In the dynamic world of public relations, few stories resonate as powerfully as that of Kendra Riley, an Ahwatukee resident who has built a thriving Scottsdale-based firm while championing a deeply personal cause. As the founder of Dawning Public Relations, Riley has steered her company to remarkable heights, with recent years marking unprecedented growth in revenue and client reach. Yet, beyond the boardroom, her tireless advocacy for newborn screening and rare disease legislation reveals a profound commitment to societal impact, inspired by her family’s heartbreaking journey. This compelling duality of professional triumph and personal mission offers a unique lens into how determination and adaptability can shape both business and broader change. Riley’s narrative is not just about success in PR but about leveraging that platform to address critical health challenges, making her story a standout in today’s landscape of leadership and purpose.
The Rise of Dawning Public Relations
Building a Powerhouse Firm
Kendra Riley’s journey as a PR mogul began with the founding of Dawning Public Relations in Scottsdale over a decade ago, and the firm has since evolved into a beacon of innovation and excellence. With an all-woman team of eight, the company specializes in a broad spectrum of services, from local and international campaigns to social media management, media training, and crisis communications. Recent expansions into search engine optimization, website management, and videography demonstrate a keen ability to adapt to industry shifts. The firm’s client portfolio is equally impressive, spanning diverse sectors with names like Diversified Roofing, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, and Super Star Car Wash. Additionally, partnerships with organizations such as the Arizona Wine Growers’ Association and charitable entities like the Armer Foundation for Kids underscore a commitment to community impact. This multifaceted approach has positioned Dawning PR as a leader, with recent office expansions signaling sustained growth and ambition in a competitive field.
Strategic Growth and Collaboration
The strategic expansion of Dawning Public Relations reflects a deliberate vision for staying ahead in a fast-evolving market, with a new office in Scottsdale’s Camelback Tower marking a significant milestone. This location, adjacent to longtime partner Pratt Marketing Agency, fosters synergies that have strengthened their joint representation of prominent clients like Burns Pest Elimination and Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Such collaborations highlight the firm’s knack for building alliances that amplify its influence across industries. Beyond physical growth, the company’s ability to diversify services—recently adding media buying to its repertoire—shows responsiveness to client needs in a digital-first era. Representing wine-related entities like the Verde Valley Wine Consortium and Arizona Wine Events, which hosts 16 statewide festivals annually, further illustrates the breadth of expertise. This blend of strategic positioning and service innovation ensures that Riley’s firm not only meets but anticipates the demands of a varied clientele, cementing its reputation as a PR powerhouse.
Advocacy for Rare Disease Awareness
A Personal Fight for Change
Behind Kendra Riley’s professional achievements lies a deeply personal battle that has fueled her advocacy for rare disease legislation, specifically concerning Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD), a fatal condition affecting two of her three daughters. Diagnosed several years ago, one daughter received life-saving gene therapy abroad, while tragically, the other progressed beyond the window for effective treatment and is now in hospice care. This heart-wrenching experience propelled Riley into action, driving her to champion legislative reforms like the Right to Try 2.0 bill, now enacted in Arizona and ten other states. This law grants patients with rare diseases access to experimental treatments closer to home, a critical step in saving lives. Her efforts underscore the urgent need for systemic change in how rare diseases are addressed, turning personal loss into a broader mission. Riley’s resolve to prevent other families from enduring similar pain has reshaped policies, highlighting the power of individual voices in legislative arenas.
Pushing for Newborn Screening
Riley’s advocacy extends beyond state-level reforms to a national push for including MLD in newborn screening protocols, an initiative that could transform outcomes for countless families. Earlier this year, she traveled to Washington, D.C. to lobby lawmakers, including Rep. Greg Stanton, emphasizing that early detection is often the difference between life and death, as evidenced by her youngest daughter’s successful treatment. Without such screenings, experts estimate that one child per week could be born with MLD and miss critical intervention windows. This statistic drives Riley’s mission to ensure that no family faces the agony of a late diagnosis. Her poignant arguments before policymakers reveal a blend of personal urgency and data-driven reasoning, aiming to integrate MLD testing into standard medical practices. By advocating for these changes, Riley seeks to create a future where early diagnosis becomes the norm, sparing others the heartbreak her family endured and setting a precedent for addressing other rare conditions through proactive healthcare policies.
