Overview

Company Summary

R&R Partners Founded in 1974, R&R is a legacy full-service, independent marketing agency; a band of relentless, fearless brand advocates who have – from our inception – collaborated with our clients as a true agency partner. It’s in our name, and we own it every second of the day. We are purpose-driven marketers, content makers, people movers and culture shifters. We have made an indelible mark on the travel, tourism and hospitality industry with the award-winning “What happens here, stays here®” campaign that we most recently evolved into “What happens here, only happens here.” We have a 40+ year track record with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA): We put more than 150 thousand heads in beds in Las Vegas daily and drive over 43 million visits per year. We also help each of our properties maintain a 90% occupancy rate, which is significantly higher than the national average. And this is just one client example. What makes us different? We are true masters-of-business transformation. We start with the outcome. Before we create a strategy or move a pixel, we dive headfirst into your business. We take a fresh look at your target audiences, influencers, competitive alternatives, technologies, category communications and media approaches. We derive insights that lead to action. We track and assess the impact of our work in real time. Subsequently, all strategies and tactics will tie back to achieving a specific KPI. We launch, refresh and accelerate brands to deliver the unimaginable, and break records doing it.

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Staff

Total Number of Employees

Office Employees: 201-500
Total US: 201-500
Total Worldwide: 201-500

Billy Vassiliadis
CEO & Principal
Billy Vassiliadis
Chief Executive Officer/Partner

“Every dream needs a merchant, every myth a mythmaker,” The New York Times wrote. “In Las Vegas, that job falls to Billy Vassiliadis.” A creator of marketing magic, R&R Partners’ CEO has been the mastermind behind some of the most iconic and impactful campaigns for nearly 40 years.

Billy’s deep roots in politics guide his strategic “winner takes all” approach to everything he does, from advising U.S. presidents and senators to guiding the creation and implementation of R&R’s iconic “What happens here, stays here” and “What happens here, only happens here” campaigns for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). He is the first phone call when brands and reputations are at risk, having led crisis management efforts on behalf of airlines and resorts, and for Las Vegas after the tragic 1 October shooting. The guiding force behind one of the most influential marketing and communications companies in North America, Billy has represented clients including Boeing, Allegiant Air, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and, of course, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Michon Martin
President
Michon Martin
President/Partner

Some people radiate positivity. Some radiate confidence. Some radiate empathy or warmth. Michon simply radiates. Her clear vision and ability to see what’s around every corner leave you with no doubt you should follow wherever she guides you. She also brings a NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE attitude to everything we do at R&R Partners. And her relationships with community leaders and innovators including the Las Vegas Raiders help move our city forward into new and exciting territory in the future.

When she’s not leading historical and impactful policy change efforts − including funding education, combating human trafficking, and protecting our children from bullying − what does a former prosecutor and governor’s chief counsel do in her spare time? She leads an integrated communications company with the highest standards of integrity and selflessness. As the president of R&R Partners, Michon guides the strategic vision for the company’s nine global offices along with the Las Vegas brand and the iconic What happens here, only happens here campaign. As a former gaming executive, she brings a unique and invaluable “business impact-based” perspective to the table for our award-winning work on behalf of our clients. And she does it all with unmatched passion and tenacity.

Brian Hoar
Chief Marketing Officer
Brian Hoar
Chief Marketing Officer/Partner

As chief marketing officer, Brian is the architect designing R&R’s long-term vision and growth strategy. With nearly 20 years of brand building and business development expertise, his career success has centered around driving business impact for his client partners and developing award-winning communication strategies and brand experiences for companies such as Google, Anheuser-Busch, Virgin Atlantic Airways and HBO.

Brian joined R&R from Playboy Enterprises, where he served as SVP/publisher. In this role, he helped diversify the brand from a media company to one of the world’s most iconic lifestyle brands and led all brand partnerships for its sales and licensing divisions. He was responsible for identifying and securing new business opportunities, developing new revenue streams, and growing existing accounts. Earlier, he served as Playboy’s VP sales, and managed the beer, wine and spirits advertising category as well, which he expanded into the company’s most profitable advertising category.

Before joining Playboy, Brian worked for Maxim, Blender, and advertising agency, Crispin Porter + Bogusky.

