The Team

Ronele Klingensmith, APR, president

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.

Kristen Power, senior account executive

Kristen joined the RKPR team in October 2007 and serves as the agency’s Account Executive responsible for overseeing the day-to-day account management functions for a variety of agency accounts including the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Artown, the Lake Tahoe Music Festival, Reno-Tahoe Blues Fest, Nevada Silver Trails, and Tonopah and Lovelock, Nev. As a lifelong Reno resident, her passion to learn more about our area and state make her a sponge soaking up the smallest of details.

A multi-tasker at heart, Kristen excels at many facets of public relations and communications from research and writing to developing relationships with key media including writers and editors from Travel Weekly, New England Journey and AAA Home & Away. Her attention to detail is unmatched and is complemented by a “big picture” attitude that works seamlessly with clients and their goals. More importantly, she balances it with a great sense of humor. Having been nicknamed “Our Girl Friday” by some, Kristen goes the distance with each project and thrives on challenges and deadlines. Kristen has a diverse background in marketing, public relations and event management with more than seven years of experience.

After earning her degree, she spent several years working her way up the ladder at a Reno-based resort casino shifting her gears to apply her passions in the non-profit arena. She has a successful record in event creation and promotion, with experience handling the publicity, management and logistics. Kristen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photography with a minor in Journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Emily Stratton, account executive

Emily graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in speech communications. She began her career at RKPR as an intern and since was hired as the agency’s account coordinator. During her senior year, she participated in the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) class. IMC is a prestigious invitation?only elective course in which groups of students from across the United States research and develop full?blown plans for major multi?national corporations that are later judged during a two day?long presentation process. Emily’s team took the regional title in April during the District 14 competition held in San Francisco and placed sixth out of 200 teams competing nationally in June in Atlanta. Emily interned at the University of Nevada, Reno Athletic Department in the Media Services Department. Emily was a member of the student PRSSA chapter and is now a member of PRSA.

In spring of 2006 Emily studied abroad for seven months in Torino, Italy and was able to experience the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in person. Emily volunteered for the American team handing out Olympic apparel to athletes such as Apolo Anton Ohno, Shaun White and the U.S. Women’s Hockey team along with a number of skiers and snowboarders. While studying abroad, Emily became fluent in Italian.

In her role at RKPR, Emily coordinates all those seemingly small details that always make such a difference. From researching, tracking results and writing press materials to updating media lists and making sure every last name on a nametag is perfect, Emily does it all. Emily brings a fresh young perspective to everyday tasks.

Christopher Klingensmith, CFO

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.