New hires mark the evolution of strategy and media capabilities

Partners + Napier is evolving its agency offering with the appointment of Karen Kraut as Chief Strategy Officer and Dustin Johnson as Vice President of Media Innovation, two newly created roles designed to take the agency’s strategy and media capabilities to the next level. Together, the hires reflect an intentional decision to deepen how strategy and media shape the work—enabling greater focus, stronger ideas, and more meaningful impact for brands.


Kraut joins Partners + Napier after previously serving as Chief Strategy Officer for the global American Express account at Dentsu, where she also led strategy work for Subway and Crayola. In a prior role, she served as EVP Planning/Head of Comms Planning at Publicis, leading work for Walmart and Nestle. She has been with the Partners + Napier team in a freelance capacity since July 2025 and will oversee both strategy and media for the agency, evolving how those disciplines work together and ensuring a strategic mindset carries through creative and execution. Her approach moves beyond traditional insight-led models, helping teams work smarter and faster in an increasingly complex landscape.


“Karen has a rare ability to humanize the problems brands are actually facing and find a clear foothold for where they can go,” said Courtney Cotrupe, CEO of Partners + Napier. “Her work is practical and grounded—helping clients make better decisions and giving teams a sharper path forward.”


Joining Kraut’s team, Dustin Johnson steps into the role of VP of Media Innovation, bringing a modern, hybrid approach to media that combines strategic thinking, creative ideation, and deep channel expertise. He joins the agency after 10 years at Mullen and another seven years at MediaHub, with experience leading innovative, creative media solutions for Royal Caribbean, Uber Eats, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Cadillac, and Google.


“Dustin is a true hybrid—part strategist, part creative, part innovator, part media maestro, part builder,” said Rob Kottkamp, Chief Creative Officer at Partners + Napier. “He understands how media can actively strengthen creative ideas and help them move through culture in more meaningful ways.”

Partners + Napier Appoints Karen Kraut as Chief Strategy Officer, Names Dustin Johnson VP of Media Innovation

Catch up on recent news and developments from across the agency.

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Agency recognized for range of work including  cinematic healthcare storytelling and luxury brand design

Partners + Napier’s work was recognized across multiple disciplines at this year’s Greater Rochester American Advertising Awards—from immersive video storytelling to luxury design. The agency earned two “Best of” category honors along with seven Gold and three Silver ADDY Awards, reflecting the breadth of its creative impact across healthcare, wine and spirits, travel, and B2B.

The American Advertising Awards is the industry’s largest and most representative creative competition, honoring excellence at the local, district, and national levels.

This year, Partners + Napier received two of the show’s highest distinctions:

Constellation Brands Schrader – Schrader 25th Anniversary Box

The Best of Film award recognized MD Live’s “Stuck Spaces” campaign, which turns the frustrations of traditional brick-and-mortar healthcare—the gaps in care, long waits, crowded waiting rooms—into surreal visual worlds that reflect how the system can make people feel stuck. The work shows how MD Live helps people get unstuck with immediate access to care, answers without the waiting room, and healthcare on your terms.

The integrated campaign includes 13 videos across four lines of business, running across CTV, Meta, and Reddit. In addition to Best of Film, the campaign earned multiple additional honors and will now advance to compete at the district level.

Best of Sales & Marketing honored the Schrader 25th Anniversary Box for Constellation Brands—a premium designed collector’s piece celebrating the heritage and craftsmanship of one of Napa Valley’s most revered wine brands.

In addition to the “Best of” honors, Partners + Napier received 

MD Live by Evernorth – Emotional Holding Patterns

MD Live by Evernorth – Eternal Worrying Room

Maimonides Medical Center – Health Campaign

Constellation Brands – Schrader 25th Anniversary Logo

Corning Optical Communications – Regional Kickoff Video

Constellation Brands – Mi CAMPO x Tinder Collaboration

Royal Caribbean International – Only One

All Gold-winning work will advance to the district level of the American Advertising Awards.

“What’s most exciting about this recognition is the breadth of work being honored,” said Rob Kottkamp, Chief Creative Officer at Partners + Napier. “These wins span multiple clients, categories, and types of ideas. When you see that kind of range recognized across the agency, it’s a reflection of the culture of creativity we’re building."

Partners + Napier Wins Multiple Top Honors at  Greater Rochester American Advertising Awards

Award Recognizes Outstanding Achievements and Community Service

Partners + Napier CEO Courtney Cotrupe was named a finalist for the 2026 ATHENA International Awards, which recognizes outstanding women and companies who have demonstrated significant achievements in business, community service, and the professional advancement of women.

The winner will be announced February 5. For more information on the complete list of 2026 finalists, visit 

https://www.greaterrochesterchamber.com/2025/12/02/greater-rochester-chamber-announces-finalists-for-2026-athena-international-award-young-professional-award-organizational-award/

Courtney Cotrupe Honored as ATHENA International Award Finalist

Latest spot from Partners + Napier raises your burger expectations,  wherever you park it

 spot from Partners + Napier reimagines the pub-style burger for a new generation with the Pretzel Pubster Combo, a $5 flavor bomb that packs all the craft of a several-napkin burger into a drive-thru indulgence.

The spot starts like a typical chill date night with a couple in the pub flirting over their food. Just as their appetites turn to romance, the spell is broken by the jarring honk of a horn. Suddenly they realize they're still in the car with drive-thru flavors that are love at first bite.

“Big, indulgent flavor has the power to transport you,” said Rob Kottkamp, Chief Creative Officer at Partners + Napier. “With this work, we’re showing that date night and drive-thru don’t have to be at odds. Checkers & Rally’s brings that night-out flavor wherever you are, at a price that fits real life.”

In a 2025 survey of Gen Z consumers (18–27) by 

, nearly 75% said they enjoy bold flavors and exploring new cuisines — showing that flavor adventure is a priority. The same survey found that taste, cost, and convenience are top drivers in the food and restaurant space, underscoring how this generation seeks big flavor experiences that fit their lifestyle and budget.

“Our fans crave bold, over-the-top flavor — and with the Pretzel Pubster, they don’t have to go to an upscale place or pay premium prices to get it,” said Scott Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer at Checkers & Rally’s. “It’s pub-style indulgence with that unmistakable Checkers attitude: flavor-packed, craveable, and full of value.”

The campaign runs across TV, CTV, YouTube, Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and digital media (PMax) — delivering big flavor, playful storytelling, and the kind of value that keeps Checkers fans coming back for more.


CMO: Scott Johnson
VP Brand Marketing: Lauren Axe


CCO: Rob Kottkamp
Executive Creative Director: Paul Renner
Creative Director: Scott Allen
Head of Production: Jacob Gavin
Senior Producer: Nick Bourne
Group Account Director: Bayla Werman
Account Supervisor: Haley Sheridan
Senior Strategy Director: CJ Franzitta
Senior Project Manager: Sylvia DiStefano

New Checkers & Rally’s Work Serves Night-Out Flavor at a Stay-Home Price

New leaders bring deep category expertise and experience guiding major brands

Partners + Napier is building on a period of tremendous momentum, adding five new leaders across its creative and account teams to help shape the agency’s work for Royal Caribbean, Checkers & Rally’s, and future client wins.

Backed by deep experience building iconic campaigns and guiding major brands, John Kearse, Mike Shaughnessy, Paul Renner, and Bayla Werman have already helped launch high-profile work in their new roles, including Royal Caribbean’s 

Aimée Van Zile-Buchwalter joined in early October and will be leading work for MD Live, Parkview Health, and other complex accounts.

“Growth at Partners + Napier has always come from great people doing great work,” said Courtney Cotrupe, CEO of Partners + Napier. “John, Mike, Paul, Bayla, and Aimée embody that spirit, and their impact is already being felt across the agency. We’re excited to see where we can go together as one team.”

John Kearse joins as Executive Creative Director on Royal Caribbean

, reuniting with Chief Creative Officer Rob Kottkamp after previously partnering on Royal Caribbean’s iconic “Come Seek” campaign. He also served as creative lead for a decade on the Truth anti-smoking campaign and has worked with clients including US Cellular, Google Cloud, Humana, Tag Body Spray, Santander, and Southern Comfort during his time at MullenLowe and Arnold Worldwide. Over his career, John has won over 500 industry awards, including Cannes, One Show, D&AD, countless Effies, and 2 Effies for his work on Truth. 

Mike Shaughnessy joins as Group Creative Director on Royal Caribbean 

after building much of his career at Hill Holliday, where he created award-winning campaigns for Dunkin’, Major League Baseball, Great Wolf Lodge, John Deere, Optum, Frontier Communications, Liberty Mutual, and Bank of America. His work has earned recognition from The One Show, Communication Arts, the MPA Kelly Awards, Hatch, Clio, and Lürzer’s Archive.

Paul Renner joins as Executive Creative Director on Checkers & Rally’s

, with a legendary portfolio of work from Wieden+Kennedy, Arnold Worldwide, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, KBS, Butler Shine and Stern, and Anomaly. His career highlights include ESPN’s “WITHOUT SPORTS” and “This Is SportsCenter”, Volkswagen's “Drivers Wanted” campaign, BMW’s global launch of the i8 and i3, and Budweiser’s “Grab Some Buds”. He has also worked in-house for DraftKings to help build their internal brand team and brand redesign. Paul’s work has been recognized by every major industry award show multiple times over.

Bayla Werman joins as Group Account Director

, coming from MullenLowe with more than 10 years of agency and client-side leadership experience. She has led integrated campaigns for JetBlue, Grey Goose, TJ Maxx, KFC, ASICS, and more. 

 after nearly a decade at MullenLowe, specializing in brand building with additional experience in content development and social media. She’s worked on a range of brands and clients, from the Department of Defense to Dunkin to Kevlar DuPont and more.

Added Rob Kottkamp, CCO of Partners + Napier, “Each of these individuals is a known and respected entity in our business, with significant talent and accolades. And as much as we value their accolades and experience, we’re really proud of what they’ve demonstrated as teammates and leaders. Culturally, they’re incredible additions.”

The hires mark an important milestone in Partners + Napier’s growth trajectory, underscoring the agency’s continued rise as a creative and media partner that brings together the right mix of talent, insight, and creativity to create business impact for brands.

Partners + Napier Expands Creative and Account Leadership  to Support Major Wins

New work by Partners + Napier honors Brooklyn’s kids and the neighborhoods that raise them

Maimonides Health and its creative and media AOR Partners + Napier are expanding their award-winning 

 platform to launch the new Maimonides Children's Emergency Department, the borough’s only standalone pediatric ER. The campaign reflects the people, places, and community pulse that Maimonides has served for generations — this time through the eyes of its youngest Brooklynites and their parents.

Inspired by the way Brooklyn kids grow up — where tradition and heritage meet the energy of the block, a corner store BEC is a rite of passage, and sidewalks double as stages — the work honors a childhood where independence and togetherness collide like nowhere else. Shot both inside the hospital and throughout the borough, it features real Maimonides physicians and nurses interacting with families — handing a ball to a kid on the street, helping a parent get her stroller down the subway stairs, and caring for that same child in the ER.

“We know Brooklyn’s kids better than anyone, because we’re raising our own here,” said Sam Miller, VP of Marketing and Communications at Maimonides Health. “The day you rush your child to the ER is terrifying. But at Maimonides, you’re surrounded by neighbors — doctors and nurses who live in the same communities, send their kids to the same schools. And now, we have a new space that reflects the extraordinary care they provide every day.”

The 17,000-square-foot facility includes 34 private patient rooms, advanced technology, and the warmth and personality that define the borough itself.

 platform has always been about authenticity,” said Rob Kottkamp, CCO at Partners + Napier. “You can’t fake Brooklyn. Every moment in this campaign had to feel true to the people who live here — because they’ll know if it’s not. Maimonides doesn’t just understand Brooklyn; they’re part of it. That’s what gives the work its power.”

One of the campaign’s key moments is a cinema activation running alongside 

 — connecting Brooklyn’s kids to one of the biggest stories on screen. Partners + Napier’s creative and media teams aligned the placement and idea to bring the message to life: “When your kids can’t defy gravity, our new children’s ER will defy expectations.” It’s a celebration of Brooklyn — and the care that keeps it moving.

In addition to the cinema activation, the integrated campaign will primarily run across OOH, CTV, social, display, and OLV with select hyper-local print placements — reaching Brooklyn parents in contextually relevant spaces where they already turn for information and advice.


VP Marketing & Communications: Sam Miller
Director of Marketing: Michelle Liew


CCO: Rob Kottkamp
Creative Director: Gretchen Bye
Creative Director: Louis Wittig
Associate Creative Director: MacKenzie Dunsmoor
Head of Production: Jacob Gavin
Senior Editor: David Bode
Motion Designer: Lori Meyer
Group Account Director: Nathan King
Account Supervisor: Lyanne Artigas
Senior Director Brand Strategy: CJ Franzitta
Senior Project Manager: Sylvia DiStefano
VP, Group Media Director: Jordan Murphy
Director, Media Buying: Michelle Spinnler
Senior Media Buyer: Brendan Vujcec
Media Buyer: Amanda Baum
Director of Analytics: Megan Patrick


Executive Producer: Marie Lombardo
Production Manager: Shannon Linder
1st AD: Daniella Bernal
Director: Joseph Cavallini
Director of Photography: Sebastian Nieves
AC: Jennifer Liu
Gaffer: Dylan Zivitz
Key Grip: Suki Nojima
Dolly Grip: Arvil Prewitt
Photographer: Ashley Hyman
Art Department Lead: Diana Mantis
Wardrobe Stylist: Carolyn Son
Hairstylist: Nicole Forte
Makeup Artist: Ashley Brignolle

Maimonides Health’s New Children’s ER Celebrates Growing Up in Brooklyn

We’re proud to share that VP of Media Jordan Murphy has been recognized as a 2025 Rochester Business Journal Forty Under 40 honoree.

He is a force for impact, strengthening every client engagement with an audience-first, insight-driven approach that elevates creative work and delivers smarter, more nimble ways for brands to connect with consumers.

Since joining Partners + Napier in 2018, Jordan has helped build the media discipline from the ground up, earning the agency’s first Media Effie Award for marketing effectiveness and supporting clients such as MD Live, Smashburger, Maimonides Health, and The Strong National Museum of Play. Jordan is also co-leading the creation of Project Media, a media offering within the Project Worldwide holding company, which provides unmatched transparency and customization for small and midsize brands. 

Jordan’s industry leadership has been recognized nationally—he was named an ADWEEK Media All-Star, one of the industry’s highest honors for media professionals shaping the future of marketing.

Outside of work, Jordan is also committed to giving back to the Rochester community. In 2023, he founded the Rochester chapter of The Mayfly Project, a nonprofit that supports youth in foster care through fly fishing, helping them build confidence, find healing, and connect with the outdoors. In its first season, the program matched local youth with trained mentors for immersive outdoor experiences. The chapter has since earned grant support and is continuing to expand its reach and impact in 2025.

Jordan also shares his expertise with the next generation of media and marketing leaders, serving on the Cayuga Community College Telecommunications Advisory Board and guest lecturing at St. John’s University and Clemson University.

“Jordan is a rare leader who pairs strategic rigor with genuine purpose, making him a trusted partner for clients, a coach for his teams, and a force for good in our community,” said Courtney Cotrupe, CEO of Partners + Napier. “We’re thrilled to see him recognized with this honor.”

Jordan will be celebrated along with fellow honorees at the RBJ Forty Under 40 event on November 18. Congratulations, Jordan, on this well-deserved recognition!

Jordan Murphy Named to RBJ Forty Under 40 Class of 2025

New work inspires travelers to go all in 

Partners + Napier is kicking off its AOR partnership with Royal Caribbean with “It’s Big Time” — a new campaign designed to inspire travelers to embrace vacations as opportunities to not take time off, but to take it on.

While other vacations focus on escape, Royal Caribbean is about being all in — showing up fully for adventure, memories, and relaxation — all the moments that make people feel most 

“‘It’s Big Time’ is about the vacation that only Royal Caribbean can deliver—the biggest, boldest, most memory-making family vacation there is,” said Kara Wallace, Chief Marketing Officer, Royal Caribbean. “There's something about our ships and destinations that has to be seen and experienced to be believed, and this campaign is the closest we've ever come to replicating that unique feeling in our marketing.”

As the agency’s first work for Royal Caribbean since winning the business in a competitive review, “It’s Big Time” evolves the brand’s overall tone to reflect its game-changing ships and exclusive destinations.

“We set out to create something that shifts expectations for family vacations,” said Rob Kottkamp, Chief Creative Officer at Partners + Napier. “With this work, we’re breaking the pattern of passive getaways and showing what’s possible with the unlimited experiences that only a Royal Caribbean vacation can provide.”

The fully integrated campaign spans national broadcast TV, streaming/CTV, social, audio, and digital, with media led by Mediahub. Additional creative will continue to roll out and feature Royal Caribbean’s most anticipated experiences, including 

, and its exclusive destinations — each one bringing to life the brand’s promise to deliver the world’s best family vacations through bold adventures, innovative experiences and lifelong memories.

Courtney Cotrupe, CEO of Partners + Napier, added, “This campaign is the product of a true creative partnership — the kind where trust, ambition, and shared vision come together to build something bigger. Royal Caribbean came to us with a clear challenge: match the scale of their offering with work that’s just as bold. ‘It’s Big Time’ is our answer, and it’s just the beginning.”


Bayla Werman, Group Account Director
Ben Salsky, Copywriter
Bre Willis, Account Director
CJ Franzitta, Senior Director Brand Strategy
CJ Gaffney, VP Group Strategy Director
Clark Shepard, Associate Creative Director, Copy
David Casey, Executive Producer
Elyse Kosakowski, Group Account Director
Emily Piernick-Nazinitsky, Account Executive
Jacob Gavin, Head of Production
Jason Ziehm, Associate Creative Director, Copy
John Kearse, Executive Creative Director
JP Smith, Senior Production Artist
Kati Mennett, Senior Producer
Lauren Lanzalaco, Associate Director, Project Management
Lisa Della Piana, Associate Creative Director, AD
Lyanne Artigas, Account Supervisor
Melissa Smith, VP of Operations
Mike Shaughnessy, Group Creative Director
Rob Warchol, Associate Creative Director, AD
Rob Kottkamp, CCO
Courtney Cotrupe, CEO


Femaris Peña, EVP, Managing Director, Media Planning
Breana Ryan, SVP, Group Media Director, Media Planning
Salom Berlin, VP, Media Director
Giovanna Best, Associate Media Director
Maddie Porter, Associate Media Director
Mitchell Bolton, Media Supervisor
Brittany O’Malley, Media Supervisor
Hunter Slack, Director
Meg Ryan, SVP, Group Media Director, National Investments
Liz Morse, VP, Strategy
Tiffany Easley, VP, Director, Campaign Insights
Evan Quijano, Director, Ad Ops
Jamie Dorfman, SVP, Director, Media Innovations


Danene DiCicco, Executive Producer
Jack Swanson, Senior Producer
Jaime Fortuno-Lavin, Flame Artist

Partners + Napier Launches Debut Work as Royal Caribbean AOR

New creative from Partners + Napier celebrates GloRilla’s rise from working at the Checkers drive thru to rap superstardom

GloRilla Glows Up with Checkers & Rally’s

Checkers & Rally’s is featuring Grammy-nominated CMG superstar — and former Checkers employee — GloRilla in its latest “This Eats Different” campaign, created by Partners + Napier. The new work marks a full-circle moment for the artist, drawing on her real-life drive-thru beginnings to launch a limited-time $4 Unbeatable Meal Deal featuring her own signature burger.

This latest chapter of “This Eats Different” channels the hustle, individuality, and unapologetic boldness GloRilla is known for — qualities that reflect the spirit of the Checkers & Rally’s brand. The campaign introduces Glo’s BBQ Jacked Burger, a sweet-and-spicy new sandwich featured in the $4 Unbeatable Meal Deal lineup, available for a limited time.

“GloRilla is someone our audience sees themselves in,” said Scott Johnson, Chief Marketing Officer at Checkers & Rally’s. “She’s ambitious, original, and hungry for more, which makes this collab the ultimate mix of vibe and value.”

The campaign will run across TV, CTV, YouTube, Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and digital media (PMax), delivering bold flavor and real value to fast food fans who crave over-the-top experiences.

“Celebrity partnerships work best when they’re rooted in something real, and GloRilla’s story is as real as it gets,” said Rob Kottkamp, Chief Creative Officer at Partners + Napier. “She’s not just lending her name; she’s coming back home to a brand that’s part of her history, and bringing her voice and energy to help amplify the swagger it’s always had.”


CCO: Rob Kottkamp
Executive Creative Director: Paul Renner
Creative Director: Scott Allen
Head of Production: Jacob Gavin
Senior Producer: Nick Bourne
Group Account Director: Bayla Werman
Account Supervisor: Haley Sheridan
VP, Group Strategy Director: CJ Gaffney
Senior Project Manager: Sylvia DiStefano

Together with Partners + Napier, Checkers & Rally’s launches new platform, identity, and $4 Unbeatable Meal Deal

At a time when fast food prices are up and expectations are down, Checkers & Rally’s is proving that flavor and value can still go hand in hand. Together with new agency of record, Partners + Napier, the brand is introducing “This Eats Different”—a bold creative platform that brings fresh energy and attitude to the category.

“This Eats Different” marks a new era for the brand—one that rejects bland and celebrates bold— in flavor, satisfaction, and unbeatable value. From a new logo and visual identity to a voice full of personality, the refreshed brand identity brings it all together with swagger and substance.

The new campaign will launch with the new $4 Unbeatable Meal Deal, which includes a choice of Cheese Double or Spicy Chicken sandwich, plus value-sized Famous Seasoned Fries, a 12 oz. drink, and a cinnamon apple pie—all for just four bucks. It’s a deal that’s tough to beat on flavor, fullness, or price.

“In today’s world, value matters more than ever, but people still want food that delivers,” said Scott Johnson, CMO of Checkers & Rally’s. “We’re here to give them both. Partners + Napier understood that from the jump and helped us reclaim our edge with a new voice and a bold look, leading with a meal deal that actually satisfies.”

The campaign spans TV broadcast, CTV, online video, social (Meta, TikTok), and digital performance (PMax). Directed by Cary & Jon of Honor Society—known for the brand’s viral 2007 Rap Cat video—the creative brings high energy and big flavor to every screen.

“This Eats Different is a wake-up call to the category,” said Rob Kottkamp, Chief Creative Officer at Partners + Napier. “It’s more than a new look and a catchy line. It’s a clear message: fast food should feel like a win again.”

With a bold new platform, a craveable new look, and a menu deal that goes further, Checkers & Rally’s is making fast food exciting again.


CCO: Rob Kottkamp
Executive Creative Director: Paul Renner
Creative Director: Scott Allen
Director of Production: Jacob Gavin
Executive Producer: Nick Bourne
Group Account Director: Bayla Werman
Account Supervisor: Haley Sheridan
VP, Group Strategy Director: CJ Gaffney
Project Management Director: Sylvia DiStefano

Checkers & Rally's Brings Vibe to Value with "This Eats Different"

Muse by Clio Features Rob Kottkamp

Muse by Clio spotlights CCO Rob Kottkamp and his perspective on why the best are born through true partnership with ambitious clients. In 

, Rob shares how unreasonable creativity, fueled by shared trust and an appetite for bold ideas, is the key to making work that matters.

Muse by Clio Features Rob Kottkamp on the Art of Unreasonable Creativity

Agency awarded for purpose-driven work and range of consumer brands

Partners + Napier had a standout showing at the 

AAF Greater Rochester American Advertising Awards

, a project dedicated to amplifying the voices of Survivors of domestic violence.

The win marks the first tier of the American Advertising Awards, a three-tier competition culminating at the national level in the industry’s largest and most representative creative award show.

Partners + Napier’s Best of Show recognition celebrates its website work for 

 that blends public art, storytelling, and the power of bearing witness to support Survivors in their healing journeys. The website serves as a powerful digital extension of the initiative, offering visitors a space to explore personal Survivor stories, engage with Sarah’s evocative artwork, and access additional tools for healing and reflection.

, the agency also received four of the five “Best of” honors, including:

, recognizing outstanding creative talent and leadership in professionals with fewer than 10 years of experience.

All Gold-winning work, including Stories of Strength, will now advance to the next level of the American Advertising Awards

, where it will compete against the best creative work from New York, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

“We see every creative challenge as an opportunity to make something meaningful for our clients, no matter the problem we are trying to solve,” said Partners + Napier CCO Rob Kottkamp. “To see work for 

 honored alongside our other brands means a lot to us. Creativity that benefits individuals in our community is the best kind of work we can possibly do.”

Partners + Napier Wins Best of Show at Greater Rochester American Advertising Awards

Art is everywhere, yet we often overlook it. It’s not just in galleries or hanging on our walls — it’s embedded in our language and woven into so many things we see and do every day.

Communication Arts featured a Q&A with Group Creative Director Dan O'Donnell, discussing the inspiration for our See Art campaign. The campaign uses creative typography to promote the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo) in an effort to get the Rochester community to visit the gallery, get local artists to make and enter art for RoCo’s open exhibitions, and generally have art be a bigger part of people’s lives.

Communication Arts Features "See Art" Campaign

Little Black Book asked directors and producers around the world how their lifelong romance with film was ignited. Read Jacob's story, and many others 

Head of Production Jacob Gavin on Falling in Love with Film

Following up on our recent report that found "Pet Setters" to be one of the most disruptive audiences facing travel and hospitality brands today, Senior Strategy Director CJ Franzitta goes deeper with Little Black Book on why it's no longer enough for brands to be pet-friendly.

Senior Strategy Director CJ Franzitta Talks "Pet First" Hospitality With LBB

New report shows that many travel brands are falling short on pet-friendly accommodations, creating opportunities to rethink messaging and content strategies to prioritize four-legged companions.

Partners + Napier has released its newest research report, "Hidden in Plain Sight: Getting Travel Brands out of the Dog House." The report examines the 19.5 million “Pet Setters” who travel with their pets every year, and uncovers opportunities for travel and tourism brands to better meet their needs.

This is the fifth installment in the Hidden in Plain Sight series, where the Partners + Napier strategy and media teams combine forces to uncover new, high-value audiences across categories.

“The American family has changed and with it, so has the family vacation,” said CJ Franzitta, Senior Strategy Director at Partners + Napier. “Making memories in a new place is no longer reserved for our human loved ones — it’s something people want to do with their animal companions too.”

The report revealed that bringing your pet along for a vacation is not about convenience or saving money, in fact it’s quite the opposite. 58% of Pet Setters would actually prefer to travel with their pet than a friend or family member, and 60% would be willing to spend an additional $250 - $750 per trip to ensure their pet enjoys it.

But despite many travel brands describing themselves as “pet friendly,” 57% of Pet Setters still feel that their pets are treated like an afterthought.

When travel brands show that animals are valued guests, Pet Setters can be as loyal as their furry friends. There is an opportunity for brands to pair this insight about the Pet Setters audience with a strategy designed to help them enjoy every moment with their animal companions, and help them make memories that last far beyond the trip.

P+N identifies “Pet Setters” as Next Audience to Disrupt Travel and Tourism Marketing

Ad Age profiled winners of the 2024 Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards, highlighting key areas that made the winning campaigns stand out.

Partners + Napier was recognized in the Creative Data category for its work with leading national telehealth provider MD Live. The winning campaign focused on “driven millennials” who demand immediacy in every aspect of their lives, highlighting virtual care as a more convenient alternative to urgent care clinics.

To overcome targeting limitations and efficiently reach the driven millennial audience in areas that had access to MD Live, the Partners + Napier Media Group designed a custom algorithm that sorted DMAs into groups for prioritization — driving a 19% annual increase in visits.

Ad Age Shares How MDLIVE Lured Millennials Back to Telehealth

Partners + Napier partners with artist Sarah Rutherford to launch digital experience for Survivor empowerment

Partners + Napier, a leading full service creative and media agency, partnered with interdisciplinary artist and educator Sarah Rutherford to create 

 for the “Stories of Strength” project. The partnership allows visitors to delve deeper into the stories behind the healing journeys that shape Sarah’s powerful art.

“Survivor stories are often focused on the height of trauma rather than the experience of healing,” said Sarah Rutherford, artist and educator leading “Stories of Strength.” “The goal of this website is to create a place that feels empowering for Survivors and helps people at various points in their journey find the resources and support to know they are not alone.”

Recognizing that stories of domestic violence are deeply personal and emotional to both share and witness, the “Stories of Strength” website offers multiple entry points for each Survivor’s journey, including explorations on survivor identity, their lived experiences, words of care, affirmations, and more, so visitors can find the content that will be most helpful for their own healing.

“Stories of Strength” started with a large-scale public mural acting as a monument for Survivors of Domestic Violence, and has since expanded to focus on broadening understanding and awareness of Survivors' experiences. In October 2024, the initiative culminated in an exhibition at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) City Art Space, situated within walking distance of the original mural. The exhibition includes audio recordings of Survivor testimonies of healing, layered drawings of Survivors’ hands, and an immersive installation delving into themes of disenfranchised grief, witnessing and storytelling as tools for personal and collective empowerment.

“This work is about the power of art and storytelling coming together to make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Rob Kottkamp, Chief Creative Officer at Partners + Napier. “When Sarah came to us for creative support, we jumped at the opportunity to help. It’s been an absolute honor to support this work by creating a vehicle for Survivor stories to live on.”

“Stories of Strength” is the result of a collaboration between artist Sarah C. Rutherford and Willow Domestic Violence Center. Partners + Napier is proud to be a pro bono contributor of creative services.

Sarah C. Rutherford is a muralist, educator, and interdisciplinary artist based in Rochester, NY, with an MFA from the University of New Mexico. She has gained recognition both nationally and internationally for her large-scale public murals, which are crafted in close collaboration with the communities and individuals they represent.

Over the past 15 years, Sarah has co-founded THE YARDS Collaborative Art Space and the Roc Paint Division Youth Employment Program. Both are initiatives aimed at fostering the growth of emerging artists. Her project, “Her Voice Carries,” is a public art endeavor that celebrates local women who amplify the voices around them.

“Stories of Strength” Website Creates Space for Survivors of Domestic Violence to Heal and Find Connection

Winning campaign for Maimonides Health stands out by connecting culture to care

Partners + Napier is proud to be recognized for creative excellence at the first-ever Indie Top 40 Awards, presented by Indie Agency News to celebrate notable work by top independent agencies across the globe. Partners + Napier was honored for its integrated campaign for Maimonides Health, which cements Maimonides as the preferred hospital system in Brooklyn.

The “My Bkln. My Care.” campaign shows that the best way to care for Brooklyn is to know and love Brooklyn, highlighting Maimonides’ deep roots in the community, its high-quality and accessible care as well as its appreciation and shared pride for Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhoods. Every person featured in the work is either a Brooklyn resident or a Maimonides staff member.

Media strategy focused on making the campaign part of Brooklynites’ daily routines, whether they’re ordering at the bodega, checking their phones on the subway, or walking through the neighborhood.

“This work isn’t just about healthcare, it’s about community,” said Rob Kottkamp, Chief Creative Officer at Partners + Napier. “We’re proud to be helping Maimonides show that not only do they have world-class care, they have something that no other health system can claim — a connection to every block, building, and family going back generations.”

, and for the complete list of winners, visit 

Partners + Napier Recognized at First Indie Top 40 Awards

Winning travel and tourism campaign inspires new audience to connect with their inner child at The Strong National Museum of Play

Partners + Napier, a leading full-service creative and media agency, won Gold at the 4A’s 2024 Jay Chiat Awards for work that tapped into the power of nostalgia to inspire families and fun-loving adults to visit The Strong National Museum of Play.

“The Jay Chiat Awards are the industry’s top honor for brand strategy, and we’re proud to be recognized for work that’s motivating people to come have their best day ever,” said CJ Gaffney, VP, Head of Strategy at Partners + Napier. “We’re helping busy parents connect with their kids by reminding them what it’s like to be one.”

 started with the insight that parents better connect with their kids when they’re able to reconnect with their own childhood. This came to life through billboards featuring larger-than-life depictions of classic toys and games to take busy parents back to some of their favorite memories.

In addition to the insight about the power of nostalgia, research also showed that more and more families were opting for road trips, with museums ranking among the top three destinations for family travel. Campaign strategy capitalized on this growing trend, with creative and media that gamified the interstate system and motivated new visitors to come to The Strong. Billboards dotted routes from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Toronto to the museum to build curiosity along the road, with Pac-Man style aerial games and geo-targeted mobile ads reaching people on their gaming devices through Waze and Google apps. Partners + Napier led all creative development and execution as well as media planning and buying.

More than 100 million players joined the game (measured by 108.6 million impressions of the campaign), which drove a 700% increase in traffic to The Strong website and a 35% increase in museum visitors.

“All great work ties back to a great strategic insight,” said Rob Kottkamp, Chief Creative Officer at Partners + Napier. “This work stands apart because it captures the powerful nostalgia we feel when reminded of a favorite memory as a kid, and invites people to reconnect with their inner child at the ultimate play destination, no more than a couple hours away.”

The 2024 Jay Chiat Award winners are selected by a panel of jurors who narrowed down 79 finalists from hundreds of entries submitted by agencies around the globe, then narrowed the list down to recognize winners in each of the 12 categories. The complete list of winners is available 

Partners + Napier Wins Gold at Jay Chiat Awards

Homage to “Girl Math” TikTok Trend Helps Travelers Effortlessly Track and Amass Delta SkyMiles® and Delta Medallion® Status

As the “girl math” trend spawned nearly 214 million TikTok uploads explaining why “if you buy something on sale, you’re really making a profit” and “anything under $5 is free” – with spinoffs from boy math to dog math and dessert math picking up speed in its wake – Delta Vacations, a Delta Air Lines company, is introducing “Vacation Math” in its latest ad campaign.

Created in partnership with agency of record Partners + Napier, the new TV and social spots introduce “Vacation Math” as the best math of all, with Delta SkyMiles

 effortlessly adding up to Medallion Status every time a Delta Vacation is booked. Any dollars put toward flights, hotels, rides and activities on the ground earn Medallion Qualification Dollars — so there’s no need for tracking, mathing, or holding out for a reason to book your next getaway. With how easy it is to accumulate Delta SkyMiles

 and achieve Medallion Status, “Vacation Math” says the answer is always to book another vacation.

Examples of Delta Vacation Math to be featured in a series of social videos scheduled to run on Meta, Google and YouTube:

If you get Medallion status by taking vacations, then you actually need to take another vacation so you can use the status you got.

When you buy strappy sandals on your Delta Vacations trip to Maui but they don’t look the same when you get home, then you book another trip to Maui to rock them again.

If you take a Delta Vacations trip and it rains one day, you basically lost a day from your vacation, so now you have to add that day onto your next vacation, with interest.

“At a time when travelers are more focused than ever on how to achieve and maintain Delta Medallion status, we wanted our new campaign to demonstrate just how effortless it can be,” said Colleen Phelan, Vice President of Brand Strategy and Customer Experience of Delta Vacations. “That’s why ‘Vacation Math’ works so well. It’s rational without being promotional and taps into a fun and recognizable trend that’s already getting a lot of buzz.”

Added Gretchen Bye, creative director at Partners + Napier, “Vacation Math is the queen of all math because it’s about getting rewarded for something you wanted to do anyway! No one has to hack their way through Calc II for this. It’s really simple: each vacation is an excuse to book another one, because even one Delta Vacation can equal Medallion Status.”


CCO: Rob Kottkamp
Creative Director: Gretchen Bye
Creative Director: Louis Wittig
Associate Creative Director: MacKenzie Dunsmoor
Director of Production: Jacob Gavin
Senior Producer: Rashinda Bankhead
Group Account Director: Elyse Kosakowski
Account Supervisor: Christine Scott
VP Group Strategy Director: CJ Gaffney
Associate Director Project Management: Lauren Cole
Project Manager: Stephanie Dummer

Director: Rhea Anna
Co-Director/DP: Walter Smith
Producer: Lisa Smith
First AC/Operator Rafi Mencia
DIT: Derrick Petush
Key Grip: Ben Jura
Gaffer/Sound: John Davis
Wardrobe: Ana Cerankosky
HMU: Katie Ambrose
PA: Sophie Cerankosky
Crafty: Luci Levere

Editor: Jeremy Brunjes
Motion Designer: Lori Meyer

Delta Vacations’ “Vacation Math” Adds Up to More Opportunities to “Go Beyond the Flight”

New work with Partners + Napier inspires parents who are kids at heart to keep the power of play alive

The Strong National Museum of Play, one of the nation’s leading museums for families and home to the National Toy Hall of Fame, is partnering with creative and media agency Partners + Napier to inspire parents to connect with their children by remembering what it’s like to be one. The “Play Strong” campaign shows that The Strong is a place where everyone can feel like a kid, with classic toys, a vintage video game arcade and larger-than-life experiences.

“The Strong is a museum for play, but that doesn’t mean it’s just a children’s museum,” said Sara Poe, Sr. Vice President for Marketing and Guest Experiences at The Strong. “We’re a place where anyone can come and have fun — a place where you don’t have to grow up.”

“Play Strong” is all about parents putting aside the self-imposed limits of adulthood and finding their inner child. Media includes YouTube, Meta, Broadcast TV and Hulu with three video spots:

“Dadomination” features a kid getting schooled in the World Video Game Hall of Fame by a dad who can’t resist unleashing all of the secret moves and skills honed by slinging thousands of quarters into games while growing up.

“Momma Bird” ditches the bag of Goldfish and wet wipes, to reawaken her wild child. Unafraid to ride the zipline, tame the fire-breathing dragon and seek new adventures at every turn. For her the museum is a chance to connect with her kids, not just follow them around.

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