We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jake Serwer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jake , thanks for joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

I came up with the name Espresso Public Relations because a few of my first clients were entrepreneurs who literally worked out of coffee shops. I also liked the theme of Espresso PR giving businesses a “shot” of Espresso, which meant my PR and marketing services would wake you up and spark creative thinking. Espresso PR has the sort of name that also aligns with my values, and it demonstrates the character and mentality of the people and places I represent. Finally, “PR” is in the word Espresso, so that’s pretty cool, right?

Jake , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I founded Espresso Public Relations LLC in 2017. It’s a Detroit-based public relations firm and I started it so I could help tell the stories of the people and places that define Detroit.

I got into the PR business because of my media background in Washington, D.C. My first gig after receiving my master’s degree from Georgetown University was working as a TV producer for Bloomberg News, covering exclusive features with members of the United States Congress and influential business leaders. Later, I became the primary communications representative for Chris Wallace, the long-time former host of the weekly Sunday morning broadcast, FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace. My goal was always to represent public figures, athletes, CEOs and leading newsmakers. Eventually after working at the National Press Club, a private club for journalists in D.C. — where I organized messaging and meeting events for Fortune 500 CEOs, political candidates and celebrities — I made the shift to public relations.

To date, I have developed and managed communications programs for national companies, such as Lyft, Techstars, Lucerne International and Altimetrik Corporation. I also represent Detroit’s most influential tech CEOs and leading newsmakers. I specialize in local and national media relations.

Clients of Espresso PR have been featured on CNN, MSNBC, Bloomberg News, CNBC and FOX Business, as well as in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Detroit Free Press and The New York Times.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Personal relationships and results have allowed me to build my reputation in my market. Business is all about personal relationships. But I must also constantly deliver positive results for my clients.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2017 I wanted to go off on my own. So I quit my agency job and decided to build a book of business on my own. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. It’s not for everyone, but it helps to have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.espressopublicrelations.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/espressopr/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspressoPublicRelations/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeserwer
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jakeserwer

Image Credits
Jake Serwer (left), Senator Cory Booker (right)