Dan Mannix founded LeadDog 14 years ago and has built the agency into a 165+ person, full-service, global agency that creates strategic marketing and experiential marketing campaigns. Dan leads the agency’s efforts in creating long-term partnerships with clients including Intel, NASCAR, Odwalla and ABC and is a recipient of the Sports Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award. LeadDog has been named a Crain’s New York Fast 50 agency in 2012 and a Top 10 Job Creator in the Advertising and Marketing industry by Inc. Magazine.

With over nine years at LeadDog, Gina Hagedorn currently plays a dual role overseeing some of our largest cause platforms as well as internally developing processes and efficiencies to ensure all teams and projects are set up for success. Gina has helped develop revenue-generating strategies and produce large-scale, integrated campaigns - leading our teams in marketing initiatives, event production and strategic partnerships. Over the years, Gina has been a key member in the development of our largest cause client’s signature fundraising events including run/walks, high-end galas, marathon programs, cause-marketing campaigns, and virtual fundraising experiences. These efforts have helped to generate millions of dollars annually for clients such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and Walk the Walk. Gina attended Loyola University in Maryland where she received a degree in Marketing and Business Administration.

With over ten years at LeadDog, Danit currently serves as the Vice President of Client Partnerships where she focuses on providing creative solutions to address client and prospective client objectives. She has developed strong relationships with clients including the NYC DOT, AMC, Madison Square Garden, Cirque du Soleil, Warner Bros., Equinox, Chipotle, and Coca-Cola. Before joining the LeadDog team, Danit produced special events for the Tribeca Film Festival and created a Franco-American collegiate event series in Paris. She graduated from Tufts University.

Karen is one of the agency’s original partners. Karen oversees many of LeadDog’s largest integrated programs coast to coast.  Whether it’s NASCAR, World Wrestling Entertainment, the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee, Amtrak or LeadDog’s own Hispanic youth property, Alianza, Karen is focused and passionate about everything she touches.  Karen leads her team with unmatched energy and enthusiasm which are contagious and admired. Prior to LeadDog, Karen was at the National Basketball Association overseeing marketing and operations for some of the League’s largest consumer-facing events. In her marketing role Karen oversaw multi-million dollar relationships for both Nike and Reebok. She was responsible for the production of seven successful All-Star Jam Session events, each drawing 100k+ attendees and integrating 20+ partners. Karen started her career at an advertising agency and has extensive background in media planning. Her clients included Brown and Williamson Tobacco and Sony, where she oversaw the placement of $70M+ annually in advertising. This experience provides Karen the ability to not only produce a flawless program, but market and promote it as well.

J. G. Robilotti, Senior Vice President of Accounts, has been at LeadDog since 2002. As one of the partners in the company, he oversees and manages LeadDog’s Account Management group. He has been hands-on and actively involved in helping create and manage some of LeadDog’s largest accounts, such as the Department of Transportation’s annual Summer Streets event, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Cycle for Survival, and the MoonWalk. J. G. ensures that our account management systems and processes are streamlined and effective so we can continue to provide clients with the best possible service and create memorable event experiences for our participants. He has over 20 years of major event experience including managing high profile events, such as the Goodwill Games in 1994, the 1996 Olympic Games, and working at World Wrestling Entertainment. Additionally, J. G. launched the XFL and Newark Bears, and has worked the last eleven Super Bowls. He is a graduate of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

Paula has over 10 years’ experience overseeing some of the agency’s largest event initiatives, teams and integrated accounts. She has produced high-end hospitality and large-scale events, and is well-versed in the strategic planning and marketing as well as the logistics and hospitality, including every aspect from event theme and decor, food and beverage, to talent integration, custom design, and stage programming for clients such as O, The Oprah Magazine, The New York Times, Intel, Rodale Inc. and People en Español. Paula is a charismatic leader who takes pride in mentoring her teams and instills them with her drive, passion and knowledge. Prior to joining LeadDog, Paula had success in the entertainment and print magazine industry by beginning her career at EMI Records, MTV and Seventeen Magazine. After moving to the west coast, Paula focused on film and commercial production at Red Dog Films and even starred in a digital film that garnered accolades and awards and was distributed on the Independent Film Channel.

Dan has been part of the LeadDog family since 2006. He is our resident sweepstakes, contest & games guru, with over seventeen years of experience developing both national and international promotions for LeadDog clients such as ABC, Citibank, Coty, Kohl’s, The North Face, The Wine Group, and Warner Bros., to name a few. Prior to LeadDog, Dan started his career at Ventura Associates before becoming a partner at another agency. He is a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Telecommunications and proudly served over eight years in the Army National Guard. Dan lives in Stamford, CT with his wife and daughter.

