Tara Burgess Email and Phone Number

Independently helping small businesses, growing companies and large corporations tell their stories.

S.0191758.LLCThe Cerrone GroupeXp Realty

Clients have included the American Gaming Association, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Grand Sierra Resort and Casino (GSR), Harrah's Northern California, Nevada Corporate Giving Council, OptumCare, SAHARA Las Vegas, Scientific Games, Tyler Robinson Foundation and more. Led day-to-day efforts for Meruelo Gaming's GSR and SAHARA Las Vegas. Supported efforts on the rebrand for SAHARA Las Vegas under new ownership, bringing the iconic name back to the Las Vegas Strip. Managed media relations for the dramatic announcement which revealed the resort name in a bold and dynamic custom-made production featuring a dynamic Intel® Shooting Star ™ drone light show, 3D projection mapping and dazzling pyrotechnics display.Helped to produce and manage the Innovation Lab on behalf of the American Gaming Association during the 2018 Global Gaming Expo. The Innovation Lab featured keynote speakers and educational sessions from industry thought leaders, gaming executives and more, welcoming hundreds of attendees over the three-day exposition. Led media relations, community relations and issues management efforts in advance of the opening of tribal gaming property Harrah's Northern California in Amador County. In the months before opening, efforts included coordination of community events, community outreach, ongoing communications, media outreach and more.Managed public relations efforts for the leading gaming manufacturer Scientific Games during the 2019 Global Gaming Expo and ICE London 2020. Efforts garnered global attention in gaming trade publications, national media outlets and more. Supported crisis communications efforts for multiple clients during the COVID-19 global pandemic including GSR, SAHARA Las Vegas and Scientific Games. Work included crafting messaging and statements on state-mandated resort closures and reopenings, event cancellations, community relations efforts, social media management, product launches and more.

Clients and projects included America First Credit Union, Chapman Automotive, David Wise, Golden Steer Steakhouse, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation, LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada, LOOK Style Society, Massi & Massi Attorneys at Law, Mesquite Gaming, PunchCode, Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers community partnership with the Las Vegas Raiders, Square Panda and more.

Clients and projects included Frey Ranch Estate Distillery, Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, OptumCare's Medicine on the Move mobile healthcare initiative and more.

For two and a half years, I co-owned a boutique marketing, public relations and public affairs agency located in Reno, Nev. Our firm handled public relations, government and public affairs and marketing for a diverse client roster including Grand Sierra Resort and Casino and LEX Nightclub, Frey Ranch Estate Distillery and Churchill Vineyards Winery, Good Chemistry, Fingerprinting Express, National Championship Air Races, Livery Operators Association, Hot August Nights, Barrett-Jackson, Lucas Oil Off Road Races, MB America, Western Lithium, Ultra 4 National Championships, Olympic gold medalist David Wise, Nevada Recycling and Salvage and Green Solutions Recycling, among others. In 2015, our company, in conjunction with local brewing company Under the Rose, started the first statewide beer festival, Fall Harvest Festival, featuring nearly two dozen brewers from around Nevada. The event held its inaugural event in October and is expected to continue into its second year in Fall 2016. Further, we provided pro bono support to a variety of organizations including JDRF Northern Nevada, the Whittemore Peterson Institute and Volunteers of America of Northern Nevada.

In my three and a half years at R&R Partner's Reno office, I led the agency’s public relations efforts for all clients based in northern Nevada including Truckee Meadows Community College, garnering local and national media attention for the college's flagship programs, some of which are the first of their kind in the world. Additionally, spearheaded the public relations for Grand Sierra Resort, a premiere resort destination in northern Nevada, Barrick Gold North America, Hot August Nights, the world's premiere classic car and nostalgia festival and Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™, for their auctions in Reno-Tahoe and Las Vegas.Beginning in 2010, I led all public relations for the National Championship Air Races, helping to garner significant media attention to the event. After a terrible tragedy at the 2011 event, I helped spearhead crisis communications efforts for the event. In that time, we coordinated all media relations on behalf of the event, set up meetings with key stakeholders and guided fundraising efforts to cover the event’s increased insurance premium in order to ensure the event would, overtime, regain financial solvency and return for their 2012 event. In September 2012, with significant national and international media turning all eyes on the safety of air racing, the event successfully held its 49th annual event. In addition to managing the public relations team in Reno which is a small team that worked with more than 10 clients daily, I also served on a variety of boards including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Northern Nevada Branch, Public Relations Society of America Sierra Nevada Chapter and Think Kindness, a local non-profit that aims to inspire people around the globe to change the world through seemingly random acts of kindness.

Prior to transferring to the Reno-based office for R&R Partners, I worked out of the corporate office in Las Vegas as part of a five-man team on behalf of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Although my main task was to garner publicity for the Las Vegas brand through comprehensive planning and successful implementation of events, I also worked to provide evaluation and measurements of results. In 2009, we worked on an initiative to promote summer in Las Vegas, the “World’s Largest Pool Party,” producing more than $6 million in earned media and earning a Gold Adrian/HSMAI.In 2008, we worked on "Vegas Bound," an immensely successful integrated marketing campaign that promoted the Las Vegas brand through the depths of the recession to overcome the perception that Las Vegas was "closed for business." The campaign sent an entire small Texas town to Las Vegas for a vacation. The entire trip was filmed and used for advertisements for the destination. More importantly, public relations efforts surrounding the campaign garnered more than $7 million in earned media. Additionally, I spearheaded the promotion of the brand during the 2008 and 2009 Miss USA Pageants; arranged several themed immersion tours providing unique experiences while molding relationships with journalists from key national and international markets; and in 2008, I assisted in organizing and executing a five-city Showgirl Tour to drive visitation to the destination.In addition to my efforts for the LVCVA, I provided public relations for the non-profit organization, Opportunity Village and their largest fundraiser, Magical Forest.

As the Public Relations and Marketing Intern for Harrah’s Entertainment in Reno, I launched the opening of “Greg London’s ICONS,” the headline entertainment for the hotel and casino. During that time, I planned and implemented a media night to introduce the show to local and regional media. Since 2007, Greg London has gone on to impress audiences, earning the title of “Entertainer of the Year” by Nevada Magazine. In addition to my efforts for “ICONS,” I also composed articles for local entertainment and company magazines, updated all press materials and coordinated media relations for the resort.