Matt Mason
Chief Strategist
Matt Mason
Chief Strategist/Partner

As chief strategist, Matt develops overarching marketing strategies with a forward-thinking digital mindset for all of our global clients including Las Vegas. He inspires, guides and optimizes R&R Partners’ work, including go-to-market plans and channel strategy. His work for Las Vegas not only increased engagement and presence on various digital platforms, but it also keeps Las Vegas on the cutting edge through the use of VR, AR, AI and other emerging technologies.

With Matt on your team, you’re going to have more customer engagement, a stronger bottom line, and a lot more smiles in the C-suite. Just ask any of his clients, which include Boeing, Western Digital, Facebook, Anheuser-Busch.

Prior to R&R, he focused on digital engagement across web and interactive media. Matt was a founding partner of Sarkissian Mason, where he led the Mazda, Target and Hasbro accounts. Before that, he worked with Saatchi & Saatchi and Bowne on blue chip brands including General Mills, Tide, Pepperidge Farms and General Motors. His work has also won numerous awards from Communication Arts, One Show, Webby and Cannes, just to name a few.

Fletcher Whitwell
Chief Media & Publishing Officer
Fletcher Whitwell
Chief Media & Publishing Officer/Partner

As chief media and publishing officer for R&R Partners, Fletcher leads the agency’s diversely talented media and publishing teams. In his 14 years here, he has grown the agency’s media team from 10 to 50+ and transformed the agency’s multimillion-dollar stack and programmatic offering. A media savant, Fletcher has helped R&R become one of the largest independent media departments and developed first-ever partnerships between brands including Facebook, Sports Illustrated, Amobee, ESPN, Google, Sony Crackle, and Twitter, and clients such as the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Blockchains, Boeing, Allegiant Air, and Topgolf. He previously worked at Starcom in Chicago, where his accounts included Miller, Canon, Philip Morris, Kellogg’s, Showtime, Heinz, Nintendo, Discover, and Walgreens.

Fletcher has been honored as one of Vegas Inc.’s Top 40 Under 40, chair of Worldwide Partners Inc., and one of the Distinguished Men of Nevada. He is a prominent and active member of the LGBTQ+ community. For seven years, he was a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Las Vegas board member and helped build the Federal Club, which funds the HRC’s initiatives. He was recently named to IGLTA’s marketing committee, the preeminent LGBTQ+ travel association.

Amberlee Engle
Vice President, Client Partnerships
Amberlee Engle
Vice President, Client Partnerships

Amberlee is responsible for the overall leadership, management and strategic direction of R&R’s client partnership team and oversees more than 50 brand and project managers. The strategies and processes she implements have built a winning team that is integrated, supportive and focused on solving client business problems and contributing to the overall success of the agency. From resort-casinos to publishing, she is someone who just “gets” the job of account management, whether an account is large, small or somewhere in-between.

Her team has found solutions for a diverse group of clients, including Discover Puerto Rico, Allegiant Air, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, NHL, Boeing, Blockchains, Las Vegas Raiders, and Xanterra.

Prior to joining R&R, Amberlee served as director of account services for Las Vegas-based
Q ad | pr, and earlier, she had successful stints at The Glenn Group, SK+G, and V2 Creative, where her impressive client rosters included the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

In her spare time, she is actively involved in the agency’s executive programs and business development activities.

Arnie DiGeorge
Executive Vice President, Creative
Arnie DiGeorge
Executive Vice President

Arnie wears many hats at R&R Partners. The executive vice president of the agency is still an executive creative director sometimes. Other times, he serves as a creative strategist, and occasionally he’s a much needed problem-solver – someone good to have in the room. We call him EVP, new agency animal.

He wears several of those hats for our “What happens here, stays here” work for Las Vegas. He helped develop the world-famous campaign creatively and strategically, and he was also instrumental in the response to the October 1, 2017, crisis. This work has been recognized by the One Show, Communication Arts, Cannes, and other industry awards shows. And he still works daily on the account.

Arnie is hard to classify. He has worked on (or overseen) most of R&R Partners’ work, including campaigns for Allegiant Air, Blockchains, numerous hotels and resorts, and everything from power to computer hardware to health care clients. His diverse background in the business, which also includes copywriting, storytelling, branding, media buying and account services, is incredibly rare for a creative guy. It’s also what led to the creation of his wild new title.

