Executive Snapshot

Susan Young, president, Susan Young Media Relations

By: Andrew Cangiano
   
Residence: East Brunswick.
   
Family: Husband, Andrew Rosengard; and two children, Stephanie, 11, Daniel, 9.
   
Education: Bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Quinnipiac University.
   
First job: Delivering The News Tribune — now The Home News Tribune — on a paper route in Edison.
   
Thumbnail sketch: Ms. Young spent 10 years as a radio news reporter, writer, on-air anchor and news director. She served as deputy director of Gov. Christie Whitman’s Office of Radio & Television in Trenton and also has experience in the non-profit sector. Five years ago, she founded her own company, and she recently was recognized by the 2005 Edison Chamber of Commerce as its "Entrepreneur of the Year."
   
Why did you decide to start your own business? I knew there was a need for the skills that I had, because my background was very unique. I had a strong background in news and media, and in government and with non-profits. So all the pieces fit nicely, and I had the contacts to be able to create stories and pitch them.
   
How does your company serve its clients? We help businesses, non-profits and professional associations build visibility, name recognition and revenue through print, radio and television news. We basically use the media to get clients coverage, by uncovering legitimate news stories within their organizations and employees.
   
Who are some of your clients? We work with large and small businesses. We work with corporate companies, small family businesses, non-profit organizations and large membership associations. Clients may range from a Web designer who works from home to a shoe-and-handbag retailer with 70 stores across the country but with headquarters in New Jersey.
   
What makes your business unique? Everybody needs publicity and needs to market their business and their mission. This is completely different from advertising. We focus on legitimate, newsworthy stories within a business and its employees. What we bring to the table is media experience. I write like a reporter and I think like a reporter. News is about people and people love great stories. My theory is you’re surrounded by great stories, but you don’t know it because you don’t have your news antennae up.
   
What are your goals for your company’s future? We’d like to contribute to grow and above all to help our client’s business grow by promoting and publicizing their business, their mission and their stories.