David Landis (public relations executive)

David Landis (born October 9, 1956) is the founder and president/CEO of Landis Communications, Inc. (LCI), an independent public relations agency in San Francisco founded in 1990. Landis is also an adjunct professor in the MBA program at Golden Gate University.

Career

David Landis launched Landis Communications, Inc. (LCI) in 1990, and currently serves as president and CEO. The San Francisco-based company has been called “San Francisco’s leading independent consumer public relations specialist” by The Holmes Report. LCI is the San Francisco member of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), a network of 40 affiliate agencies worldwide.

Landis has over 30 years of experience in public relations, brand management, positioning, marketing, analyst relations, media training, crisis communications, public affairs and community relations. Throughout his career, he has lent his expertise to a number of national and San Francisco Bay Area companies in the retail, consumer, technology, broadcast, hospitality, education, fashion, cultural, sports, environmental, real estate and non-profit industries. His clients have included Old Navy, Match.com, Tiffany & Co., NBC Universal, Whole Foods Market, San Francisco Symphony, California Academy of Sciences, Sony, XEROX, and Emirates Airline.

Prior to launching LCI, Landis served for four years as public and community relations director for KPIX-TV, the CBS affiliate in San Francisco. At KPIX-TV, he created public relations campaigns for AIDS Lifeline, the nation’s first comprehensive AIDS education television campaign, and For Kids’ Sake, a program that addressed children’s issues. Both were honored with national Emmy Awards.

Landis also served as public relations director for the San Francisco Symphony from 1980-1987 (where he helped open Davies Symphony Hall in 1980), as well as public relations director for the St. Louis Symphony, public relations director for Chicago’s Academy Festival Theatre and assistant public relations director for Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.

In 2007, Landis joined the faculty of Golden Gate University, teaching public relations in a master's degree program for marketing majors. Landis is a published writer and has been a featured speaker at numerous industry conferences, as well as a guest lecturer at Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, University of San Francisco and Golden Gate University.

Philanthropy

A passionate philanthropist and volunteer, Landis supports numerous causes, including: Project Open Hand; ODC/Dance; Coral Reef Alliance; Oakland's Stepping Stones, a program which helps prepare people with disabilities for the job market; Habitat for Humanity; the Sierra Club; Sierra Watch (Tahoe region); San Francisco Symphony; the San Francisco Giants Community Fund for after school sports; the NAACP; Blind Babies Foundation; San Francisco School Volunteers; Handgun Control; Planned Parenthood; San Francisco State University's "Step to College" program, which provides financial assistance to help needy students attend college; the Art & Music Center of San Francisco's New Main Library; and the San Francisco SPCA.

Personal life

Landis graduated with a degree in music from Northwestern University. His partner, Sean Dowdall, is Chief Marketing Officer at Rabo Bank. Landis enjoys skiing, hiking, theatre, music and dance as well as taking in San Francisco's vibrant restaurant scene and art collecting. Landis and Dowdall reside in Pacific Heights and Tahoe with their two miniature American Eskimo dogs, Shasta and Whitney. David Landis was born outside of Chicago, Illinois. He also has lived in St. Louis, Missouri and, since 1980 has resided in San Francisco, California.