Key Players
Tom Fulks, Principal
Tom Fulks is a recognized expert in the emerging discipline of crossover communications in land use planning and development, transportation systems, the California regulatory and political environment, and news media management. Fulks has extensive knowledge of the political and land use regulatory landscape on the Central Coast of California and throughout the state.
Fulks began his career in communications in 1981 as a city beat reporter for the Daily Breeze newspaper in suburban Los Angeles and went on for the next 15 years as an award-winning investigative newspaper reporter and columnist specializing in government and politics. He has worked as a political reporter and columnist covering city councils, boards of supervisors and state and federal offices. Political experience includes campaign consulting for races including county supervisor, state Assembly, state Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, plus numerous issues campaigns and local offices.
Michael Coates, Principal
Michael Coates is an internationally recognized expert in the field of automotive environmental issues. He has been a key participant in automotive marketing and publishing for more than two decades. His marketing and public relations experience includes work with DaimlerChrysler, the U.S. Council for Automotive Research, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz of North America, BF Goodrich, and others. His projects have included national product launches, trade and consumer show programs, media relations, promotions, and market positioning.
In addition, Coates has more than 12 years of experience as an editor and writer with a variety of automotive and general interest publications and broadcast outlets including Petersen Publishing Company (now part of Primedia), trade magazines, plus newspaper and television news reporting. Other public relations and marketing experience includes work with high-tech companies in the Internet, telecommunications, and advanced technology sectors, working with major national public relations agencies, boutique firms and independently. He currently serves on the board of Western Automotive Journalists, a San Francisco Bay Area group of automotive writers.