Ditto PR

Concious Leader who leads with compassion, putting employees first through wellness and professional development

Conscious Leader

Crypto Clients: Ledger, bakkt, Anchorage Digital, Binance US, Bitstamp, Monero, Eco, Uniswap, Blockchain.com, Celo, TrueUSD, Ren Protocol
Coverage: Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, TechCrunch, FT, CoinDesk, The Block, Unchained, Decrypt, Forbes, Fortune

Web3 PR since 2017

AI Clients: LimeWire, Unbabel, Kidgeni, AlchemieAI, Vital AI, Vise AI, Synapse, Builder.AI
Media Coverage: Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, Axios, Ben's Bites, New York Times, Protocol

AI PR Since 2017

U.S. Department of Education

As the deputy press secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, I generated all national, regional and local press opportunities for U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and Under Secretary Sara Martinez-Tucker.

Deputy Press Secretary

U.S. House of Representatives

Communications Director

The Associated Press

Newsman

CEO at Ditto

Trey's Journey: Why Yours Matters

"Do what you are good at. Do what you enjoy."

That mantra has served me throughout my professional journey, and it has brought together the best group of talent I've ever seen at a PR firm.

From Dallas to Austin to DC to New York, the harder I worked, the more I learned, and the opportunities presented themselves to me. But I had to do it almost all on my own. No one taught me PR because my bosses were too busy to bother. 

On paper, my career was flourishing, but something was missing every step of the way. Each place I worked, I felt something was missing. I didn't like what I saw, how I was treated and how my colleagues were treated. But my bosses didn't listen to me, when I said things like, "Hey. We are on too many accounts." or "Is there a strategy behind just getting this client media coverage?" 

What was I missing? Being seen, listened to, heard, acknowledged and validated. 

Why was this missing? PR firms care more about profits than people, even though if you take care of your people, the profits come!

So, I just kept thinking that there had to be a better way. And I founded Ditto PR over 11 years ago under a simple vision that you take care of your employees first. 

Our Playbook really lays it out there: https://dittopr.co/playbook. 

But there are a few things that matter to me:
1. Don't hire jerks. Toxic employees ruin culture. Hire kind people that are willing to work hard. 
2. Don't chase new business. It's a distraction to your employees and impacts their work on current clients.
3. Listen and make changes. When your people say they need support or help or there's something wrong, make changes. 
4. Reward people for amazing work! We have monthly and quarterly performance bonuses. 
5. Give your people the time and space to do good work. They can't do that if they are in meetings all day and on a ton of accounts.

If this resonated with you, I'm at trey@dittopr.co. Let's chat!

Trey Ditto

Vice President

Rise Strategy Group 

Executive Vice President of Media Relations and Communications

Senior Vice President of Media Relations and Communications

- Management of media relations, communications and social media strategies
- Ongoing involvement in new business opportunities including content development and pitches

About Rise Strategy Group
Our team of diverse, experienced communications professionals develops and executes creative strategies to help our clients build bridges with the customers and communities they serve. We offer a range of expertise to clients across the private, public and nonprofit sectors, leveraging our expertise in media relations, community engagement, crisis management and digital services to help each client achieve their communications goals.

Vice President of Media Relations

PACO Collective

- Oversee the PR & Social Media department, reporting directly to VP of Client Services/Managing Partner and CEO
- Provides direct counsel to clients
- Develop and lead innovative PR/Communications and social media programs for clients including the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bears, Pork & Mindy’s, Rumba Meats, ComEd, the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation, in addition to PACO Collective
- Analyze metrics and adjust strategies to improve marketing efforts of such clients
- Manage accounts’ financial aspects including budgets, contracts, fees, etc.
- Oversee thought-leadership opportunities for PACO Executive Team, including award submissions
- Ongoing involvement in new business opportunities including content development and pitches

Public Relations & Social Media Account Manager

Selective Search LLC

•	Report directly to CEO and serve as primary contact for media and public relations efforts
•	Lead public relations and media relations strategy to win placements with major publications and TV broadcast including The Chicago Tribune, Today Show, USA Today, Cosmopolitan, New York Post, FOX News, CNN, among many others
•	Promote the company’s brand and high growth objectives – developing new business, and promoting brand awareness
•	Research industry communications and public relations trends and best practices
•	Establish and execute a social media program, with corporate brand/messaging using a variety of communication channels 

About Selective Search:
Founded in 2000, Selective Search is North America’s leading luxury matchmaking firm, where executive recruiting meets personal matchmaking®. Our staff of seasoned professionals, uses Fortune 500 executive recruitment techniques to help commitment-minded men and women in metropolitan areas and more remote locales find the love of their lives. Through our proven Meet Your Future® process, we filter potential candidates, handpicking candidates from the largest proprietary network of beautiful, quality Affiliates who best meet your exact criteria. And most importantly, it works. Eighty-seven percent of our Clients find love.

Communications Consultant

Claire's Inc.

