Denis Wolcott, APR, provides more than 20 years of experience in public relations and marketing communications in corporate, public agency and institutional settings. He has expertise in finance, public transportation, infrastructure, law enforcement and public safety, global supply chain and logistics, public transportation, public health, real estate, technology, alternative energy, water and natural resources, and economic development and more.
Law enforcement experience
Denis began his career as an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor, with a regular covered area (beat) on police and the court system. He covered high-profile cases across the country, including the Rodney King case in Los Angeles and multiple FBI investigations.
As a public relations professional, Denis’ clients have included the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to promote community-based policing initiatives in key areas of the county and more recently as part of a specialized team working with multiple agencies in resolving homeless encampments, the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department during a focused enforcement effort involving acts of violence among local surfers, and a collaborate effort among multiple Southern California police agencies and pharmaceutical companies to promote safe disposal of prescription medicines.
More about Denis and The Wolcott Group
In his current role as a public relations counselor and president of The Wolcott Group, LLC, Denis represents Fortune 500 corporations, B2B enterprises, private ventures as well as many public agencies that need assistance with brand awareness, public outreach and education, coalition building and issues management.
Denis regularly conducts media and public speaking training for individuals and organizations, regularly develops crisis communications plans and manages crisis situations on behalf of clients, and regularly gives presentations and speeches on public relations. Denis and The Wolcott Group have won multiple industry awards.
As a former communications director at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Denis led a team responsible for a variety of communications programs at the nation’s largest water utility. This included development of the multi-dimensional, award-winning “California Friendly” campaign that established new paradigms for securing greater water efficiency through a communications and outreach program. The campaign created the “bewaterwise.com” website, now the premier water conservation website in Southern California.
Prior to joining MWD, Denis was a vice president at Stoorza Communications and provided public relations services to a number of clients throughout California, led the media relations and crisis communications practice areas, was media director for a state ballot proposition, was involved in business development, as well as built and managed a team servicing medical device and technology clients.
Before entering public relations, Denis was a reporter and editor at several newspapers across the country, having won multiple awards for his coverage of water issues, particularly those involving the Clean Water Act and illegal discharges into water supplies, as well as finance industry news.
He graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s double-degree in Journalism and International Relations. He is Accredited in Public Relations (APR).
