“Working In The City” is The San Diego Sun’s feature Q&A series with downtown San Diego business operators. It’s a way to get to know the city by meeting the people who work here. This is the 29th in an ongoing series.
Company name: (W)right On Communications, based in the Core-Columbia District (in the Emerald Plaza tower).
What happens here: We’re a public relations agency in our 28th year. We’re also home to two newly-launched and specialized agencies that reflect where our clients and the world are headed:
- WOC | Resonance is led by David Cumpston and focuses on building community trust for senior living, tourism, nonprofit and other community-facing organizations.
- WOC | Signal is led by Larry Smalheiser and is dedicated to clean energy, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity and other complex, high-stakes sectors.
I am: Julie Wright, founder and president at (W)right On Communications. I’m also the San Diego Press Club’s 2025 Andy Mace Award recipient and IABC San Diego Communicator of the Year, which were highpoints during the past year. I’m also a nonprofit and corporate director serving on the CalTravel board as well as the board of publicly-traded Canadian life sciences company Innovotech.
How long have you worked downtown: We moved downtown a month before the Covid-19 pandemic. Not the most conventional timing. When our La Jolla office lease came up, my business partner and husband, Grant Wright, and I, had just become empty nesters and relocated to Little Italy. We decided to look for an office closer to our new home. We found a space in Emerald Plaza that immediately felt right. We’ve since moved up a few floors and now enjoy a 29th-floor downtown vantage point that never gets old.
What’s new at work: Launching the two agencies has been the biggest development for us this year and a meaningful one. It’s a move that allowed us to provide a bigger platform to elevate two exceptional leaders, David Cumpston and Larry Smalheiser. On the WOC | Signal side, another team member, Andrea Saxenhofer, has stepped into a larger role as Associate Director. She’s in Denver representing the agency and our work with Cleantech San Diego as well as another clean energy client at this very moment. Watching our team develop as leaders is one of the most rewarding parts of this evolution, and there’s more of that to come!
Regular customers: We host clients, industry groups and a summer gathering in our office. The view and meeting space make it a spectacular setting but like most modern agencies, much of our day-to-day interaction happens over Teams and Zoom. The upside of virtual meetings is that we’re able to serve clients not just in downtown San Diego, but across the country and around the world.
Best aspects of working downtown: Lunch hour and happy hour are obvious perks, but what stands out most is the sense of community. There’s a real vitality here, supported by organizations like the Downtown San Diego Partnership and the neighborhood BIDs. It’s also the small moments like grabbing a sandwich from Sabrina’s Deli and catching up with the owner who’s been there for 30 years. Or, grabbing coffee at Kuma Café and feeling like part of the family.
Worst aspects of working downtown: I won’t mention the “H word.” What I will say is that downtown living has completely spoiled me when it comes to driving. I’ve grown so accustomed to not needing a car that planning anything involving freeway traffic feels like a major undertaking. I’d almost always choose the Surfliner, the Coaster, the trolley or a Lyft depending on the destination.
The H word: I recently read about a Santa Clara County nonprofit that’s seen significant success, and massive funding growth, by focusing on preventing homelessness before it starts. That approach makes sense. Focusing primarily on addressing homelessness after the fact can feel like trying to bail out a sinking boat with a thimble. Prevention deserves a much bigger share of attention and resources.
Most surprising part of working downtown: How welcoming it feels. For a city of this size, there’s a strong sense of connection and familiarity that you don’t always expect.
Funniest downtown work memory: I’d have to say it was the time our building had a fire drill during a new business meeting. Our prospective client was wearing stiletto heels and a black leather pencil skirt. Not exactly stairwell attire, but she powered through it. We’re lucky she was an athlete. We got the business and a killer workout!
Scariest downtown work memory: Fire drills from the 29th floor are less scary than they are humbling, especially when you feel the lactic acid buildup which can last for days.
Company pet/mascot: Our unofficial mascot is Dora, a Chiweenie mix. She’s David Cumpston’s ride-or-die and a frequent office visitor beloved for her auburn mohawk. Grant and I also bring in our dog, Charli, whenever we can. But as The Offspring say, “You gotta keep ‘em separated.”
How can the city be more business friendly: The city’s “reimagining downtown” efforts are a strong start. Aligning policy to support innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, and encouraging more street-level vibrancy, will go a long way. The goal should be to enable energy and activity, not slow it down.
Favorite downtown business that isn’t yours: I appreciate the Prebys Foundation’s investment in downtown, both literally and figuratively (see above). On a more everyday level, Going Postal on India Street is a favorite. It’s a family-run business that consistently lifts my spirits.
Best advice for running a downtown SD business: Keep evolving. Keep adapting. Keep your eye on the horizon. Anyone who’s been in business for 25+ years will tell you these are unusual, uncertain times — enough to test any entrepreneur’s resolve. Persist. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Take care of your health so you can stay strong — in body, mind and spirit — for the long run. SDSun