As the Public Relations and Events Specialist for Claire's North America, my responsibilities include:
-Correspondence with national top-tier fashion and lifestyle editors on a daily basis including VOGUE, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, People, Glamour, among many othersSecured consistent product coverage in top outlets including the Chicago Tribune, Teen Vogue, Seventeen, OK!, US Weekly, Examiner.com, NY1 Live, Good Housekeeping, and more
-Liaising with celebrity agents of Claire’s spokespeople including Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, and Alli Simpson for global campaign activation
-Traveling and hosting international media on press trips to locations such as New York, Costa Rica, and Los Angeles
-Contributing to the development of international core corporate communications materials, including media alerts, key message platforms and company board meeting presentations 
-Reporting directly to Global Communications Director, based in London, on a regular basis; daily responsibilities include: updating and maintaining yearly budget, pitching media per theme on editorial calendars, weekly press reports which include measuring AVE for each product placement, and planning all aspects of monthly events including lodging, venue research, props, catering, guest list and logistics

Highlights during my year and four months with Claire's:
-Increased weekly and monthly product coverage for online and print outlets by 85% through relationship-building and hosting with top fashion and lifestyle media
-Successfully organized and executed Claire’s North America Halloween event in NYC for over 200 guests, which included top fashion and lifestyle editors, celebrities, bloggers and national socialites 
-Successfully organized and executed 2015 Spring New York Fashion Week event, guests included top international bloggers to drive brand awareness and engage social media outlets
-Successfully organized and hosted DailyMail press members to San Jose, Costa Rica for a meet and greet with Katy Perry

Public Relations and Events Specialist for Claire's and Icing North America

Mariano's

As the Corporate Manager of Events in the Marketing division for leading grocer Mariano's, I collaborate with all 30 of Mariano's Chicagoland stores for event planning, execution, and both in-store and out-of-store planning and process development. This includes outside partnerships with the Taste of Chicago, Chicago Gourmet, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the Chicago Flower and Garden Show, among many others.

Additionally, I assist with the management of strategic social media and digital initiatives including supervision of an external team for the growth of brand awareness to ultimately drive inbound traffic and cultivate leads and sales.

Corporate Manager of Events

Common Threads

Founded in 2003 by Chef Art Smith and artist Jesus Salgueiro, Common Threads has been teaching children living in under-served communities how to cook wholesome, healthy meals in professional led, curriculum-based after-school programs for 10 years. Students learn about grains, protein, fruits, and vegetables as they chop, slice, and bake their way to a healthy affordable meal. Students gain serious culinary skills, as taste for healthy food from different countries, and the confidence to make healthy choices about what they eat.

Common Threads began out of our love for family and good food, two basic ingredients that link all people of this world together. Family nurtures us, protects us, and connects us to a larger community. Food nourishes us, excites us, and teaches us about the world around us. In 2013, Common Threads is taking bold steps to use the kitchen as a catalyst for change. We are launching a nationwide effort to get one million kids cooking in the next five years.

I serve as the point of contact for all Marketing and Communications activities. This includes media management, development and distribution of promotional materials including the 2012 Annual Report. Additionally, I manage Common Threads' social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter), compile monthly newsletters, Board of Directors communications, and the 2012 Annual Report.

Marketing & Communications Associate

Weber Shandwick

I assist in grassroots outreach for Go Direct, a national public education campaign which informs beneficiaries of the U.S. Treasury’s move to make all federal benefit payments electronic.

I also contribute to the daily issues management for MilkPEP which includes media monitoring and flagging potential issues on national and local levels including social media concerns. Additionally, I  compose background reports on potential athlete spokespeople for chocolate milk’s “Refuel”. 

Finally, I assist in overall media monitoring for Federated Investors, one of the nation’s largest mutual fund providers.

Corporate Affairs Intern

Jasculca/Terman & Associates

I worked as an Account Assistant on the Creative & Strategic Development Team for clients such as the YMCA of Metropolitan of Chicago, Stand for Children and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Additionally, I assisted the event management team working with the US Department of State on logistics for the NATO Summit's Joint Spouse Program. I also had the opportunity to work on the first-ever gathering in the United States of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates which included managing the event program, logistics, and media relations.

Account Assistant (Intern)

Fleishman-Hillard

I worked as an intern on the Gatorade sports drink account. Daily work included executive visibility conference research, outreach, and recommendations for our client executives. I also participated in the planning and organizing of Gatorade's 2011-2012 Player of the Year program, and assisted in the promotion of Inside Endurance, a video series featuring endurance athlete Ryan Sutter.

Other work at Fleishman-Hillard included work on a pro bono client, the Rock for Kids Foundation.

Public Relations and Marketing Intern

I help fast-growing companies across fintech, crypto, AI, and emerging tech tell stories that break through. With more than a decade of experience in media relations, crisis management, and corporate communications, I know how to build strategies that deliver results when it matters most.

I’ve worked with some of the biggest names in Chicago and beyond — navigating high-stakes moments, elevating brands, and securing top-tier media coverage along the way.

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The Battle

Trey Ditto

Jessica Ortiz

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