Southwest Strategies Announces Strategic Partnership with Former Council President

SAN DIEGO - July 8, 2015 - PRLog -- Community leader and former San Diego City Council President Tony Young has entered into a strategic partnership with top public affairs agency, Southwest Strategies. Young's consulting and public relations firm, Civic Link, will team up with Southwest Strategies, leveraging Young's extensive experience with community and government relations to enhance client service for both companies.

"Tony Young is one of the most respected community leaders in San Diego," said Chris Wahl, President of Southwest Strategies. "We have worked closely with him for many years, and we are thrilled to offer our clients the opportunity to take advantage of Tony and Civic Link's dynamic skill sets and expertise in many areas of public outreach and communications."

Young served as a San Diego City Councilmember for eight years from 2002 to 2010, the last two as the Council President. In 2014, Young founded Civic Link Strategies, a consulting and public relations firm that works with local governments and civic organizations on community engagement and political outreach. Through this partnership, Young will help advise and guide clients with high-level coalition building and planning services. Civic Link will benefit from Southwest's expertise in messaging, community engagement and media relations. Both companies will continue to operate separately but will enhance overall client services through the partnership.

"This partnership is very exciting and will allow both Civic Link and Southwest Strategies to benefit from the years of experience we share. It will provide us an opportunity to take client service to the next level. I look forward to many successful endeavors," said Young.

Young is also a co-founder of Rise San Diego, a nonprofit focused on promoting civic engagement and strengthening community organizations. Young was born and raised in southeastern San Diego, and founded Rise to help build and mentor neighborhood leaders who can help improve urban life for youth and their families. From 2010 to 2012, Young served as the Chief Executive Officer at the American Red Cross San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the Red Cross. He has also held key roles with the San Diego Regional Airport Authority, San Diego Association of Governments and, most recently, as the Board President of San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer's new nonprofit organization, One San Diego.

Young is a graduate of Howard University, the University of San Diego and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Leadership program. A former collegiate athlete, Tony is a member of the Southwestern Baseball Hall of fame. He and his wife, Jacque, are longtime residents of San Diego community Valencia Park.

About Southwest Strategies

San Diego-based Southwest Strategies offers a full range of communications and strategic services for a diverse client list throughout the state of California. The firm's services include public affairs, community relations, crisis communications, public relations, media relations and government affairs. The company has been ranked by the San Diego Business Journal as one of San Diego's top three public relations firms. Alan Ziegaus and Chris Wahl formed Southwest Strategies in April 2000. For more information, visit www.swspr.com.