Less than a year after opening his own public relations consultancy, strategic communications veteran Derek Danziger has agreed to sell Danziger Public Relations to Riverside-based OPR Communications, founded 21 years ago by Patrick O’Reilly.
“I was not looking to sell my firm or be acquired. They approached me,” Danziger told Times of San Diego. “We met a couple of times and realized we had a lot of similar interests, experiences and background. And, we shared a goal to advance projects that uplift the region and strengthen the quality of life in the regions where we operate.”
With the title of San Diego office president, Danziger will be responsible for elevating OPR in the San Diego’s region development, public affairs, government affairs, energy, life sciences, higher education and civic sectors, according to OPR.
OPR has 20 employees with four of them stationed in a downtown San Diego Downtown office, now including Danziger and longtime San Diego political consultant Tom Shepard, who joined OPR in March 2021.
“OPR has an outstanding reputation and they’re working with clients I can contribute something to,” Danziger said. “I will continue to serve my existing clients and work to grow the OPR footprint in San Diego.”
OPR’s San Diego-area clients include Centene, Rainbow Municipal Water District and Joe LaCava for San Diego City Council.
Danziger’s clients from his own firm include Civic Communities, Longfellow Real Estate Partners, San Diego County Crimestoppers and AIGA San Diego Tijuana.
Prior to establishing his PR firm in 2022, Danziger served as president of Katz & Associates, a marketing communications and public affairs firm, and as vice president at Nuffer Smith Tucker, San Diego’s oldest operating PR firm.
“A year ago, if you would have asked me about being acquired, I would have said no way,” Danziger said. “I never imagined this. It was not in my crystal ball. It was a dream come true to open my own shop.”
“But, this was an opportunity to expand OPR’s focus in San Diego and grow a team to support meaningful community projects and programs. Together, we will work on impactful activities that shape the future of San Diego and drive positive change.”
Danziger declined to disclose financial terms of the acquisition.
“Derek’s extensive relationships, trusted reputation, nearly three decades of expertise in San Diego’s development, energy, education and nonprofit sectors, and his history working on major civic issues and activities align perfectly with our long-term vision,” said Patrick O’Reilly, OPR’s CEO. “This acquisition allows us to expand our capabilities and better serve our clients’ needs in these critical areas.”
Mission Fed in 10-Year Sponsorship with San Diego Symphony
Mission Federal Credit Union has announced a 10-year sponsorship agreement with the San Diego Symphony. It is the credit union’s largest corporate partnership in its 62-year history, and recognizes Mission Fed as the official credit union of the San Diego Symphony.
A statement said the agreement will consist of reaching youth in diverse communities and opportunities to engage with the San Diego arts scene. It also includes the naming of the Mission Fed Community Green, a private space at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, the symphony’s summer outdoor waterfront venue along the Embarcadero.
Other elements of the partnership include Mission Fed’s support of the symphony’s High School Ambassador program and its Music Connects program.
The high school program features 30 paid summer internships with job training. Music Connects consists of community-based concerts performed at various locations in San Diego County, as well as 200 admissions tickets to symphony performances for teachers, nonprofit groups and military.
“At Mission Fed, giving back to our members and the community is the centerpiece of who we are,” said Debra Schwartz, president and CEO at Mission Fed. “We want our members to know that their membership makes a difference. By partnering with others who are doing good, we have a bigger collective impact in making San Diego better. We couldn’t think of a more fitting partner than the San Diego Symphony.”
“We’re grateful to the Mission Fed board of directors, senior management team and Mission Fed members for making this partnership possible,” said Martha Gilmer, CEO of the San Diego Symphony. “Working with like-minded, values-based organizations that are committed to our community is important to us, and we’re proud to work collaboratively with Mission Fed to reach youth in diverse communities.”
Founded in 1910, the San Diego Symphony is the oldest orchestra in California and one of the largest cultural organizations in San Diego.
With nearly 300,000 members and more than $6 billion in assets, Mission Federal Credit Union is the largest, member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution exclusively serving San Diego County.
MarQuies Willis Heads Sales and Marketing at Lafayette Hotel
The Lafayette Hotel, scheduled to reopen this week after a $30 million renovation by Consortium Holdings, has named MarQuies Willis as director of sales and marketing.
Willis, with more than 15 years of hotel sales and marketing experience, will be responsible for all sales and marketing efforts, including oversight of seven distinct food and beverage concepts. He also will be responsible for building strong relationships with key accounts, developing new business opportunities and overseeing the hotel’s public relations efforts, a Lafayette statement said.
His previous hotel experiences includes serving as director of sales and marketing at Carte Hotel, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, at 401 W. Ash St. in Little Italy. There, Willis managed three on-site dining options, including Above Ash Social, Fonte Di Vino and Watercolors restaurant.
Willis also has worked at Hotel Solamar, a Kimpton Hotel in San Diego and at Kimpton’s Rouge, Topaz, Madera and DC Palomar properties in the Washington, D.C. area.
The historic Lafayette Hotel, originally called Imig Manor Hotel when it opened in 1946, has been closed for renovation since October 2022. The hotel’s website is booking reservations beginning Wednesday, July 12.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the Lafayette, at 2223 El Cajon Blvd., in North Park, was a dining, drinking and entertainment destination for Hollywood celebrities and dignitaries. Comedian Bob Hope, its first guest, would be followed by such movie stars at Ava Gardner, Betty Grable and Lana Turner. And its Mississippi Room once played host to big bands led by notables like Harry James.
Consortium Holdings bought the property in 2018 for a reported $25.8 million.
Trucept Establishes Afinida Marketing Subsidiary
Trucept, a San Diego-based consulting company offering human resources, payroll, accounting, insurance and compliance services, has established a new marketing subsidiary called Afinida Marketing.
The company said Afinida Marketing will offer an array of marketing services, including digital advertising, search engine optimization, content creation, social media management and market analytics. “It is aimed at helping businesses to not only navigate, but also thrive in the rapidly evolving digital marketplace,” Trucept said in a statement.
“This is a milestone in Trucept’s growth strategy,” said Norman Tipton, CEO of Trucept. “Our mission has always been to empower businesses by handling their administrative functions, allowing them to focus on their core competencies. With the establishment of Afinida Marketing, we are now able to provide a full suite of marketing services tailored to the needs of our clients in the digital era.”
“The formation of Afinida Marketing signifies our commitment to continuously evolve and adapt to the changing needs of businesses in the digital age,” said Kevin Brewer, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Trucept. “We are thrilled to be taking this step forward, and we believe it will bring immense value to our clients.”
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.
