Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandria Ott.
Alexandria, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My father owned a PR Firm my entire life. He ran the company out of the guest house of our home in Coronado, so I was always in his office listening to his calls, watching him execute meetings, seeing the way he worked well into the night to make it all work. My first job out of school was at a lifestyle magazine and when the economy crashed in 2008, I had to figure out what was next.
I moved to Chicago with nothing but a suitcase in 2011 and ended up working as a waitress and writer. I got a job at a PR firm and moved up to become their Director of Communications. After some time, I felt stifled and decided to start my own company, Chrome City. In 2014, I set out to represent top chefs, restaurants, artists and creatives to tell a deeper story. We represented some of the coolest entrepreneurs in town and I am proud of the work my incredible team did.
After having a baby in 2017, I decided to move home to San Diego to start the next chapter of Chrome City. We launched Hustlecraft, The Blank Table and currently represent a few women-owned companies that do amazing work in the community.
Has it been a smooth road?
Entrepreneurship is never a smooth road. Working on yourself as a person is the most important part to being a strong leader for both your staff, your clients and your business. I would say that making sure that I am taking care of myself mentally, spiritually and physically has been a huge obstacle because everything else falls apart when you aren’t taking care of yourself. Finding the right staff members has always been a challenge for me. Keeping everyone happy and doing their best on your team requires a tremendous amount of giving that can take a lot out of you. I applaud people who really take great care of themselves and their team, while managing the work and the clients at the same time. Keeping the monthly money flowing to pay everyone is also one of the greatest pressures of owning a business. Even if you have backup, each month that you don’t bring in as much as is going out, means more mounting pressure to makeup for it with more work. It’s all a struggle but the moments that you deliver a superior project is when it feels all worth it. Lately, COVID has meant cancelled events and many challenges in the vain of live moments for brands. I don’t see it changing anytime soon, so currently in the middle of figuring out the best way to pivot that type of work in order to make an impact online.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Chrome City, Hustlecraft + The Blank Table – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am currently consulting with a few brands on their communication strategies. I am the Founder + CEO of Chrome City (a creative agency that offers Public Relations, Marketing, Social Media, Graphic Design, Event Curation and Influencer Management), The Blank Table (a unique pop-up dining experience) and Hustlecraft (a panel series for Hustlers).
I am an event producer, curator + creative director of experiences. Over the past fifteen years, I have been dreaming up progressive programming and leading strategic marketing and communications for designers, artists, hospitality venues, entrepreneurs and more.
I am known for bridging the cultural gap + curating crowds of creatives that connect with the work I am doing- and each other. I am proud of the relationships that have been built by people who met at my events- small + intimate or large-scale- that I have mindfully produced.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The thing I like best about San Diego is that it is easy living. It is easy to get to the beach, the bay, the mountains and the desert. The topography is open and free for people to explore. I love the friends I have become super close with who are all doing really amazing work in the city. I like the peace I feel living here
Having lived in Chicago for almost eight years (I am from Coronado and moved to Chicago when I was 25 and returned at 31), I miss the deep and vast music + arts culture. It has history on it’s side but you could feel the heartbeat of the entire country in that city and I miss the thrill of mass devotion to depth + creativity that isn’t as heavy in San Diego.
Every person, place or thing comes with a balanced weight. I get good weather and a more laid back approach here. There, I got hellish weather but also, a complexity of humans that I had never experienced.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexandriaott.com
- Phone: 6198578216
- Email: aott@chromecitypr.com
Image Credit:
Jackie Trezzo
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
