Kate Williamson

August 7, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO – If the article is about horse-racing in the Bay Area, chances are that Adam Alberti is quoted somewhere.

Alberti, 33, works with some of the most contentious issues in San Francisco and on the Peninsula through his work at public relations firm Singer Associates Inc. His clients include the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, the Bay Meadows Land Co., Earthlink “and by association Google and their bid for WiFi in San Francisco,” The Climate Group, the Peninsula Healthcare District and the San Francisco 49ers.

They don’t lack controversy. BMLC, for example, owns the Bay Meadows racetrack, which it is trying to close and redevelop as a mixed-use project while faced by loud opposition by some San Mateo residents. The issue has split the community.

“Bay Meadows is sort of representative of what we do across the spectrum. Typically, we work with some of the most high-profile and entrenched issues around,” he said. “My philosophy is one of dialogue … to help people understand the bigger issues involved and not focus on technical issues. The hard part is to make people understand your perspective in a very small space.”

His job involves providing information and interviews to journalists and attending public meetings, among other tasks.

Originally from Massachusetts, Alberti began his career with Navy service shortly after high school, where he served as a navigator in the Persian Gulf War and was also involved in intelligence work, such as ship tracking and drug interdiction. After his military work, he received his bachelor’s degree in political science and environmental sciences policy management from the University of California, Berkeley.

“I got very interested in media relations, and the impact of media on policy and how candidates were selected for office … how people think of the world,” he said.

Alberti lives in San Carlos and is married to San Mateo County Deputy District Attorney Kathryn Alberti. They have two small children.