Meet Mike Mena of Ileana International in Redondo Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Mena.

Mike, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
We believe that some things are too good to keep to yourself. If we know a good place, product, venue, organization, cause, event, we want to tell people about it! We use the media to tell the great stories our clients need to share. We have great relationships with a wide range of media outlets and we know how to help them craft a story that people want to hear. It may be about an incredible musical invention like the Earth Harp, the world’s largest musical instrument or an organization that’s conducting amazing community work removing graffiti as the Los Angeles Conservation Corps does. Organizations hire us to get the word out about what they do.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road? Good question! At times, reporters respond to our client’s and their stories like flies to honey. Other times, we’re scratching our heads wondering why they’re not biting. When that happens, it challenges us to dig deeper and unearth a story angle that will stick. Although the challenges make us work harder, it’s usually more rewarding because we find some gems that create a powerful and resonating story. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger!

Please tell us about Ileana International.
Ileana International is a boutique public relations firm that recognizes the power of the media. We know that information is the most valuable commodity there is. Our clients know they have a good thing that will interest people if they only knew about it. We make sure that our clients are recognized in various media outlets who tell the stories that their readers, listeners or viewers want to hear. We think about the journalist, the reporter. We research and find out what story nuances would connect with them and their readership or audience. It’s gratifying to learn that a story we initiated resonated with a reporter and the people that follow that news outlet. We’ve helped organizations go from “unknown,” to “common knowledge.” There are no shortcuts. Building a client profile is like building a house. You start with a strong foundation and keep adding elements. We’re probably best known for our work in the philanthropic sector. We’ve placed billions of dollars worth of stories for our ambitious clients.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I placed my first news story when I was 12. I was assigned a sixth grade science ecology project and wanted to come up with a way to get the people in my community to participate in a neighborhood cleanup. I came up with the “Beautiful Block” contest and told my local paper about it. They loved it and ran the contest and later results. They even got a local council member to judge the most beautiful block. Seeing this in the paper made me say: “Well, that was fun!”

Contact Info:

• Address: Redondo Beach, California
• Website: ileanainternational.com
• Phone: 3103160612
• Email: [email protected]

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