In the two years since Aaron Heier joined the Bailey Gardiner public relations firm, he has helped the agency secure more than half a million dollars in new business. As director of public relations, the 29-year-old works with clients such as W Hotels, the law firm Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch, the California Restaurant Association, Shea and Barratt American homes, and Bally’s Gaming Inter-national network of progressive slot machine games in Southern California.

He also represents the elusive House Of Blues venue. During last year’s Street Scene, Heier helped HOB sponsor a lounge area inside the music festival. He developed the idea to create a mockup of one of the rooms that will be in the future club, to give Street Scene visitors an idea of what to expect when it opens.

“That helped House Of Blues have a successful introduction into the San Diego market, and helped Street Scene obtain more sponsors for its event,” Heier says.

“Aaron’s knack for making successful marketing decisions that blend insight, creativity, research and plain-old common sense are reasons his staff members look up to him,” says Bailey Gardiner president Indra Gardiner.

Heier also has a knack for helping the community. Earlier this year he helped secure auction items for the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation’s annual fund-raiser, Springtime in the Park.

He also has volunteered for Mama’s Kitchen, St. Vincent de Paul’s Joan Kroc Center, Habitat for Humanity and I Love A Clean San Diego, and recently was named to the AIDS Walk San Diego board.

— Lora Watters