Joe Ortiz:
CLASS OF 1959
Coachella Valley High SchoolClass of 1959
Thermal, CA
Joe's Story
Joe Ortiz is a full-service public relations consultant who provides a variety of media-related services to his clients, including collateral material development, crisis communications, corporate sponsorship, fundraising and special events.
Joe is a veteran publicist with over 20 years experience as a radio and television news reporter, newspaper columnist and talk show host. The Coachella Valley native has the distinction of being the first Mexican American in history to host an English-language talk show on a commercial radio station, beginning at KABC Talk Radio in the city of Los Angeles. Joe is also a free-lance writer for numerous local and national media, including VIVA Magazine in Palm Springs and La Prensa newspaper in San Diego, California.
He has also developed and implemented major publicity campaigns for various celebrities and sports personalities, including Rita Moreno, Milton Berle, Tierra, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Boy George, Ricardo Montalban, Manny Mota, Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett, George Lopez, Pia Zadora, Freddie Fender and many others. He has provided public relations services to numerous community organizations, including Boy Scouts of America, Manny Mota International Youth Foundation, HollenbeckYouth Center, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Salesian Boys and Girls Club, and the Tom Flores Invitational Celebrity Golf Tournament.
He has provided public relations assistance to many community organizations dedicated to anti-drug abuse and gang violence. He has managed the press relations for many elected officials including former State Senators Diane Watson and Art Torres, former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, Los Angeles City Councilmen Richard Alatorre, Robert Farrell and John Ferraro, and Pasadena City Councilman Bill Paparian.
Prior to forming Joe Ortiz Associates in 1988, Joe worked at various community and public relations and case management positions including JobAgent and Parole Officer for the State of California; public information specialist for the Greater Los Angeles Community Action Agency; administrative assistant to Los Angeles City Councilman John Ferraro; teacher at Riverside City College; Riverside and Los Angeles Unified School Districts; Director Employer Relations at South Bay College; and National Director of Corporate Development for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
A 20-year veteran news reporter and talk show host, Joe conducted radio and television talk show...Expand for more
s at KLOS-FM; KCBS Television; KPFK-FM Radio; and his Prime Time With Joe Ortiz show, which aired on KPPC-AM in Pasadena and KPZE-AM in Anaheim. He also co-starred for two years with comedian Cris Franco on a 6-9 a.m. drive-time show, Mornings With Joe & Cris, at KPZE-AM.
In addition to numerous awards and commendations from local, state and national elected officials, he received a Golden Mike Award as a member of the Best News Team while working as the Chief News Reporter for KPFK-FM Radio News, and the Angel Award for Best Talk Show Host while at KCBS Television. In the November 1989 issue of Hispanic Business, he was named one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the country for community service and his broadcasting excellence.
Educated at University of California at Riverside and UCLA, he holds state credentials authorizing him to teach Public Relations, Public Affairs Broadcasting, Human Relations in Business, and Personnel Training and Related Occupations. The Coachella Valley High School grad (class of 59) has taught at various schools at both the Los Angeles and Riverside Unified School Districts, Riverside City College and Ramona High School in Riverside.
He served as the public relations chair for the Boy Scouts/Los Angeles Raiders Celebrity Golf Tournament for 12 years, and for Los Angeles Dodger¿s Coach, Manny Mota and his International Youth Foundation¿s annual awards banquet for 8 years. He provided networking and publicity services to many other charities in the greater Los Angeles community. He has been an advisory member of numerous community and civic organizations including the board of directors for the Boy Scouts of America, the Manny Mota International Foundation, and the Latin Business Association.
Other individuals and organizations Joe Ortiz Associates has provided public relations services to include: Transformational Training Center; the Los Angeles Skills Center Program; South Bay College; Victory Outreach; California State Employment Development Department; International Association of Personnel Women; the Greater Los Angeles Community Action Agency, to name a few.
He is semi-retired but still writes various articles and columns for several local and national periodicals. He is the author of two recently completed books that etymologically challenge the Left Behind and Pre-Tribulation Rapture doctrines, entitled The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation.
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