05 Mar Meet Audrey Doherty: Founder & President of Chemistry PR
Shoutout SoCal recently interviewed Chemistry PR‘s Founder & President, Audrey Doherty. From her favorite affirmation to her favorite places to eat, drink and explore to the current state of the company and people she’s grateful for, read below or click the link to learn a little more.
Meet Audrey Doherty: Founder & President
We had the good fortune of connecting with Audrey Doherty and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Audrey, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
One book I pull off my bookshelf over and over is the timeless classic The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. It inspired several of our core values at Chemistry PR. The first of the agreements is also my favorite: Be Impeccable with Your Word. In public relations, your word is everything.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Recently, Chemistry PR was named one of America’s Best PR Agencies by Forbes. Not just one of the best in SoCal, but one of the best in the country. Only 200 agencies made the inaugural list. Reviewing that article and seeing Chemistry PR‘s name was one of my proudest moments. PR is a demanding business. Of course, there are parties and perks, but we are responsible for building and managing brands. The expectations to deliver quality ideas, creativity and content are high. This past year, the pressure has been beyond. Operating in crisis mode for nearly a year has been one of the greatest challenges in my career. I am proud to say our small-but-mighty team did an incredible job supporting our clients through closings, openings, reopenings, protests, and new business launches. We worked to ensure that clients were, and are, relevant and made it a priority to maintain and build new relationships with writers, influencers, and fellow creatives. I am super optimistic about the post-pandemic PR world and can’t wait to unveil some exciting new clients and campaigns soon.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have lived in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood for 10 years, so any itinerary would have to start there. In the mornings, a perk-me-up at Lofty Coffee is essential. Their Turkish Latte with oat milk is delicious. It is slightly sweet with yummy, spicy notes of cardamom. Monello and Bencotto are my picks for the best Italian. Owners Valentina and Guido are long-time friends and are passionate about sharing their authentic Milanese dishes. I crave the weekly cheese wheel specials at Monello. Outside of Little Italy, Mission Hills is a great spot for some of the best eats in SoCal. I like to sit at the bar at Fort Oak with a glass of wine and the wood-grilled pork chop. The pizzas, pastas and baked goods at Cardellino and a scoop of Malted Chocolate ice cream from Mr. Trustee are not to be missed. For shopping, Thread & Seed has stores in Bankers Hill and South Park and it’s my favorite local shop for gifts and aesthetic inspiration. My top picks for a stay: Ocean Park Inn is a family-owned boutique hotel in Pacific Beach that is nearing completion on a major “mid-century meets the beach” reimagination. It is steps from the sand and in the heart of the action along the boardwalk. Further up the coast, the new Cassara Carlsbad is located on the edge of the flower fields and a few minutes from the beach. The design is fresh and fun and there are lots of great backdrops for Instagrammable moments.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Can I please get a round of applause for my team and clients? I work and have worked alongside some of the absolute best people and creative minds over the years. From game-changing startup businesses to iconic brands, the clients are passionate about their craft and always push me to do the best work. My team members are some of the brightest minds in PR and I am proud to cheer them on and watch them grow in their careers. I must give shoutouts to my parents, who emigrated from Ireland to create a better life for their family, and my siblings – all creatives themselves – who are my biggest fans. My fiancé also deserves some applause for being my best friend and sounding board and for making me laugh every single day. Finally, Verna Griffin-Tabor, CEO of Center for Community Solutions, has been an inspiration to me since the moment we met. She is the definition of class.