Jennifer Chidester, Partner
mom. media junkie. thinks chocolate is the new black.

when she's not tied to her crackberry, jenn's adjusting to life with a newborn, chasing after her two-year-old son or working on her latest obsession: 2 a.m. reality television dvr marathons. she's owned by her rescued american bulldog (marilyn) and regularly takes bets on whether someone can pronounce her married name in one try: phornsutiphaijit. try again.

Jennifer is a seasoned practitioner who brings over 13 years of diverse agency and in-house experience to the table. From managing multi-million-dollar accounts for Fortune 500 corporations to launching start-ups, Jennifer’s forte is developing and implementing high-impact strategic campaigns in the consumer, sports, hospitality and entertainment industries. A true media junkie, Jennifer holds two degrees in public relations and media studies and is the recipient of multiple scholarships toward both her original research on the practitioner/journalist relationship for her master’s thesis as well as Ph.D. study in mass media.

But it’s not all books. As a street-smart media relations specialist, her clients have been featured on "Larry King Live," in People Magazine, “Entertainment Tonight,” “Access Hollywood,” Wall Street Journal, "Today Show," Bloomberg Television, In Style, Cosmo, Variety, Newsweek, CNN and USA Today, among many others. Jennifer and her team have earned more than 20 national, regional and industry awards for the clients they service. Jennifer has also been honored by her peers as a “40 Under 40” young entrepreneur and Women Who Move the City.

Experience includes work with Maloof Sports & Entertainment; Cirque du Soleil; Sony Electronics; W Hotel; Big Bear Mountain Resorts; Pfizer; Edwards /IMAX Cinemas; more than 300 indie and studio film projects; and many more. She’s managed event publicity notable names in entertainment such as Joaquin Phoenix, James Woods, Richard Dreyfuss, William Shatner, Kobe Bryant, Colin Hanks, Jennifer Tilly, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Nikki Hilton and more.

Jennifer earned her Master’s Degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies from SDSU. She graduated Cum Laude from California State University, Fullerton, with a bachelor's degree in Communications, emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Sociology.

Brendi Rawlin, Partner
oboist. sci fi lover. does not speak until she’s had two cups of coffee.

an avid reader, fan of “star trek”, “battlestar galactica” and all things science fiction, brendi knows just when to insert a funny one-liner to break up tension. in her spare time, she continues to work as a freelance writer and plays oboe with the la jolla symphony.
she is happily single but accepting applications.

Brendi has 10 years of experience developing and managing strategic communications and media relations campaigns for clients in a wide range of industries, including action sports, special events, finance, healthcare, technology, consumer products and transportation.

A graduate of the prestigious Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia, Brendi’s background as a writer gives her a distinct perspective on media relations, carefully crafting story angles and news hooks for clients that get attention and get covered. Brendi has secured coverage for her clients in local and national media outlets such as USA Today, Rolling Stone, Glamour Magazine, “Good Morning America,” Business Week and Forbes, to name a few.

Brendi has developed a reputation among her clients as a strategic and creative thinker, expert writer and crisis counselor. She has a strong background in campaigns for major Calif. ballot initiatives and has worked in partnership with numerous local and state agencies on press conferences, ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings. Her background as a writer gives her the ability to thrive under pressure and meet deadlines, while her experience in government relations has taught her the importance of leaving egos at the door and working as a team player. In another life, Brendi is a UN ambassador.

Brendi’s favorite part of public relations is leading media/message training programs for clients, whether it’s preparing them for a major news announcement or a hard hitting interview on “Dateline” or “20/20”. Her calm under pressure has played a key role in the national media response for breaking news stories – including a San Diego businessman’s chartered flight of 200 New Orleans evacuees after Hurricane Katrina, and writer Annie Jacobsen's "Terror in the Skies" series of articles, which resulted in a congressional investigation and subsequent book: “Terror in the Skies: Why 9/11 Could Happen Again.”

Rachel Irwin
professional road tripper. mainiac. served a three year sentence on capitol hill.

Rachel is an East Coast transplant who quit a life in politics to hone her PR skills while living by the beach. Rachel’s expertise is in the lifestyle, restaurant, and hospitality industries where she’s helped create and manage PR campaigns for brand names such as Johnny Rockets, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, and ARAMARK Parks and Destinations.

A media relations guru, Rachel has humbly secured coverage in major news outlets, including CNN.com, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, MSNBC.com, and the “CBS Evening News.” Rachel’s passion for travel has also helped garner coverage for hotel clients in major publications such as Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and Sherman’s Travel.

Prior to relocating out West, Rachel worked as a press secretary on Capitol Hill, learning the ins and outs of the legislative process. Rachel graduated from the University of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and studied public relations at American University’s Washington Semester program. In her spare time, she enjoys taking advantage of San Diego’s perfect weather, loud concerts and exploring her new downtown neighborhood.

Devin McCloskey
music enthusiast. in the battle of tea over coffee and wedges versus heels, she's tea and wedges.

Devin plays a supporting role in lifestyle, hospitality, fashion and f&b accounts for Limelight, including Hotel Maya, Intimacy, Maloof Money Cup, La Casa Resort Properties and Big Bear Mountain Resorts.

She comes to Limelight with a fashion and events background, from executing James Perse events across the country to managing staffing and event coordination for events like EVK, Accessories the Show, POOL, Magic and MRKET tradeshows in Las Vegas. Devin graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication. During her time at USC, Devin focused on both education and gaining experience from music event production with HARD Haunted Mansion and co-founding Not Too Shabby Presents, to Billabong’s PROJEKT and Maria Shriver’s Annual Women’s Conference.  You have to work hard to play hard, right?

She has immersed herself L.A.’s entertainment and music scenes while living in Los Angeles for the last four years. She is a fan of all things music and has a badass vinyl collection to prove it. If you’re looking for her on the weekends, look no further than the beach- this Dana Point native is all sunshine.

Jennilynn Jenkins
Can’t live without her fur-child, the sun and Nordstrom. Obsessed with hot wings. Master of the “point dance.”

Jennilynn supports the Limelight team in media relations and social media for nonprofit, food & beverage and lifestyle accounts, including Feeding America San Diego, Jackson Design and Remodeling, Big Bear Mountain Resorts, Beer & Sake Festival and San Diego Beer Festival.

Jennilynn’s past agency experience includes representing clients in hospitality, tourism, travel and nonprofit industries. She graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Communication with emphasis in Public Relations and minor in Psychology. She is a native San Diegan and enjoys being outside as often as possible.

Thea Bakkar
world traveler. once celebrated thanksgiving in turkey.

Thea is our Bay Area freelancer specializing in lifestyle accounts with clients in the film, design, hotel and dining industries. Thea's forte is media relations with experience ranging from multimillion-dollar public affairs campaigns and representing major brands like W Hotel, eS, and Big Bear Mountain Resorts to start-up businesses and nonprofit organizations. Her clients have recently been seen in InStyle Magazine, Us Weekly and USA Today, among others. Thea earned her master’s degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications at NYU.