LA TORRE COMMUNICATIONS - Key Persons
With more than 20 years of experience in communications and public relations, Christy Young is a top-notch professional who specializes in writing, editing and media relations. Her mission is to make sure her clients' public messages and written materials are as professional as the products and services they offer.
Christy started her communications career as a television journalist. She was an anchor and producer at WUTR in Utica, N.Y.; a reporter at WTAJ in Altoona, Pa.; and a bureau chief for WDBJ in Roanoke, Va. Her work on a special report on education earned her a New York State Broadcasters Association Award for Excellence in Broadcasting.
Christy put her journalism experience to use when she went to work for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She handled public relations for several state agencies, ultimately serving Govs. Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker in the Governor's Press Office. There she served as Editor of the Commonwealth News Bureau, responsible for all news releases from the Governor's Office and every state agency. She was part of the team that developed and implemented aggressive communication strategies to promote the governors' policies, programs and achievements. She also handled the oversight of Commonwealth marketing campaigns, including the approval of television, radio and print ads, and outreach materials.
As a public relations consultant, Christy now focuses on the communications needs and goals of her individual clients. She also has worked as an adjunct professor, teaching communications and public relations courses at Shippensburg University, Messiah College and Penn State University's Capital Campus.
Christy has a bachelor's degree in television-radio communications from Ithaca College and a master's in journalism from Temple University. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and is trained as an Advanced Public Information Officer by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She is also a members of ACES, the society for editing.
La Torre Communications founder David La Torre is a well-regarded public affairs and communications strategist who has served as a spokesperson for high-profile clients and crises. For over a decade, David has successfully handled communications for a number of events that captured the world's attention, including the Jerry Sandusky issue at Penn State University and the dramatic Quecreek Mine Rescue outside of Pittsburgh.
He has worked with and appeared in media outlets across the country and world, including The New York Times, BBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, Fox News, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, Reuters, Philadelphia Inquirer, Los Angeles Times, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
David began a career in public service under Gov. Tom Ridge, serving in the communications office as a spokesman and chief speechwriter and was later named press secretary to Gov. Mark S. Schweiker.
An experienced public speaker, David has spoken to a number of organizations, including the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police and Corrections USA. He previously served as the keynote speaker at an international public affairs conference in Budapest, Hungary.
Jill brings over 20 years of experience in communications and public relations in the private and public sector. Her sharp eye for detail, high energy and professionalism allow her clients to achieve the results they need, including multiple accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, Keystone Chapter.
Prior to joining La Torre Communications, Jill spent seven years at the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, where she handled the association's public relations and communications needs, including serving as the managing editor of paBanker Magazine. Duri ng her tenure, she guided the association through a rebranding campaign, website redesign and social media launch. She also handled the association's extensive marketing of programs, events and annual meeting.
Jill started her career at the United Way of the Capital Region, where she gained valuable media relations and event planning experience before joining the Office of Rural Development under Govs. Ridge and Schweiker, and later the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's Office of Communications.
While at the Public Utility Commission, Jill played a key role in several statewide public service campaigns, including consumer education for the 711 telecommunications relay service. The 711 telecommunications relay service campaign focused on educating all Pennsylvanians so that people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled could be empowered by the PA Relay technology. The campaign accomplished this through 2,500 radio spots across 50 stations statewide, 60 billboards, 400 mass transit ads, more than 80 newspaper ads in over 15 papers, mall kiosk advertising, a website and in-classroom elements. As a result, the relay service saw recognition rise among the hearing public.
She graduated from Lebanon Valley College with a bachelor's degree in English/communications with a minor in business. She is a United Way of the Capital Region public relations/social media committee member, American Red Cross board of directors member and communications committee member as well as the immediate past chair of the Girls on the Run - Mid State board of directors.