Denis Wolcott, APR, is president, founder and lead strategist of The Wolcott Group, LLC (previously known as The Wolcott Company). 

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Denis provides more than 25 years of experience in public relations and marketing communications in corporate, public agency and institutional settings.  He has developed and managed winning strategies across multiple platforms, securing significant positive exposure for clients in mainstream and social media; among diverse communities and key influencers through coalition building, education and outreach initiatives, social marketing and positioning; and in B2B and B2C settings through brand positioning and reputation management. 

 

Denis is also considered a top crisis communications expert, having developed dozens of crisis preparedness plans for companies and institutions, led publicly traded and private companies through well-publicized crises, and taught crisis communications sessions at universities.  

 

Prior to establishing The Wolcott Company, Denis served as media services section manager at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the nation’s largest water utility.

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Denis managed a communications team that created and implemented a broad range of activities and programs, including strategic communications and public affairs planning, advertising, marketing, media relations, internal communications, community and business outreach, coalition building, publications, Web sites and a television show. The award-winning “California Friendly®” advertising and outreach program broke new ground in increasing public awareness of and participation in water conservation efforts in Southern California. 

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With a focus on serving client needs in media relations, public affairs, coalition building and media training, Denis also served as a vice president at Stoorza, Ziegaus & Metzger (later known as Stoorza Communications), one of California’s largest independent public relations and public affairs firms. 

Prior to entering public relations, Denis was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor for several daily newspapers, including the Los Angeles Daily News and Gannett-owned publications in the Midwest.

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Denis is a past chair of the Public Relations Society of America’s Western District, past president of PRSA’s Los Angeles chapter, and former president and member of the California Water Awareness Campaign, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness about the state’s most precious resource. Denis is a frequent guest lecturer at public relations classes at universities, including his alma mater, the University of Southern California. 

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He resides in Long Beach with his wife and step-son, and is the proud father of three daughters. When not assisting clients, he can be found on the ski slopes, golf courses or favorite hiking trails.