His office is filled to the brim with books, objects, packaging, wine, toys and cards, and anything that inspires him. Arnie loves to listen to consumers; to immerse himself into their lifestyles, motivations and needs, and then create work that touches them. He knows that emotional connection is what makes a great brand.

Catherine Cole
Vice President, Public Relations
Catherine Cole
Vice President, Public Relations

Catherine was one of the first people called into the room when Las Vegas was faced with the 1 October tragedy, the 2008 Recession, and also the ongoing pandemic. She was also recently added to governor’s COVID-19 Response, Relief and Recovery Task Force. Her extensive background in government relations, crisis communications, media relations and strategic planning makes her the go-to person when the heat is on and is a pivotal member of not only the RR team, but an irreplaceable member of the Nevada team as well.

Catherine has led public relations accounts in such varied industries as tourism, real estate, education, utilities, transportation and the nonprofit sector. Her work in media and message training and rapid response strategies have helped clients navigate challenges with significant business impacts hanging in the balance. And no client has faced bigger challenges than Las Vegas. she is a must in a constantly changing world.

Prior to joining R&R, Catherine served as director of public affairs for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, where she managed the organization’s media relations efforts
and served as spokesperson. She worked on the Chamber’s behalf at the Nevada Legislature, handling messaging on complex business and tax issues.

A Washington, D.C., native, she earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in psychology from Williams College and a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University. She is a graduate of the Leadership Las Vegas Class of 2004. In 2019, Catherine was named one of PR News’ Top Women in PR in the U.S.

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Clients and Brands

Client & Brands	Start Date
Blockchains Blockchains	01-01-2018
Allegiant Air Allegiant	01-01-2013
Boeing Boeing	01-01-2005
Topgolf USA Topgolf	01-01-2016
NV Energy NV Energy	01-01-1992
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment SeaWorld, Aquatica, Busch Gardens, Sesame Place	01-01-2017
Anheuser-Busch (AB) Anheuser-Busch	01-01-2018
Las Vegas Raiders Raiders	01-01-2017
Discover Puerto Rico Discover Puerto Rico	01-01-2018
Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Las Vegas	07-01-1980

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Billings & Revenue

Billing / Revenue Ranges	Number of Clients
Billing < $1M and/or Agency Revenue < $200K	79
Billing > $1M and < $3M	15
Billing > $3M and < $5M	3
Billing > $5M and < $10M	1
Billing < $10M and < $25M	2
Billing < $25M and < $50M	1
Billing > $25M	1

Total Gross Media Placed by this Office
$301-500 Million

Allocation Percent of Media Placed by this Office
Local Broadcast: 18%
National Broadcast: 18%
Digital: 50%
Print: 2%
Out of Home: 12%

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Types of Services

Service Offering	Revenue
Advertising - General Market/ Traditional	15
Brand Consulting	10
Public Relations	8
Design	7
Business-to-Business	6
Media Planning	6
Media Buying	6
Social Media	5
Other	5
Marketing Data Analytics	5
Digital/Interactive | Blogging Discussion Forums, Community Building	5
Digital/Interactive | Website Development, Hosting, Monitoring	5
Multicultural | Hispanic/Latino	3
Corporate Communications	3
Digital/Interactive | Mobile and Wireless	3
Health Care	2
Event Marketing	2
Sports Marketing	2
Digital/Interactive | Search Engine Marketing	2

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Industry Experience

Retail
Aerospace
Technology | consumer electronics
Gambling | casinos
Non-profit, associations & public services
Financial services | Banking - Consumer
Public Relations
Education
Government | economic development
Food & Beverage | food
Telecommunications
Technology | communications
Financial services | insurance
Social Media
Travel | tourism
Travel | airlines
Healthcare | Hospitals, Healthcare Facilities, Medical Services
Travel | hotels & resorts
Media | broadcasting
Government | military & defense
Food & Beverage | soft drinks
Healthcare | managed care
Food & Beverage | alcoholic beverages
Entertainment & Culture | amusement parks
Restaurants
Technology | computer hardware & software
Government | political
Real Estate | buildings & construction

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