Shauna is an accomplished marketing professional with experience in media, advertising, sponsorship, sports and entertainment, retail, consumer packaged goods, digital marketing, and social media. She has experience evolving brands and driving sales by redefining their brand strategy, developing integrated marketing platforms and campaigns, and creating strategic partnerships. Shauna is a creative team player who combines passion, leadership, and results. She is experienced on both the agency and client sides. At LeadDog Marketing Group she developed the Strategic Marketing & Partnerships division that has grown to include six savvy staff members, and oversees the social media and PR departments. She has been a instrumental force in driving revenue and engagement, and providing value for clients such as Cirque du Soleil, QVC, Turner, National Geographic Channel, Cooking Channel, Amtrak, CBS Radio, the Super Bowl Host Committee and NYC DOT. Prior to joining LeadDog, Shauna was the Director of Marketing of Nets Basketball. She was an integral part of moving the team from East Rutherford to Newark, and the team’s historic move from New Jersey to Brooklyn. Prior to that, she was a part of the launch of the NBA’s Development League. She also worked with two WNBA teams on behalf of NIKE, including the inaugural season for the Seattle Storm. Shauna has an MBA from Eastern Michigan University where she was a member of the Cross Country & Track Team, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan where she was a member of the Women’s Basketball Team. She is a member of the Women in Sports and Events (WISE) Sponsorship Committee.

With seven years at LeadDog, Gina currently serves as the Vice President of Finance and Human Resources.  She oversees the financial direction of the company and its day-to-day logistics.  She also provides leadership and guidance to all aspects of Human Resources.  Prior to joining the LeadDog team, Gina held various positions within the sports and entertainment industry-including the Boston Bruins/Celtics, New Jersey Devils, XFL, Polygram Music, Universal Music, Women’s Professional Soccer and L’Oreal.  She attended Boston College, where she received her degree in Accounting.

As both a designer and classically trained sculptor, Carter combines her knowledge of spacial and graphic design with fabrication and content production to create some of LeadDog’s most successful, innovative and immersive large-scale events. Carter has environmentally designed spaces for marquee clients such as Madison Square Garden, Grand Central Terminal, IFC, the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee, Whistle Sports, REI, Intel and TBS. Over the past year alone, Carter has helped envision and bring to life brand experiences at events in the NFL, MLS, NHL, and NBA. Notable highlights in her time at LeadDog include designing the annual Syfy Channel Upfront Events, and the award-winning, interactive art gallery for Conan O’Brien to promote his return to New York City. Her specialty lies in melding innovative technology and materials to re-contextualize the familiar.

Darius sits at the intersection of strategy, creative and integrated marketing working with brands and properties to craft campaigns that produce results. A Cynopsis Media Rising Star award winner, his career has seen a diverse range of highlights including leading business development efforts to become Audi’s Sports Marketing and Experiential Marketing AOR and overseeing the creation of their MLS and USSA sponsorship activations, developing the strategy and narrative for 2014 NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee’s marketing efforts, creative directing two national TV spots for Ball Up Streetball that won 8 Telly Awards and overseeing the launch of The Drone Racing League which earned over 8,000,000 views of their launch video, was the #1 story on Reddit and secured coverage by outlets including VICE, Sports Illustrated, Bloomberg, TIME, WIRED and SportsBusiness Journal. A University of Richmond alumnus, Darius lives in the East Village and loves all things barbecue.

Kate joined the LeadDog family in 2012 and established the Department of Making It Happen. She oversees LeadDog’s internal operations as well as people & culture, recruiting & onboarding, happiness & skill development, information technology, and office environment & real estate ventures. Kate designed LeadDog’s NY office, and spearheaded the efforts to achieve B Corp status for the company which established a set of principles guiding LeadDog to be a force of good, making a positive impact on our communities and environments every day. Regardless of the task, Kate’s passion is to ensure that LeadDog is a great place to work for its more than 200 employees. Prior to LeadDog, Kate held various positions in the event-planning and catering industry for companies such as Conde Naste, Time Warner, Ogilvy, and Kenneth Cole. Before that, she was in sales at EF Education, where she worked with teachers in the northeast to plan international trips for their students. In addition to spending time with and boasting about her amazing 7-year-old daughter, Eloise, Kate is passionate about interior design, event planning, travel, and Boston sports teams. She is a graduate of UMASS Amherst.

