Michael Young
Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist
Sacramento Regional Transit District
email Michael
Where do you currently work, how long have you been there, what do you do?
For the past four years, I have been employed with Sacramento Regional Transit (RT) and was promoted nearly a year ago to a senior marketing and communications specialist. I work to conceptualize and implement external and internal communications strategies. Campaigns are aimed at increasing ridership, informing RT’s customer base and improving the district’s public image. I also produce RT’s newsletters, handle our social media and assist in special events. We have a small team so everyone needs to be ready to help out wherever we can.
Prior to that?
Before joining RT, I worked at Katz and Associates for a year assisting local and state government clients with public relations and community outreach. My first real job out of college was as a communications writer for the old Grant Joint Union High School District. There, I learned a lot about being an in-house professional writer and a Grant Pacers football fan.
What is your educational background?
I graduated from Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in business management. Writing and editing for The State Hornet newspaper was key in my development.
What is the best part of your job?
One of my favorite parts of the job is working with our police services on public awareness and safety campaigns. Our officers are great men and women and I am allowed a lot of creative leeway in the projects. We’ll have a cool public awareness campaign featuring comic-book style elements rolling out soon.
What do you love about living here?
You mean besides the light rail? Which works great for me by the way. Ha. The Sacramento region is a great place to live. It’s just large enough to offer a solid economic base while providing good nightlife and great recreation.
What is one thing that might surprise people about you?
That I was awesome coxswain in college and coached the Sacramento State men’s novice rowing team for three years after graduation. My size fits the bill for a coxswain though, I’m only about 5-foot-6-inches tall and 125 pounds soaking wet.
When you aren't in the office where can we find you?
Sacramento’s rivers, lakes, and trails offer great boarding and cycling options during the warmer months. I’m also a huge sports fan, so in the winter I hunker down a bit more and love watching the NBA and NFL, much to my wife’s chagrin.
