The Abbi Agency Appoints Three Executives to Partners in 2022

Agency veterans Connie Anderson, Caroline Sexton and Thaison Kawal take on new leadership to grow the next generation of The Abbi Agency

RENO, Nev. (January 20th, 2022) — The Abbi Agency has appointed three experts in operations, creative strategy and digital marketing as partners at the fast-growing, Nevada-based PR and marketing firm. The three long-term employees have led different aspects of the agency’s growth, and will continue to guide the company’s next phase of expansion and marketing innovation.

Chief Strategy Officer Connie Anderson, Vice President of Digital Strategy Caroline Sexton, and Creative Director Thaison Kawal join Abbi and Ty Whitaker as the independent agency’s partners. The elevation of these partners signals a new era for the company and a more diverse ownership structure that will continue driving the innovative, powerful marketing campaigns and strategic thinking that the agency is known for.

“World-class client service, brilliant creative, digital innovation — it all starts and ends with our people,” said President and Founder Abbi Whitaker. “This new era of The Abbi Agency celebrates and elevates three partners who have been leading The Abbi Agency’s growth for years, while recognizing the leaders who are investing in the next generation of talent within their teams.”

The announcement comes on the heels of impressive growth and new accolades for the agency. The Abbi Agency has repeatedly been named one of the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing companies in the country, but the company was also recently recognized as one of the most diverse companies in Northern Nevada, became a member of the IPREX global communication network, and expanded its presence across Southern Nevada. The firm’s clients range from Tesla and Google to Carmel-by-the-Sea, Edgewood Tahoe, Nevada Health Link and Study.com.

The three partners take on differing but complementary roles within the agency, giving the partners structure a strong foundation on which to build new initiatives and client service.

Connie Anderson, a long-time executive at The Abbi Agency, has been with The Abbi Agency since its early days, and has helped develop the processes, relationships, strategy and vision that led to the company launching powerful integrated campaigns for world-class destinations, technology leaders, governmental agencies and healthcare companies. 

Anderson began her tenure in the agency’s public relations department before growing the client service and brand management departments from the ground up. As a partner she will continue to lead growth strategy, client service and business development within the agency.

Anderson, who has been with the agency for almost a decade, has also played an integral role in spearheading The Abbi Agency’s growing presence in Southern Nevada. After spending nine years at the agency’s Reno headquarters, she recently moved to Las Vegas to grow the agency’s governmental and Southern Nevada accounts.

“Connie has been a foundational force behind the growth of The Abbi Agency. Her approach — both energetic and strategic, calculated and nimble, intelligent and warm, embodies what The Abbi Agency stands for — powerful and transformative marketing work that comes straight from a team dedicated to each client’s success,” said Ty Whitaker, CEO of The Abbi Agency.

Thaison Kawal is the agency’s creative director and a founding member of the agency’s creative department. Kawal has driven the impressive growth of creative strategy and service line expansion to levels where some of the largest marketing accounts in the state and many national tourism and global technology clients rely on his creative vision.

“Thaison is both fearless and strategic, artistic and pragmatic — a cultural force who knows how to grow culture, mentor young creatives and pull out all the stops for powerful, idea-driven national ad campaigns,” said Abbi Whitaker.

Caroline Sexton has spearheaded the growth of the agency’s digital department from its earliest days. Working with developers around the globe and top-tier brands like Edgewood Tahoe, Kalispell Montana, and intricate government clients like the Nevada Department of Wildlife and Nevada Health Link, she has shown what the mix of top-level technical expertise, brilliant digital strategy and stunning digital design can achieve when fitted together perfectly.  

“Caroline pushed the agency forward not only in the digital sphere, but in every aspect of our operations, challenging us to see what we can be if we embrace the opportunities of the future,” said Ty Whitaker.

These new partners represent an evolution in the history of the closely held, private agency, which previously never had a partner outside of the husband-and-wife team. The move signals a diversification of the ownership and key leadership in the agency while elevating executives who have shown tremendous skill in growing the company.

“These partners bring a level of dedication and foresight that is rare in the agency world. While the day-to-day ebb and flow of an agency can be all-consuming for many marketers, these leaders have the tremendous ability to keep their eyes focused on the future and the huge opportunities that lie ahead for this agency,” said Ty Whitaker, CEO of The Abbi Agency. “The agency has benefited immensely from their steady hands and focused vision.”