Donna joined LeadDog in 2005 looking for an entrepreneurial environment and has never looked back. She came to LeadDog with a diverse background: a CPA who started her career in finance but changed paths into sports marketing holding posts at the NHL, ’99 FIFA Women’s World Cup Organizing Committee, and the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee. At LeadDog she began her tenure in client services managing key relationships with the WWE, WNBA, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Donna was named Chief Operating Officer in 2009 overseeing day-to-day business operations of the organization. She has proven a dynamic leader navigating LeadDog’s transition from start-up to mid-size agency. She attributes the company’s continued success to its overarching belief that our people are everything, and has instituted several incentives for staff longevity and is incredibly proud of the agency’s high retention rates. She continues to fuel her entrepreneurial spirit as the company opens new lines of business and makes strategic acquisitions. Donna lives in Manhattan with her husband Dave and children Abby and Jack.

Rob has been with LeadDog for 14 years and heads up its west coast office in San Francisco, working with clients to craft breakthrough marketing and event activation campaigns. He specializes in the media, active-lifestyle, cause and sports industries, and combines a passion for thinking of the next big idea with an obsession for delivering unmatched client service.   Recently in SF, Rob headed up strategy, creative and activation management for three Super Bowl 50 initiatives and has overseen national campaigns in nearly every major U.S. City. He has been performing improv comedy for over a decade, skis every chance he gets and makes a mean Bloody Mary (amongst other things).

Rob joined LeadDog over five years ago and has made a major impact since day one, having provided day-to-day account leadership for several of our largest accounts for clients, such as Coca-Cola, Reebok, America’s Cup, NASCAR, REI, NHL, and Bermuda Tourism. In addition to managing strategic accounts, Rob has served ³on-the-ground² as the executive producer of some of LeadDog¹s largest events, including NASCAR¹s 20,000-person Championship Drive (on South Beach) and America’s Cup World Series NY with 300k fans. He specializes in integrated large scale programs, but oversees the overall account process, including strategy, marketing, logistics, client management, creative, and staffing. An avid sailor, he sailed the ocean for five years as a leadership trainer for the adventure travel company, Sail Caribbean.

Victor has been at LeadDog for over 11 years, working to build client relationships and to create global and domestic b2b and b2c marketing and experiential campaigns that drive revenue. He focuses on the tech, media, cause and sports industries.

He has developed campaigns that have to come to life at some of the world’s largest events – CES, Advertising Week, the Cannes Film Festival, NBA All-Star and Mobile World Congress.

Having recently left New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, he is looking forward to working on his golf, gardening and grilling.

Stephanie is an experiential marketing professional who specializes in the planning and execution of key brand initiatives and large scale events. A part of the LeadDog family since 2009, Stephanie has lead a number of the agency’s key sports marketing and entertainment accounts bringing to life Audi of America’s sponsorship of the U.S. Ski Team and Major League Soccer, Coca-Cola’s partnership with the Special Olympic World Games and BET Experience, and Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend Arena Tour. Prior to joining LeadDog, Stephanie was the Event Marketing Manager at the Newark Bears Professional Baseball Club. She is also a former D1 tennis player and graduate of Lafayette College.

Nina joined LeadDog in 2008 and oversees a few of the agency’s principal cause event programs. She has led teams to produce nationwide large scale run/walk/cycle events. She is well-versed in connecting team members from various departments on fully integrated initiatives including production, creative, strategic communications and partnerships, marketing and digital. Nina has been instrumental for clients such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, AVON 39, Sesame Workshop, Walk the Walk and Big Brothers Big Sisters. In addition, her work includes producing mobile tours and intricate build outs for Rodale, Telemundo and Bravo’s Top Chef. Nina attended Washington University in St. Louis where she received a degree in Architecture, Anthropology and Dance.

With over 17+ years in the promotions space Brett has spent the last 9+ years at LeadDog as part of the Brand Promotions department. He has worked with and built relationships with companies such as ABC, Disney, Kohl’s and Warner Bros.. He has worked on programs from straight forward sweepstakes to international UGC contests. Brett started his career working in sales and promotions at WAXQ FM in NYC and on the national side of radio managing marketing programs across the U.S.. Brett also helped manage promotions such as WWE Diva Search at World Wrestling Entertainment.

As the Director Digital Solutions, Ralph is responsible for overseeing digital projects from initiation through post implementation. In addition, he provides overall direction for project requirements, priorities and deadlines. Ralph excels in organizing, and directing the activities of project teams to ensure quality and project completion in a timely fashion.

Over the past 6 years, he has been a key player in building and maintaining relationships with a long list of clients such as Audi, Warner Brothers, ABC, Kohl’s, WGBH, Fandango, Vitamin Water, Citi Bank to name a few.