Scott Kiner, Chief Executive Officer
The son of baseball great and New York Mets announcer Ralph Kiner, Scott grew-up in the broadcast booth at Shea Stadium. He went into broadcasting as a sports reporter in the late 70s and later worked for major radio networks in North America and provided color commentary on cable networks such as ESPN.
Moving to media management, Scott joinead KCMJ AM/FM in Palm Springs, CA in 1986. During his seven-year tenure as Station Manager, the stations enjoyed record audience levels, finishing #1 in the ratings. During that time, Scott employed Jimmy Kimmel and gave Carson Daly his first broadcasting job.
An entrepreneur, and the founding partner of Kiner Communications, Scott is adept at putting himself in place of his clients to understand their business and marketing needs. He considers marketing to be the fundamental key to success in business.
Christine Hunter, President
Chris has more than 20 years of marketing and advertising experience. Chris joined Kiner Communications just over six years ago, coming from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She began her career in the field of sports marketing, working for International Event Corporation. She then moved on to DDB (Needham Worldwide) Canada, where she worked for more than 7 years with international clients such as McDonald's Restaurants, Safeway, Greyhound Lines and CrimeStoppers. Chris' next move was to Marketing Manager for Richmond Savings, followed by Director of Communications for the international firm of Eaglequest Golf Centers, as they prepared to go public. She then established her own marketing management consulting business, working with a number of organizations, including Starbucks Coffee Company, Red Robin Restaurants, Grey Advertising and Tourism British Columbia.
Throughout her career, she has won several awards, including the American Marketing Association's "Marketer of the Year" award for strategic marketing excellence for Tourism British Columbia in 1999/2000, and for Richmond Savings in 1996/1997. Chris holds a four-year bachelor's degree from the University of British Columbia.
Chris is a graduate of Leadership Coachella Valley, and currently serves on the board of the Advertising Federation of the Desert, the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce, and on the marketing committee for the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP).
Steve Johnsen, Vice President, Creative Services (Creative Director)
A native of Los Angeles, and more recently Oregon, Steve moved to the desert just over six years ago, in 2001. He has over 25 years experience in the design industry. A recipient of numerous awards, Steve's business expertise is in corporate identity, annual reports, catalogues, and collateral materials, including the creation of a consumer travel magazine. Having owned and operated a successful design firm out of Los Angeles for over ten years, he is familiar with all aspects of design and production. Steve's client list over the years has included Acura, American Honda Motor, Harry & David, Hyundai Motor America, Jackson & Perkins, Nissan, Speedo, Toyota, and UCLA. He holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from California State University, Long Beach.
Throughout the years, Steve has worked on a number of pro-bono projects, including those for the Arroyo Arts Collective and for The Museums of the Arroyo Seco (which includes the Southwest Museum, the Pasadena Historical Society and Heritage Square).
Steve is a past member of the Highland Park Heritage Trust, the Los Angeles County Museum, the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, and is currently a member of the Palm Springs Desert Museum and the La Quinta Arts Foundation.
Andrea Carter, Vice President, Account Manager
As an account manager for a major firm in Minneapolis, Andrea Carter gained experience in many industries, working with such clients as General Mills, Coldwell Banker, Nextel, Cirque du Soleil and more - including a pharmaceutical company, restaurant chain and golf event. As a public relations specialist for the National Marrow Donor Program, Andrea traveled internationally to coordinate segments and stories with national media such as "Good Morning America," "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," MSNBC and USA Today. She also advised television series writers on programs such as ER and Chicago Hope regarding storylines involving bone marrow transplants.
Serving as the public relations and marketing coordinator for the American Automobile Association in Minneapolis, Andrea served as a spokesperson for more than 150 media interviews and was the regional editor for Home & Away, a travel publication with a circulation of more than 95,000.
