The Team
Ronele Klingensmith, APR, president
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Ronele Klingensmith, APR, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno and received her certification as an Accredited Public Relations Professional in 2002 from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). With her 16 years in the public relations industry, Ronele offers a broad range of experience with a variety of clients in various industries with strong emphasis on travel and tourism communications. After earning her degree, she worked her way up through management at one of Reno’s top agencies. She then founded her own highly successful firm in 2002. Ronele’s strength is her innovative strategic planning, backed by her strong customer relations skills and client support as well as crisis communications experience.
Among Ronele’s portfolio of achievements is her work in the tourism industry, specifically the promotion of the Reno-Tahoe region on a regional and national level, as well as experience in crisis communications. Ronele played an integral role in managing the local response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks where she worked side?by?side for three days with the Reno-Tahoe International Airport’s public affairs manager assisting in all areas of response. She is also trained in public information and has been involved with the media relations efforts for several regional crisis situations including the flood of 1997 and the Sierra Chemical Explosion.
Work completed on behalf of Ronele’s clients has garnered her several Silver Spike Awards of Excellence in Public Relations Programming from the PRSA Sierra Nevada Chapter as well as ACE Awards from the local chapter of AMA. Ronele has been a member of the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) since 1994 serving in various capacities on the board through December 2006 when she completed her three year board position as the Chapter’s National Assembly Delegate. In March 2007, Ronele was invited by the National PRSA office to serve as one of the 151 senior practitioner judges for the annual Silver Anvil Awards competition in New York City. The Silver Anvils are the profession’s highest honor, recognizing exemplary public relations programs that incorporate the best practices of research, planning and execution to deliver measurable results. Ronele is a member of the AMA, previously serving on the board. Ronele is on the Board of the Northern Nevada Branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and served on the Board for the Northern Nevada Chapter of the Red Cross. Born and raised in Reno, Nev., Ronele is a fourth generation Nevadan with family roots in Ely, Elko and Fallon and has developed a taste for our regional adventure lifestyle.
Christopher Klingensmith, CFO
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Christopher provides a valuable and much needed service to any agency environment–financial budgeting and planning. Playing to his strengths, Christopher takes great prides in providing accurate client expense reporting, detailed invoices, support materials and financial projections. His favorite part is when everything balances and comes within or under budget.
Christopher loves the outdoors especially when assisted by a motor and enjoys the thrills of snowmobiling, ATV riding, jetskiing, boating and dirt biking. He also excels at human powered sports in particular downhill skiing, whitewater and ocean kayaking.
David Taylor, senior account executive
David Taylor has served as a marketing and public relations professional in northern Nevada for the past 12 years. His vast experience ranges from positions at marketing/public relations agencies, a non-profit organization, and with private and publicly traded financial institutions.
David was the lead marketing executive (V.P., Marketing & Public Relations) for two community banks in northern Nevada where he was responsible for all facets of marketing communications, advertising and public relations. Currently, at RKPR Inc, David serves as senior account executive, where he provides clients’ with strategic consultation and account management for marketing communications, public relations and special events.
In 2009, he was recognized by the Reno Gazette-Journal as a “Top Twenty under 40 Young Professional in Reno-Tahoe” and has received numerous awards from the PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) Sierra Nevada Chapter for his work in public relations. Additionally, he is a charter member, Rotary Club of Sparks Centennial Sunrise and has served on numerous community boards and committees.
David is a graduate of the Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada and is an avid Wolf Pack athletics backer. He will contend that with his knowledge of sports, he should have been an anchor on Sports Center but for some reason ended up “just on the set.”
When he’s not chasing his daughter around, you will find him chasing some type of ball around, whether it’s golf, basketball, softball or the like. And like most that grew up in rural Nevada, he loves to hunt and, of course, tell fish stories.
Allyson Freedland, account executive
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Allyson joined the RKPR team as an account executive in November 2011 and serves as the daily contact for an array of the firm’s clients. She holds a B.A. from Baylor University as a communication specialist, focusing in Communication Studies and Film Digital Media and also holds a minor in public relations.
A West Coast girl at heart, Allyson arrived in Reno with a strong New York public relations agency background, particularly in the tourism and lifestyle industries. Working directly with clients such as the countries of Colombia and Denmark, casino properties including Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel and lifestyle clients like the Wines of Provence, Allyson’s portfolio ranges from media pitching and press trip planning to social media and guerrilla marketing. Her career has landed her clients in the pages of Food & Wine and Travel & Leisure as well as landing herself on the streets of New York City conducting marketing stunts for her clients.
While attending college, Allyson was awarded the Baylor University Dean’s Scholarship and earned her place on the Baylor Dean’s List for four semesters. She was an active member in the National Communication Association (NCA) honor society and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She also dedicated time volunteering at the Humane Society and Women’s Abuse Center.
While studying philosophy and Dutch art history at Maastricht University in the Netherlands as part of her college curriculum, Allyson also traveled extensively throughout the continent reaching as far north as Copenhagen, Denmark, and as far south as Santorini, Greece.
Allyson was one of 18 students chosen to attend a Baylor-sponsored program in New York City where she conducted an internship in public relations and established her passion for the industry. Allyson has a “think big” attitude while maintaining a focus to detail and client service. Her diverse background in film, photography, writing and client communication brings an extra level of service to the RKPR team.
Outside the office, Allyson is an outdoor enthusiast, philanthropist for local non-profits, fashion junkie, and not-the-box-kind-of baker.
