Ava Gutierrez is a former newspaper reporter whose articles appeared frequently in regional and national magazines. She produced several segments of NBC’s news- magazine, Saturday Show, started her own public relations firm, Finesse Communications, initiated Wine Patrons, the California Museum of Science and Industry’s first fundraising program, and headed AT&T’s trilingual marketing, publications and event promotions for Latin America and Sub-Sahara Africa.
A native of Cuba, Ms. Gutierrez, explores the history of Cuba, and its complex relationship to North America, loosely based on her female ancestors, dating back to 1800.
Published in English and Spanish, “Cubana Linda” is marketable to a broad audience of both Hispanics and non-Hispanics, interested in learning more about Cuba, its history and people, within a fictional format.
A native of Havana, Cuba, Ms. Gutierrez has a strong background in international public relations and marketing, and vast experience in ethnic markets, both in the United States and abroad. Ms. Gutierrez began her professional career as a journalist with the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. She was Assistant Public Relations Director of the California State Museum of Science and Industry, developed the first Hispanic advertising and media campaign for Greyhound at Bozell Worldwide, and was a key team member of both the national and international AT&T marketing program. Another career achievement has included the writing of a 200-page book on wine for Grosset and Dunlap.
In the past decade, Ms. Gutierrez has worked for both the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles. In her capacity as media director for the City of Los Angeles’ Cultural Affairs Department, she promoted the artistic activities taking place in the city. In her work for the County of Los Angeles and its Human Relations Commission, she was responsible for directing the media relations work for the Commission. The Commission on Human Relations works on the improvement of inter-group issues facing the more than 10 million people living within the County of Los Angeles.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF AVA GUTIERREZ
MANAGEMENT
- Developed $2 million marketing campaign directed to U.S. consumers by a global telecommunications company
- Managed international corporate publications programs for global corporation
- Developed and supervised database, as well as direct mail campaigns, to customers in all parts of the Western Hemisphere
- Supervised and trained staff for corporate events; major exhibits in Western Hemisphere and Africa
- Trained exhibit sales staffs, and conducted in-country seminars; recruited in-country employees and negotiated contracts with in-country vendors
PUBLIC RELATIONS
- Served as spokesperson to media for global corporations
- Developed national public relations campaign. Components included organizing community and marketing events; creating all promotional materials; and dealing with local and national press.
- Created State museum fundraising organization, still in existence, dedicated to support of the museum’s science and arts programs.
- Spearheaded first national wine label campaign against Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
ADVERTISING
- Headed team that developed ethnic advertising campaign for Greyhound; won award for best Spanish language commercial in 1983.
- Pioneered ethnic advertising campaigns for Greyhound, American Airlines, Masa Harina, Swiss Miss, and retail wine and spirits industry clients.
- Created commercial for the AT&T “Servicio en Espanol” multimedia campaign.
JOURNALISM
- Published magazine writer and journalist
- Co-authored non-fiction book Wine Secrets – published by Grosset and Dunlap, chosen “Best Wine Book of the Year” by the International Food and Wine Society.
EDUCATION
Los Angeles City College, Citrus College and University of California at Los Angeles; bilingual and bicultural (Spanish); computer literate.