Our mission is to deliver strategic, high-impact Public Relations and Marketing Solutions
Meet Our Dedicated Team
Katherine Verducci
CEO and Co-Founder
Katherine Verducci, CEO and co-founder of 1903 Public Relations, started her PR career in the Silicon Valley. After working with everything from early stage startups, to one of the largest healthcare companies in the world, she returned to her roots to create a truly unique PR agency that delivers world class results.
Her PR campaigns have launched companies, penetrated new markets, and pushed organizations to new levels. At Abbott she was part of communications team that helped the company be recognized as the #1 pharmaceutical company on Fortune’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies for 2010. She's supported companies through M&As on both sides of the table, through funding announcements, rebrands, IPOs and crisis situations.
With 1903 Public Relations, she combines her passion for creating tailored strategic messages aligned with business objectives, crafting innovative stories that stand out in the press, and her appreciation for Central California into one labor of love. In 2021, she was named Executive Hero of the Year by the Globee Awards and she was one of the Top 50 OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Models in a list compiled by INvolve and Yahoo Finance. She was also listed as one of the top Female Social Change Makers in the Stevie International Business Awards for 2021. Katherine is an innovator disrupting the public relations industry by delivering impressive outcomes for clients that span numerous industries.
Santiago Villegas
CEO and Co-Founder
Santiago Villegas, CEO and co-founder of 1903 Public Relations, a native to Central California has years of experience in the public relations industry that he has leveraged to lead nationally recognized, award winning campaigns on behalf of clients. He has worked with startups, publicly traded companies, and government entities to create strategies that have penetrated markets, motivated multi-million-dollar deals and investments.
With 1903 Public Relations he is developing an agency that, contrary to established institutions, is composed of a diverse staff dedicated to the execution of top-tier creative strategies that deliver real-business benefits for clients globally.Before founding 1903 Public Relations, Santiago Villegas worked in numerous industries both in-house and agencies where he worked with some of the largest known tech brands.
Within his previous roles he has deep rooted experience within machine learning, cybersecurity, augmented reality, sustainable/renewable energy, ag tech, environmental tech, Salesforce, DEI, EdTech, and countless others. He has spearheaded campaigns that have landed clients national coverage notably securing the cover of Forbes and a global TED Talk for clients. Â
Santiago has also been invited to be Forbes and Entrepreneur contributor. He has won gold in the 2019 Bulldog Award for PR Up and Comer, three Stevie Awards in the Communications Professional of the Year category, and made the Forbes Next 1000 list in 2021 as an entrepreneur on the rise.
Jackie Flaten
Senior Account Supervisor
Jackie Flaten is a seasoned writer and public relations professional who’s managed media relations for a diverse clientele throughout her career, securing meaningful coverage nationally in consumer and trade press.
She has decades of experience providing expert media counsel, delivering strategic communications, and leading brand awareness campaigns for education, consumer products and tech start-ups. Her Bay Area career includes stints at high-tech PR agencies where she worked with clients in security software, new materials, nanotech and mobile tech, handling client management, writing, and media and analyst relations.
Jackie also served as a public affairs specialist for a 17-clinic midwestern health system, and as chief editor/public information officer for North Dakota’s flagship university. A University of North Dakota communications graduate, she started out in journalism and has continued to write for media outlets throughout her career. These experiences of communicating with vision and purpose to multiple stakeholders continues to inform her work today.
She takes a special pride in her creative and pragmatic outlook, diligence in understanding a client’s business, and a tenacious approach to media relations. Jackie particularly likes the challenge of distilling complex technology into compelling media-friendly narratives. Collaborating with innovative people and helping them tell their stories fuels her drive and imagination every day.
Grace Decicco
Senior Account Executive Â
Grace Decicco is a Senior Account Executive at 1903 Public Relations where she leads day-to-day media relation efforts for clientele across a wide range of industry sectors including, agriculture, food and beverage, sustainability, education and emergency technology.
Her savvy expertise in media relations has resulted in media coverage spanning local, vertical, and national outlets including Forbes Magazine and Nasdaq. She has built and led speaking programs from the ground up and has landed clients at top industry events. She also has developed strategic award programs that have helped clients gain recognition across key trade and business award publications. In addition to her media expertise, she enjoys developing reporting and analytics that provide clients with a clear view of their coverage, track progress and understand their position in the industry market.
In previous roles, Grace has worked in Marketing and Events that has helped shape her approach to storytelling and audience engagement. She is able to adapt to clients' business models and identify opportunities that align with media interests.
As a Central California native, Grace holds a B.A. in Mass Communications and Journalism from California State University, Fresno. She enjoys working with local clients in her community and supporting the businesses that make an impact on the region.
