Central Valley Stories: Advertising and Public Relations

Decades of experience comes with decades of wisdom! Meet our final guest of the season, Leslie Botos. Although Botos is best known for her work with blood banking associations, the communication experience she has accumulated ranges from dealing with airplane crashes to corporate bankruptcies. (And Fun Fact: she's the genius behind the “Give a Pint, Get a Pint” blood donor program.) Always finding time to volunteer, Leslie is the current President of the Rotary Club of Fig Garden. Interview conducted on September 27, 2023.

Educating the Valley about the value of Spanish-language advertising for almost 30 years, Jose Elgorriaga is our next podcast guest. A true industry leader in advertising sales, Jose is currently the Regional VP and Director of Sales at Univision Northern California. He is also a giving and supportive community member who serves on multiple Boards, including Valley Children’s Hospital and the Fresno County Office of Education. Interview conducted on October 10, 2023.

Homegrown produce, homegrown PR!  Liz Hudson is the 5th generation owner of Hudson Farms and Accredited PR practitioner with more than 40 years in agriculture public relations. Her AgComm roots are strong in the Central Valley as she led the strategic planning, communications and media relations at the Fresno County Farm Bureau; co-owned an agricultural-focused communications agency; and directed public affairs for the Westlands Water District. Interview conducted on September 28, 2023.

Advertising legend Blair Looney is a Fresno Advertising Federation Hall of Famer and MCJ Fellow. He was the second-generation owner of Charles Looney Advertising and recently retired from his role as the President and CEO of Better Business Bureau. His community work includes involvement on the boards of the Fresno Metropolitan Museum, Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Fresno, Fresno Zoological Society, and many others. Interview conducted on October 5, 2023.

During her career Judy Ganulin was a very familiar face in the Central Valley Advertising and Public Relations scene. She had a long, diverse, and amazing track record, and also ran her own full-service public relations agency, Judy Ganulin Public Relations. Judy has served and belonged to many organizations, including the Fresno Advertising Federation and California Women for Agriculture. Most notably, she is a founding member of the Public Relations Roundtable in Fresno and the Central California Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Interview recorded on September 18, 2023.

Meet Mark Astone, Founder and CEO of Catalyst Marketing, whose experience spans the Luxury Resort, Indian Gaming, Travel, Tourism, and Entertainment sectors. As the catalyst behind his company's reMarkable growth (see what we did there?), he invests in the well-being of clientele and employees because he understands that success depends on both of their prosperity.

Jane Olvera Majors founded her award-winning firm, JP Marketing, in 1994 and is a proud Fresno State Alum. She also serves as a Director on the Board of Citizens Business Bank and continues to nurture other small businesses she’s launched or mentored. And, she was honored with the Advertising Federation Silver Award for contributions to her community and her industry.  Interview conducted on September 21, 2023.

Jill Wagner is an accredited APR practitioner by the Public Relations Society of America. She has exceptional crisis communication skills that have made her a trusted authority on the topic and the go-to person for companies seeking guidance. Wagner is an award-winning expert and a trusted advisor for both public organizations and private companies. In addition, she is a supportive and caring mentor to many Fresno State students and young professionals. Interview conducted on October 10, 2023.

This episode features Bruce Batti, a Central Valley native who became an Advertising Federation Hall of Famer. Batti, a Fresno State alum, has worked in the advertising industry in the Central Valley for 40+ years. He played nearly every role at Jeffrey Scott Agency (JSA) – from account manager to strategist to creative director to owner - and he and his wife Wendy recently sold the business after running it for 15 years. Batti has earned multiple awards and national recognition, but his passion lies in helping others through his work with dozens of nonprofits. Interview conducted on October 4, 2023.

Jan Edwards began her career as the only woman on the PBS television crew in Atlanta, Georgia before making her way to Fresno via Los Angeles. She then built an amazing career in television sales for ABC and NBC affiliates on the national and regional scale (where she was again one of the few women in the industry). Edwards later served as media director for Gottschalks Department Store and taught advertising and public relations in the Media, Communications and Journalism Department at Fresno State for 19 years. In addition, she founded Jan Edwards Marketing, which handled the marketing and development for the Central California Women’s Conference. Interview conducted on October 3, 2023.

John Zelezny is a seasoned communications consultant, lawyer, and writer. With experience in the media, academic and corporate worlds, his career has included work as a journalist, PR director, professor, university administrator, and senior corporate officer. His impressive track record includes authoring six editions of the influential textbook titled “Communications Law: Liberties, Restraints, and the Modern Media.” Interview conducted on October 4, 2023.

Experience the world of advertising through our very own Fresno State MCJ legend, Dr. Roberta Asahina! "Dr. A" taught in the MCJ department for 36 years and prepared thousands of students for work in the industry. She also served as the advisor for Fresno State’s National Student Advertising (NSAC) Team from 1986 to 2019, and her students won regionals and competed in nationals multiple times. Interview conducted on October 3, 2023.

Embark on a listening adventure with Ranger Scott Gediman! Scott is the Public Affairs Officer at Yosemite National Park and has held this position for the past 27 years. Listen along as Scott shares his stories and takes us through his journey in PR with the National Park Service. Interview conducted on September 13, 2023.