SVP of Strategy & Business Development

Wadooah Wali is Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at NRPR Group.  She is a natural born storyteller and brings that expertise to NRPR Group as our lead creative think tank. As a true media strategist, her career expertise spans across traditional, digital and disruptive emerging media platforms.

Wadooah has more than 20 years in PR with expertise in launches, acquisitions, and new media/digital communications strategies for tech start ups and various media companies. She’s worked with traditional and digital media companies including WarnerMedia’s Linear Networks (Turner’s TBS & TNT), Fullscreen, M-GO (a startup formerly backed by DreamWorks and Technicolor, now owned by Fandango), eHow, Livestrong.com, Cracked, WUSF-FM and podcast leader Midroll Media/Ear Wolf (acquired by Scripps Media). Wadooah also frequents the YouTube Space LA as a speaker, mentor and industry expert.

As an award-winning indie creator, she’s passionate about connecting audiences with stories via writing, directing and producing various video, web and podcast projects. Wadooah founded Parking Meter Productions – an independent production company and her first feature-length documentary, Gaze of the Beholder –  written, directed and produced by Wadooah was well-received by both domestic and international film festivals, being nominated and winning several awards.

As an advocate for social change, Wadooah also commits herself to causes for women, PoC and the LGBTQ+ community. She recently served as the director of PR & marketing for Equality Fashion Week 2019 and a founding member & co-chair of Turner/WarnerMedia’s TurnOUT LA. She serves as a co-founder & advisor for Revry.TV and is currently an advisory board member of GALECA.

Director of Cinematography

Chris Pilarski is an award-winning Cinematographer and shoots all video projects for NRPR Productions. With more than a decade of experience under his belt, his stunning creativity and work ethic helped them create one of the top viral videos of all time— Experience Human Flight. This national recognition led Chris to work with Los Angeles-based production company, A Common Thread, where he was Director of Photography for the Gareth Emery – Concrete Angel music video.  Since then, he has filmed numerous music videos for artists such as Watch The Duck, Jacob Luttrell, and War Twins. His stunning work earned praise and personal recognition from Pharrell Williams as well as Interscope Records. He served his apprenticeship shooting second unit for well-known production company BettyWantsIn, located in Melbourne, Australia.

The intrinsic beauty he has created with lenses and lights has led him to work with top Hollywood heavyweights including Wanda Sykes, Jane Lynch, Kate McKinnon, and Kumail Nanjiani. His brilliant cinema style is in constant demand from local directors, which has garnered him work on multiple short and feature films, branded content, and web-series. Examples of his work can be found here.

Creative Director & Producer

Julin Jean is lead producer and director for NRPR Productions. She has been captivating the entertainment industry for over 19 years and has graced screens big, small, and international.

Julin has found success in fields such as production, screenwriting, and directing and helps bring creative ideas to life for NRPR’s clients as well as NRPR’s new spinoff brand, Beverly Hills Boss, which she produces and directs all YouTube content for.

She has worked with some of the biggest stars in the entertainment world and with big production companies such as Disney, CW, CMT, FOX, ABC, NBC, and Lionsgate. Julin has written and published over 40 original songs, with some streams as high as 20 million on YouTube, iTunes, and Spotify.

Julin was also named one of the top indie actresses in Texas and continues to have engaging fans and support all over the globe. Julin’s art can be defined as authentic, fresh, honest, and unforgettable. Her original produced content has been viewed over 110 million times with a 75% engagement rate and a world-wide audience.

As a marketer, Julin has worked with top brands such as RedBull, Toyota, GooglePlay, LG Electronics, SYFY, Playstation, Fiat, and H&M. She has also led and managed events such as SXSW, Sundance, CES, Red Bull Air Race, iFest, Natural Food Expo, People’s Choice Awards, among many others.

Julin’s first feature film script was optioned by Christina Aguilera and is currently being held at the very prestigious Original Artist Literary Agency in Santa Monica. Not only does Julin understand the entertainment and branding market, but she has passion and drive that has proven success, leaving lifelong impressions.

Director of Greetings

Nala Rodrigues joined NRPR in March 2014. A sweet Shiba Inu, don’t let her pretty face fool you: she’s as tough on squirrels as she is on her media targets! However, her first priority is to bring love and good morale to the office, while ensuring the team knows exactly when someone is at the door so important guests don’t go unannounced.

As soon as Nala walks into the Beverly Hills office, she is immediately greeted with petting and love and gives kisses in return and enjoys bringing the team happiness. When not guarding the halls of the NRPR HQ or giving out kisses, Nala enjoys napping wherever she can catch the sun.