In addition to being elected to the board of directors of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Andrea has been a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and served as vice president of public relations for Toastmasters International. Andrea currently serves on the board of directors for the Foundation for the Retarded of The Desert. She also writes a weekly column in Desert Entertainer magazine.
Linda Furbee, Director of Development
As Marketing Director for the City of Indian Wells, Linda coordinated and directed a cooperative tourism marketing and public relations program for the City, the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort and Spa, the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, the Miramonte Resort Hotel, the Indian Wells Resort Hotel and the Golf Resort at Indian Wells; a community marketing and public relations program for the residents of Indian Wells; and a golf marketing program for the Golf Resort at Indian Wells.
Linda has developed and implemented marketing campaigns for major sporting event sponsorships including the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament, Bob Hope Chrysler Classic golf tournament and the Frank Sinatra Countrywide Celebrity golf tournament. She previously directed an economic development marketing campaign for the City of La Quinta. Linda holds a four-year bachelor's degree from the University of California, Riverside.
Linda is currently a board member for the Desert Cancer Foundation.
Cindy Duffy, Senior Account Executive
A 20-year career in the hotel industry has allowed Cindy, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, to work in a number of top destinations including Scottsdale, Hilton Head Island and San Francisco. Locally, Cindy served as Director of Leisure Marketing for Desert Springs, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa, and Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (now a KSL property).
With almost ten years of corporate marketing experience, Cindy's background includes marketing communications for the western region of Marriott International as well as segment marketing and advertising and promotions positions at Starbucks Coffee Company.
Cindy holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and was named valedictorian of her graduating class at Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, where she recently indulged her passion for food by obtaining a degree in their prestigious Le Cordon Bleu Program.
Doug Burr, Junior Account Executive
Doug joined Kiner Communications in 2006. While taking Digital Art classes at La Quinta High School, he worked with his teacher on a number of marketing and advertising initiatives, where he developed a strong interest in advertising.
He went on to graduate from the University of California, San Diego, with a bachelors degree in Communications and a minor in ICAM -- a new program focusing on the combined development of creative art and new technology.
Doug's studies have provided him with a solid background of the media, along with a working knowledge of the basic skills and principles of several digital media applications.
Doug recently returned to the Valley, where he has already become an integral part of the Agency.
Erin Gilhuly, Director of Public Relations
Erin joined Kiner Communications in May of 2006, coming most recently from the Valley's CBS affiliate, KPSP-TV.
Her extensive media career began in her hometown of Los Angeles, where she worked at several radio and television stations including KROQ-FM, KTTV-FOX and the news giant KFWB 980. It was there that Erin developed a love for the news and information business and became skilled in translating facts into storytelling.
After graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, she moved to the Coachella Valley. Erin's success as a leader in the local news industry began at the ABC affiliate, KESQ-TV, where after two years as the station's Assignment Manager, she was promoted to News Director. After more than eight years at KESQ, she moved across town to help launch the start-up CBS affiliate, KPSP-TV. As the station's first News Director, she was responsible for all of the hiring, design and strategy for the news department. In only three years, the station quickly became a significant player in the Coachella Valley news race.
Erin has won numerous industry awards, including two Mark Twain Associated Press Awards, a Communicator Award for Breaking News and a Pacific Southwest Emmy Award received in 2003. She is a member of the Radio Television News Directors Association and the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Television Academy.
Carolyn Moloshco, Manager, Public Relations
Carolyn brings 20 years of media experience to Kiner Communications. Her career began at PBS affiliate KCET-TV in Los Angeles, where she served as Program Planning Associate for more than five years.
Moving to the Coachella Valley in 1991, Carolyn worked at local NBC affiliate KMIR-TV, serving as Director of live morning newscasts. After three years, she became producer of The Dean Report and Farnsworth Report. In 1995, Carolyn was promoted to Assignment Manager, a position she held for ten years. Most recently, Carolyn served as Assignment Manager at the desert's CBS affiliate KPSP-TV.
