BUSINESS AS USUAL!

ENTREPRENEUR AND PUBLIC RELATIONS POWERHOUSE 

CATHY CARDENAS HAS BEEN INSPIRING OTHERS FOR YEARS 

AND CONTINUES TO DO SO WITH THE LAUNCH OF 

HER NEWEST VENTURES

For more than two decades, Cathy Cardenas has earned her reputation as one of the most successful and prominent entrepreneur publicists in the entertainment and branding industries. Her secret to success? Innovate - even when things are great. Cardenas lives this motto in her day-to-day life, as well as when she isn’t overseeing the operations at her firm Cathy Cardenas PR.

Cathy is the youngest of seven children.  Growing up, nothing came easy to her.  This, coupled with having to also parent her two children by herself for the majority of their lives, Cardenas’ experience of having to work hard her entire life has paved the way for her successful career in public relations. She thrives in combining her collective experience and knowledge from all customer touch-points including public relations, sales, marketing, events, lead generation and fundraising to build awareness, drive sales and foster positive reputations for her clients. 

Her customer base ranges from large companies to philanthropic organizations, professional athletes to lifestyle personalities.  Her expertise has generated proven results across a wide variety of industries in saturated markets. She has headed up the creative development of unique events, creative marketing tactics, block and tackle media relations. Cardenas has secured high-profile placements across the country and her clients have been seen in: USA Today, Nightline, Good Morning America, Entrepreneur, TODAY show, Tonight Show, ELLEN and CBS Evening News, to name just a few. 

While Cardenas could have solely focused on her for-profit work, perhaps what is most notable about the PR maven is her heart for philanthropy.  Over the past two decades,  Cardenas’ drive has been applauded by many organizations and has resulted in significant professional and personal achievements. Cardenas was the 2011 Jefferson Award Recipient, which honored her charity work for both military wives and women’s and children’s shelters. In 2010, Cardenas was a finalist for the International Stevie Award for Women in Business, which recognized her innovative approach to business and community projects that supported Ethiopian Refugee families. She was also acknowledged as a part of several high-profile lists and accolades, including Business Women of the Year, Champion of the Year and 30 Women to Watch. It should be noted that all of her nonprofit charities could be honored and awarded.

Known for her upbeat energy and intuitive spirit, Cardenas has also hosted her own weekly radio show Inspiring SA. She was the keynote speaker for the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2010. 

“My career has been a long road of innovation and dedication that has kept my clients, and subsequently myself, at the forefront of the industry. When I look back, each opportunity has helped me to level up and continue to challenge myself to always keep growing,” says Cardenas. 

Cardenas has again combined her talents and philanthropic endeavors with her creation of additional revenue streams, but those that also fund charities close to her heart; Hope Wear Clothing and Grace Begins, the Podcast. Hope Wear Clothing is a line of apparel with inspirational messages such as, “Blessed,” “loved.”, “Keep Going” and “Gratitude”. The Hope Wear holiday collections have been best sellers year after year, with tees and sweatshirts branded with eye-catching designs and heart warming phrases such as, “Santa’s Favorite,” and “Thankful.” 

Designed to inspire people around the world to share inspirational messages with one another daily, Hope Wear Clothing is known for its fresh, minimalistic designs of encouragement. From fitted tees to jersey shirts, classic hoodies to tank tops,  each design is made from high-quality materials and features Hope Wear Clothing’s belief of love, faith, beauty and patriotism in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes.  

“I have had a lot of professional highs over the years but nothing has been as personal to me as working on inspirational clothing that makes people happy to wear, on any given day,” said Cardenas. “We design clothes that we genuinely want to wear; Hope Wear is comfortable, stylish and meaningful.”  As an extension of her philanthropic effort, a portion of proceeds from clothing donated to several organizations close to their heart, including: Hope Mental Health Foundation, Fresh Start Women’s Foundation and Veterans Matter. 

With the success of her inspirational clothing line comes many new ventures and opportunities like the launching of her new podcast coming out in 2024 called, “Grace Begins.”  Throughout Cathy’s career, the one thing that has stood out to her in her business dealings is the faith of the many people she has met over the years. Grace Begins will allow her to bring those stories to the world, live via her podcast.

Grace Begins podcast invites listeners to embark on a transformative journey where the profound intersection of grace, resilience, and personal growth is explored. Hosted by Cathy Cardenas, this podcast delves into the stories of individuals who have navigated life's challenges with unwavering grace, emerging stronger and more resilient than ever.

Each week, intimate conversations are shared by inspiring guests who divulge their experiences, unique triumphs and wisdom gained along their paths.  From overcoming adversity to finding purpose, “Grace Begins” is a sanctuary for those seeking solace and motivation in the face of life’s uncertainties.  

Whether you’re navigating a personal transformation, seeking inspiration, or simply curious about the incredible power of grace, this podcast is your compass.  Tune in for heartfelt stories, insightful reflections and practical advice that will empower listeners to embrace the beauty that arises when grace begins. Cathy is excited to share journeys of self-discovery, resilience and the enduring power of grace in our lives. 

For more information on Cathy Cardenas, please visit www.CathyCardenas.com. 

Article credit: Tony Jimenez

Photography: C Morris Photography