Once a rescue dog whose fate included euthanization, Nala is now happy and healthy with a full-time job at NRPR.

Operations Manager

Frankie Betonio is the Operations Manager at NRPR Group, bringing with him years of ground-floor experience as an operations manager. He co-founded and built two successful bail bond companies from the ground up. He was tasked with not only managing the day-to-day operations but also finding fresh and innovative ways to bring in new business.

Frankie was born in San Francisco and raised in Fremont, California.  He graduated from San Jose State University with a BS in the Administration of Justice. He lives in Las Vegas with his wife and two children.

Nothing means more to Frankie than spending time with his family. He coaches his son’s soccer team and his daughter’s volleyball team. A near-death experience back in 2011 has taught Frankie to live life to the fullest. It’s this attitude that makes him appreciate life and those around him.

If you’re ever looking for Frankie, you can usually find him at the buffet, gym, or the nearest theater playing the newest Star Wars movie!

Digital Marketing Director

Jason is Digital Marketing Director at NRPR Group and a digital marketing guru and Google Premier Partner. He has worked with major corporations such as Disney, Myspace, and Playboy, driving digital success.

From local SEO to national campaigns, he has had great success ranking and driving organic results for business for some of the most competitive keywords. He uses data to find and make decisions mixed with years of experience.

He holds an MBA in finance and management and a Bachelor’s Degree in marketing. He also has earned other digital marketing certifications such as being Google Ads Certified and is an SEO Keynote speaker.

Outside the office, Jason is an adventurer. You can find him traveling the world, backpacking remote areas, competition shooting, fishing for lunkers, hitting tabletops on his mountain bike, and just about anything that brings a great life experience.

Director of Marketing Communications

Lynda Starr is Marcomms Director at NRPR Group, bringing many years of experience as a leading industry analyst and experienced Public Relations executive to the team where she is now responsible for marketing communications efforts for the agency.

She is a Jersey girl, who doesn’t pump gas, and exemplifies “if you want something done, give it to the busy one.”

Prior to joining NRPR Group, Lynda served account director for several award-winning PR agencies.  Previously, Lynda was a senior analyst at Frost & Sullivan and vice president at Probe Research.

She holds a Master of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Away from work, Lynda manages a soup kitchen and its volunteers and does publicity and fundraising for organizations. Lynda also participates in Toastmasters International where she has earned a Distinguished Toastmasters designation, was honored as Toastmaster of the Year in 2016, and currently serves as District 83 president and a club officer, after holding several other district roles.

FOUNDER/CEO

Nicole is a seasoned public relations and social media marketing pro with 19 years of experience under her belt. She’s developed and executed strategic campaigns for some of the biggest names in business such as Yahoo!, Dolby, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony PlayStation, Hulu, M-GO, Toon Hero, Demand Media, Heal, MobiTV, and the Oakland Raiders.

Nicole is a member of the Forbes Agency Council, an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. She is one of eight hand-selected board members for The Organization of American Women in Public Relations (Women in PR USA), and is also a board member for Fremont College, the Kenley Jansen Foundation, Gradelo, and Dock.

Nicole has been recognized as a leader in her industry, recently being named one of PR News’ Top 50 Game Changers in Public Relations, as well as Bulldog Reporter’s 2017 Gold Public Relations Professional of the Year, two honors that solidify her place as one of the leading PR professionals of her time. Additionally, she’s been recognized by the Stevie Awards as a top female executive in the public relations industry.

She’s taken her passion for public relations to new heights, creating PRfect Pitch and PRfect Pitch LIVE, a PR-focused show geared towards helping PR, marketing and media professionals step up their game by incorporating best practices and developing better relationships. She’s a contributor to Forbes, Working Mother Magazine, Adweek, PR News, and The HYPE Magazine, among others. She’s also been a guest on Women Entrepreneurs Radio, Today in Marketing, and Business Rockstars Radio as an expert in publicity and social media marketing.

In 2017, Nicole launched NRPR Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program: Make It Happen, which eventually spun off into her second company, Young Dreamers. Young Dreamers is an ongoing program that started with a speaking tour for Nicole, where she visited various Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area schools to talk with students about setting goals, building their personal brands, and persevering through life’s ups and downs.

Nicole takes great pride in being a former NFL cheerleader, spending many years cheering for the famed Oakland Raiders. She continues to cheer on her “new team” at NRPR and is a graduate from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations.