SAE Communications

What SAE Communications does

SAE Communications is a privately held strategic and crisis communications consulting firm founded in 1991, headquartered across two offices in Santa Barbara and Pleasanton, California. The firm serves public agencies throughout California and the Western United States — including cities, counties, special districts, state agencies, schools, colleges, ports, and water agencies — as an on-call extension of agency leadership and communications teams. Its core offerings are professional services rather than software: strategic communications planning, crisis communications planning, incident response, media training, presentation training, and tailored training programs such as PIO-in-the-EOC exercises. Two proprietary methodologies underpin the practice: a Crisis Communications Planning Framework that produces practical plans with clear roles, message frameworks, approval protocols, and ready-to-use tools, and a "Media Fracture Methodology" for developing story ideas and pitch calendars.

The firm's go-to-market is direct, enterprise-style field sales built on long-term on-call retainer relationships and project-based consulting engagements, with pricing provided on a quote basis per engagement. Customer acquisition is reinforced through active participation in California public-sector associations including CAPIO, 3CMA, the League of California Cities, CSAC (where SAE contributes to the Institute for Excellence in County Government faculty), and AAPA, supplemented by articles in trade publications such as Western City Magazine and Seaports Magazine. Notable engagements include the City of San Jose, City of Beverly Hills, City of Long Beach, County of Alameda, County of Marin, Port of Long Beach, Alameda County Water District, Santa Clara Valley Water District, California Lottery, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, and the City of Los Angeles Palisades Fire after-action review. SAE Communications is independently operated by its principals and senior counselors, with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or acquisition activity.

Name

SAE Communications

Legal name

SAE Communications

Website

https://saecommunications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SAE Communications is a California-based consulting firm founded in 1991 that provides strategic and crisis communications planning, incident response, media training, and executive coaching to public agencies throughout California and the Western United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Communications Consulting

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAFADAE

Crisis Communications & Issues Management

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Public Relations & Communications

SECONDARYBPAFAAAL

PR, Corporate Communications & Crisis Management

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Full-Service Advertising Agencies

Keywords

• Public sector communications
• Crisis communications planning
• Government public relations
• Media training services
• Executive communications coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Pleasanton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Consulting: Ongoing strategic counsel retainer relationships and project-based consulting for public agencies, including crisis response support, message development, media strategy, and public meeting preparation.
2. Training Services: Classroom-style group training sessions for public agency executives and staff covering media interview techniques, key message development, presentation skills, and crisis communications. Includes both group sessions and individualized coaching.
3. Crisis Communications Planning: Development of tailored crisis communications plans for public agencies with clear roles, message frameworks, approval protocols, and ready-to-use tools.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SAE Communications is a strategic and crisis communications consulting firm that helps public agencies anticipate, plan for, and respond to high-visibility issues, emergencies, and crises of confidence. The firm provides senior-level strategic counsel, message development, media strategy, public meeting preparation, crisis response support, and executive coaching through on-call retainer relationships and project-based engagements. Its core deliverables include crisis communications plans with clear roles, message frameworks, approval protocols, and ready-to-use tools, plus classroom-style and individualized training for public agency executives and staff.

Product overview

SAE Communications is a strategic and crisis communications consulting firm for local government and public agencies, founded in 1991. The company offers a portfolio of professional consulting services rather than a software product platform. Its core offerings include Strategic Communications Planning (helping agencies define goals, objectives, and implementation strategies), Crisis Communications Planning (developing practical plans for emergencies and crises of confidence), Incident Response (on-call communications counsel during high-profile events), Media Training (coaching for executives and officials preparing for media interviews), Presentation Training (helping staff communicate effectively in public meetings), and Training Programs (tailored training on key message development, media pitching, and emergency public information operations). These services function as integrated consulting offerings rather than modular software products, with the firm serving as an on-call extension of client agencies' communications teams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Communications Planning Helps public agencies define communications goals, set clear objectives and strategies, and implement effective communications programs. Anticipates crises and supports response during complex or controversial public issues.
• Crisis Communications Planning Researches and writes practical, tailored crisis communications plans that help public agencies prepare for emergencies, high-profile incidents, public controversy, leadership issues, and crises of confidence. Each plan includes clear roles, message frameworks, approval protocols, media and social media guidance, public information procedures, and ready-to-use tools.
• Incident Response Provides on-call communications counsel, media strategy, message development, elected official talking points, website and social media content, and other public information support during high-profile incidents and emergencies.
• Media Training (Executive Coaching) Provides confidential, practical coaching for elected and appointed officials, executives, department heads, and technical experts preparing for media interviews, public meetings, board presentations, and community meetings.
• Presentation Training Helps agency managers and executives communicate more effectively during board meetings, council meetings, public meetings, stakeholder briefings, and community presentations, with focus on message structure, delivery, PowerPoint use, and Q&A management.
• Training Programs Highly tailored training programs for public agency executives and staff covering key message development and delivery, media pitching, presentation skills, and PIO in the EOC exercises and drills. Includes a proprietary 'Media Fracture' facilitated brainstorming process for developing story ideas matched to media outlets into a Pitch Calendar, offered as both group sessions and individualized coaching.

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered moderate and minor.

• CAPIO (California Association of Public Information Officials)moderateOthersSAE Communications is an active member and instructor contributor to CAPIO. Principals speak at annual and regional conferences on crisis communications and emergency public information topics.
• 3CMA (City-County Communications and Marketing Association)moderateOthersActive member and contributor to 3CMA, participating in professional development and networking for public sector communicators.
• League of California CitiesmoderateOthersActive member and contributor to the League of California Cities organization serving municipal government members.
• California State Association of Counties (CSAC)moderateOthersSAE Communications is a proud member of the CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government faculty, contributing training and expertise to county government professional development.
• American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)minorOthersSAE Communications principals authored articles for AAPA's national magazine on crisis communications for ports.
• Western City MagazineminorOthersSAE Communications contributes articles to Western City Magazine on topics including cyberattack communications, strategic communications, and crisis planning for cities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercury: Global public affairs and strategic communications firm serving corporate, government, and advocacy clients. Comparable to SAE in its public affairs, crisis communications, and strategic counsel work, though Mercury operates at substantially larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• Edelman: Global public relations firm with dedicated public-sector and crisis practices. Comparable to SAE in its crisis communications, public affairs, and strategic counsel capabilities, though Edelman serves vastly broader client segments and operates globally.
• APCO Worldwide: Global public affairs, crisis communications, and strategic communications consultancy. Comparable to SAE in its crisis communications and public-sector advisory work, but operating at global scale with broader industry and government coverage.
• BerlinRosen: Large public relations and public affairs firm with a dedicated public-sector practice. Comparable to SAE in its strategic communications, crisis, and media relations work for public-sector and issue-advocacy clients, but at significantly larger scale and broader scope.

Direct peers

• Marathon Strategies: Crisis communications and public affairs firm serving corporate, government, and association clients. Comparable to SAE in its crisis communications, media strategy, and strategic counsel for organizations facing reputational and public-policy challenges.
• Kivvit: Public affairs and strategic communications firm with state and local government clients. Comparable to SAE in its strategic communications counsel, crisis comms, and stakeholder engagement work for public-sector organizations.
• The Reis Group: Washington, DC-based communications firm specializing in public-sector and association clients. Comparable to SAE in its exclusive focus on government and nonprofit communications, including media relations, crisis support, and strategic counsel.
• Pinkston Group: Public affairs and crisis communications firm serving corporate, association, and public-sector clients. Directly comparable to SAE in its focus on crisis comms planning, media strategy, and executive communications coaching for organizations facing high-stakes public scrutiny.
• GMMB: Public-sector-focused communications and advertising agency serving government, nonprofit, and association clients. Comparable to SAE in its exclusive dedication to public-sector communications, including crisis response, media strategy, and executive coaching.

Regional players

• Singer Associates Public Relations: San Francisco-based public relations and public affairs firm with strong California and Bay Area presence. Comparable to SAE in its California-based public-sector work, media relations, and crisis communications for government and corporate clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sae-communications

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAE Communications