Carolyn holds a Journalism degree from San Francisco State University and is a graduate of the Mass Media Institute at Stanford University. She has had articles published in The San Francisco Examiner, S.F. Bay Guardian and Feedback: Journalism Report & Review.
Victoria Lopez, Art Director
Victoria is a graduate of Otis College of Art and Design, with a bachelor of fine arts degree in communication design. She began her professional career with an internship at Sony Music Entertainment before venturing into the publishing industry. Victoria has designed for several trade and consumer magazines based in the Los Angeles area.
Over the years, Victoria's clients have included the Hollywood Entertainment Museum, Century City Shopping Center & Marketplace, Project Angel Food, St. Martin's Press, A Pea in The Pod, Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce, and the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition.
While attending Palm Desert High School, Victoria was awarded an Addy from the Advertising Federation of the Desert and a purchase award from the Palm Springs Desert Museum; her artwork is part of their permanent collection.
John Rodriguez, Art Director
John Rodriguez has over 15 years of experience in the design industry. He is well versed in all areas of the industry, from graphic design and art direction to production.
Prior to joining Kiner Communications, John worked as a freelance designer for just under nine years, working with such prestigious clients as La Quinta Resort & Club, The Spa at Mission Hills, The Arizona Biltmore, Indian Ridge Country Club, the San Diego Chargers and Time Warner Cable, to name only a few. Before his freelance career, John was with the Desert Sun's NEXT Magazine, and with Haig's Printing. He has also worked with a number of other advertising agencies, such as AL&Z, Spectrum, and Hart/Hanks.
John is a graduate of Platt College School of Design and currently lives in Thousand Palms.
Jozelle Sanchez, Designer
Jozelle is originally from Thousand Oaks, California, and brings with her over 5 years experience in graphic design and web development. Most recently as Assistant Director of Web Services for WebSites 2000, Jozelle was responsible for maintaining over 170 client websites and for customizing HTML and Flash website designs while providing a high level of customer service.
She brings extensive knowledge of website development with various computer software packages, including Microsoft, Macromedia and Adobe programs, as well as a number of website-specific programs.
Jozelle began her education at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA where she received her A.A. Degree in Digital Design and Production.
Marisa Holladay, Multi-Media Production Manager
Marisa brings to the agency and our clients proven skills in program growth and development. She has a keen sense for designing and facilitating training programs, establishing mutually beneficial community collaborations with various for-profit and non-profit entities, and implementing innovative marketing solutions that effectively resolve issues of concern and foster clear and open methods of communication.
Marisa also has served as a Cultural Diversity Chair responsible for training Program Directors to cultivate diversity in their programs, staff teams and participants. Marisa has an extensive educational background in Human Services as well as a diverse list of professional achievements, which includes former Head Coach of a men's semi-pro soccer team, an award-winning Program Director for the Nation's fourth largest YMCA association, and is a regularly featured keynote speaker for a variety of humanitarian organizations.
Fluent in French and Spanish, Marisa is a native of southern California and spent nearly a decade living in Mexico City and Baja California.
Julie Wilson, Production Manager and Bookkeeper
Julie Wilson is one of the longest serving members of the Kiner Communications team. She began her career with the agency in March of 1997, as the receptionist. Now, as Production Manager and Bookkeeper, Julie's primary responsibilities include the coordination of all production and printing needs, and the management of the firm's day-to-day accounting.
Prior to joining Kiner Communications, Julie worked for over seven years with physicians and staff in an administrative capacity at the (now) Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
Julie was born and raised in nearby Apple Valley, and has lived in the Coachella Valley since 1982.
June Pariano, Office Manager
After a three-year absence, June recently returned to Kiner Communications to assist with office administration. With over 20 years of experience in a variety of positions at Modine Manufacturing in Racine, WI, June and her husband moved to the desert in 2000. Most recently, June served as Director of Patient Services at Cornerstone Dentistry in Palm Desert.
