Cats brand and position the organization as one of the premier franchises in minor league sports.
Gazda remains active in the baseball community, serving as a coach and board member with Elk Grove Youth Baseball. A native of Pittsburgh, Gazda earned a journalism degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
40 Under 40: Julie Phillips, Vice President of Public Affairs, Randle Communications
Sacramento Business Journal
After five years with Randle Communications, Julie Phillips was promoted to vice president of public affairs in March. As part of the Randle team, she has helped lead public relations initiatives for such notable events as the unveiling of Golden 1 Credit Union as the naming rights partner of the new downtown sports arena.
In addition, she managed public affair campaigns for legislative races and large trade associations, including the California Hospital Association and the California Manufacturers & Technology Association. Phillips also helped create and lead the company’s digital public affairs practice, combining social media marketing with strategic policy and political knowledge.
Click here to read the full feature.
The Riggs Report: The Capitol’s harassment hangover
Lawmakers return to a charged atmosphere
With 2018 comes the final year of Jerry Brown’s governorship, which is historic in the sense that he will have served longer than any other California governor. And as lawmakers return to the Capitol, they face pressing problems, including the lack of affordable housing, fallout from the federal tax bill signed by President Trump and whether to pursue universal health care.
But right now, lawmakers are faced with the explosive issue of what to do with sexual harassment claims; an issue that has taken on even more volatility in an election year. What is normally a celebratory mood was subdued on Wednesday.
In the Assembly, Democrats have already lost their supermajority status. Two Southern California members, Matt Dababneh and Raul Bocanegra, have resigned their seats in the face of harassment allegations while denying any wrongdoing.
In the Senate, Tony Mendoza is also facing allegations of harassing a young female staffer enrolled in a Sacramento State Fellows program and punishing those who knew; charges he also has denied. He was asked last month by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon to take a leave of absence pending an outside investigation. His departure would also end the Democrats’ supermajority in the Senate.
Mendoza agreed late Wednesday to take a one-month leave of absence. But that came after he pushed back noisily, releasing a letter complaining that he had been denied due process in addressing the allegations, and after he requested an audit this week of how the Legislature handles sexual harassment claims.
Mendoza’s defiance of his own leadership creates an enormous headache for his fellow Democrats, who face pressure to do something about him, or face the perception that they are simply protecting one of their own. That’s why the first order of business for Democrats on Wednesday was to schedule a closed-door caucus meeting to consider options. Cue the fireworks.
Mendoza knew he was facing suspension by his colleagues if he hadn’t agreed to take a leave. Now, consider recent history.
The Senate, for the first time ever in its history, voted in 2014 to suspend three Democrats who had run afoul of the law. Rod Wright had been convicted in a voter fraud case involving use of a false address as his residence of record. Ron Calderon and Leland Yee both faced corruption charges in separate and unrelated federal criminal cases.
Those suspensions created another problem, since all three disgraced politicians continued to collect their state salary. It was a tough situation, handled well by then-Senate leader Darrell Steinberg. He then placed a constitutional amendment on the ballot, allowing pay to be withheld for suspended members. Voters approved the measure in June 2016.
With that background, Democrats had the means to suspend Mendoza and strip him of his pay, pending an investigation. By agreeing to a leave of absence, Mendoza avoids that consequence and is allowed to keep his pay and benefits. Critics will complain, but that’s how the law works.
Due process will come in time. But in politics, the court of public opinion won’t wait.
In the meantime, it’s an uncertain and unsettled time for lobbyists and lawmakers, who wonder what names and charges will surface next, and who will be the next to go.