Sandy Young, Vice President
After joining the J. Walcher Communications team in 2009, Sandy Young rose to second-in-command at the agency, mentoring staff and helping manage day-to-day office operations, along with leading a full load of clients and their strategic and tactical needs.
Prior to JWC, Sandy worked for several of San Diego’s top public relations and marketing communications firms, as well as with clients throughout the nation, on a full-time and consultant basis. Her areas of expertise include PR/marketing strategy, writing/editing, media relationship building, community partnerships, crisis communications and media training. She has also served as a freelance writer, columnist and contributor for various media outlets.
In 2023, Sandy was named the “Deborah Baker PR Pro of the Year” for the Public Relations Society of America, San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter (PRSA-SDIC), and to San Diego Business Journal’s 2023 Asian Pacific Islander Leaders of Influence list. Other awards include SD METRO’s “Top Marketing Executives” in 2022 and “40 under 40” list in 2017; San Diego X (now the One Club San Diego) Brand Diego Awards’ “2015 Young Achiever”; and AOL’s Patch.com “30 Under 30” Leader in San Diego County, as recognized by the California State Senate.
Sandy is a member of the national PRSA’s Counselors Academy for senior public relations practitioners. For the local PRSA chapter, Sandy has been the secretary on the board of directors and Edward L. Bernays Mark of Excellence Awards co-chair of awards for, programming co-chair for the 2014 PRSA Western District Conference and on the 60th Anniversary Hall of Fame committee. She previously served on the board of directors for the San Diego Repertory Theatre and volunteered on the San Diego County Bar Foundation’s communications and grants committees for five years to provide underprivileged communities with legal services and support. Sandy was a member of the planning committee for the Women’s Symposium, hosted by Academy of Our Lady Peace, for three years, for which she was named “Volunteer of the Year” in 2021.
As well, she has been a highlighted speaker on PR, marketing, social media, networking and diversity for California State Parks, San Diego State University, Vista Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Superyacht Association’s Superyacht Summit San Diego, the Moms in Business Unite Conference and more.
Sandy graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in literature/writing from the University of California, San Diego.
