Today we’d like to introduce you to Marilyn Cowley.
Hi Marilyn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I got my start in Fresno, California — and honestly, I never imagined I’d one day own a business. After leaving my last agency job in 2017, I didn’t have a plan — I just knew I wanted to take a chance on myself. So, I started visiting local businesses, introducing myself, and offering my help in marketing.
During my very first week visiting businesses, two of them asked me to come back with a proposal. Within that same week, I landed both as clients. That’s when it hit me — I actually owned a business. I didn’t have a name, a business license, or a website — nothing. I rushed home to figure it all out, and the rest is history.
Since then, we’ve grown from those first two clients to working with businesses across California and beyond. We now have offices in Fresno, San Diego, and Orange County. What began as a spontaneous leap of faith has evolved into a company I’m incredibly proud of — one built on hustle, genuine relationships, and the power of showing up.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not — but I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything. When I started, I had no mentor, no roadmap, and no real guidance. Google was my best friend. Everything I know today came from trial, error, and a lot of learning along the way.
Two years in, I learned a big lesson the hard way — I received a cease and desist letter for my original business name because I hadn’t realized you need to research trademarks before using a business name. It was stressful at the time, but I chose to see it as an opportunity to rebrand. That’s how PREM was born — which stands for Personal, Results, Effective, and Memorable — the qualities we’ve built our agency around and continue to embody today.
Owning a business, especially an agency, doesn’t come with a playbook. Every day brings new challenges, but also new lessons. Early on, finding the right talent was tough, but as we’ve built a strong reputation, we now have amazing people reaching out to join our team.
In our industry, the competition is fierce, but I’ve always believed our work speaks for itself. I’m not a hard seller — I focus on building genuine relationships and delivering results. One of the biggest challenges has been managing growth. Growing too fast can be tricky in the agency world, especially because I like to stay personally involved with every client. Finding that balance between growth and maintaining our personal touch is something I’m always mindful of.
Through it all, I’ve learned that every obstacle is just part of the process — and every challenge has shaped who I am as a leader and what PREM has become today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about PREM PR & Social?
PREM PR & Social is a boutique public relations and social media agency with offices Orange County, San Diego and Fresno. We specialize in helping brands tell their stories in a way that’s personal, results-driven, effective, and memorable — the very meaning behind our name, PREM. From strategic PR campaigns and influencer collaborations to social media management and brand development, we offer full-service marketing solutions designed to elevate visibility and impact. What sets us apart is that we never overpromise and underdeliver. Many of our clients come to us after being burned or jaded by other agencies, and we take pride in changing their perception of what a great agency partnership can be — and it’s incredibly rewarding. Agencies are a dime a dozen, but our personalization, attention to detail, authentic relationships, and proven results truly set us apart. We’re selective about who we work with because we value quality over quantity and believe in long-term, genuine partnerships. As a boutique agency, we stay nimble — always thinking ahead, pivoting where needed, and adapting to what’s next. Over the years, we’ve produced ADDY Award-winning commercials, national campaigns, and viral content that have amplified our clients’ brands across industries. Our work speaks for itself, and our continued growth is built on trust, creativity, and a relentless commitment to delivering excellence.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Gosh, I had such a great childhood with so many amazing memories, but one that always stands out — and probably hints at why I’m a business owner today — was when I won 5th grade class president. I didn’t win because I was the most popular kid; I won because I was creative and thought outside the box. While everyone else hung their campaign posters on the walls, I hung mine on the ceilings so everyone would see them the next morning and wonder, “How did she get up there?” It created instant buzz — people were talking about it, and even if they didn’t know me personally, they remembered me. That memorable, out-of-the-box approach has stuck with me ever since. It’s funny looking back now, because that same creativity and drive to stand out are exactly what fuel me as a business owner today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.premprsocial.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premprsocial/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyncowley
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@premprsocial
