The People Behind the Counsel
Senior counsel. Directly involved.
Our clients work closely with experienced practitioners who understand the business context, shape the strategy, and remain connected through execution.
Leadership
Strategy shaped by experienced operators.
Founder-led counsel connects communications decisions directly to market opportunity, reputation, and business performance.
CEO and Co-Founder
Katherine Verducci
Katherine brings experience spanning Silicon Valley startups, global healthcare, market entry, M&A communications, IPOs, rebrands, and crisis situations. She helps organizations translate consequential business decisions into clear, credible narratives.
Read Katherine's Biography
Katherine Verducci, CEO and co-founder of 1903 Public Relations, started her public relations career in Silicon Valley. After working with organizations ranging from early-stage startups to one of the largest healthcare companies in the world, she returned to her roots to create a distinctive agency focused on delivering world-class results.
Her campaigns have launched companies, opened new markets, and helped organizations reach new levels of visibility. At Abbott, she was part of the communications team that helped the company become the number-one pharmaceutical company on Fortune's 2010 list of the World's Most Admired Companies. She has supported organizations through mergers and acquisitions on both sides of the table, funding announcements, rebrands, IPOs, and crisis situations.
At 1903 Public Relations, Katherine combines her passion for strategic messaging, business-aligned communications, and innovative storytelling with her appreciation for Central California.
In 2021, she was named Executive Hero of the Year by the Globee Awards. She was also recognized among the Top 50 OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Models by INvolve and Yahoo Finance and named one of the leading Female Social Change Makers in the Stevie International Business Awards.
Katherine continues to challenge established agency models by building communications programs that deliver meaningful outcomes across industries.
CEO and Co-Founder
Santiago Villegas
Santiago develops nationally recognized communications programs for startups, publicly traded companies, and government organizations. His work connects strategic positioning and executive visibility to market growth, investment, and commercial opportunity.
Read Santiago's Biography
Santiago Villegas, CEO and co-founder of 1903 Public Relations, is a Central California native with extensive experience in the public relations industry. He has led nationally recognized, award-winning campaigns for startups, publicly traded companies, and government entities.
His strategies have helped organizations enter markets, secure visibility, and support multimillion-dollar deals and investments.
Through 1903 Public Relations, Santiago is building an agency composed of diverse professionals committed to creative, business-focused communications programs that deliver measurable benefits for clients globally.
Before founding 1903 Public Relations, Santiago worked both in-house and at agencies, supporting some of the world's most recognized technology brands. His experience spans machine learning, cybersecurity, augmented reality, renewable energy, agricultural technology, environmental technology, Salesforce, DEI, and education technology.
He has spearheaded programs that secured national media coverage, including a Forbes cover and a global TED Talk for clients.
Santiago has been invited to contribute to Forbes and Entrepreneur. His recognition includes a Gold Bulldog Award for PR Up and Comer, three Stevie Awards in the Communications Professional of the Year category, and inclusion in the 2021 Forbes Next 1000 list.
Senior Team
Experienced practitioners accountable for execution.
Media relations, editorial judgment, speaking programs, awards, and reporting remain connected to the strategy throughout the engagement.
Account Manager
Jackie Flaten
Jackie is a seasoned writer and public relations professional who develops media-ready narratives for complex organizations. Her background spans journalism, technology, healthcare, education, public affairs, media relations, and analyst relations.
Read Jackie's Biography
Jackie Flaten is a seasoned writer and public relations professional who has managed media relations for a diverse clientele throughout her career, securing meaningful national coverage in consumer and trade publications.
She has decades of experience providing media counsel, developing strategic communications, and leading brand awareness programs for education organizations, consumer brands, and technology startups.
Her Bay Area career includes positions at high-technology public relations agencies, where she worked with clients in security software, advanced materials, nanotechnology, and mobile technology. Her responsibilities included client management, writing, media relations, and analyst relations.
Jackie also served as a public affairs specialist for a 17-clinic Midwestern healthcare system and as chief editor and public information officer for North Dakota's flagship university.
A University of North Dakota communications graduate, she began her career in journalism and has continued writing for media outlets throughout her career. Her experience communicating with vision and purpose across multiple stakeholder groups continues to inform her work today.
Jackie takes pride in her creative and pragmatic outlook, her diligence in understanding each client's business, and her tenacious approach to media relations. She particularly enjoys distilling complex technology into compelling, media-ready narratives.
Collaborating with innovative people and helping them tell their stories continues to fuel her drive and imagination.
Senior Account Executive
Grace Decicco
Grace leads media relations, speaking, awards, and reporting programs across agriculture, food and beverage, sustainability, education, and emergency technology.
Read Grace's Biography
Grace Decicco is a Senior Account Executive at 1903 Public Relations, where she leads day-to-day media relations for clients across agriculture, food and beverage, sustainability, education, and emergency technology.
Her media relations work has resulted in coverage across local, industry, and national publications, including Forbes and Nasdaq.
Grace has built speaking programs from the ground up and secured opportunities for clients at leading industry events. She has also developed strategic awards programs that helped clients earn recognition from influential trade and business organizations.
In addition to media relations, Grace develops reporting and analytics that give clients a clear view of their coverage, progress, and position in the market.
Her previous experience in marketing and events shaped her approach to storytelling and audience engagement. She adapts to different business models and identifies communications opportunities aligned with both media interests and client priorities.
A Central California native, Grace holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Journalism from California State University, Fresno. She enjoys supporting organizations in her community and helping local businesses strengthen their impact across the region.
Start The Conversation
Start with the communications decision that matters most.
Whether the priority is visibility, reputation, growth, or alignment, 1903 PR helps organizations understand what needs to move and how to approach it.
A member of the 1903 PR team will review your note and follow up with the right next step.