ABOUT US

Dave Karraker has nearly 30 years of marketing and communications experience focused on consumer packaged goods, consumer technology, e-commerce, and retail. He started his career as a television reporter for CBS and NBC, before moving into the public relations field. He ran communications for Campari Group in North America for 12 years, as well as for Allied Domecq, then the world's second-largest wine and spirits company. He was also the Chairman of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Public Affairs Committee.

Dave led corporate and brand communications for Sony PlayStation and SEGA in the US, in addition to BlueLight.com, Kmart's e-commerce company. On the agency side, he was a vice president at Access Public Relations in San Francisco, now a Ketchum agency, as well as media strategist at Rogers and Cowan in Los Angeles.

Who Should work with Raptor communications?

Established Companies & Brands

With more than 20 years of in-house experience, including 15 in the spirits industry, Dave understands all aspects of corporate and brand communications, including product launches, major business news, consumer/trade events, acquisitions, employee communications, investor/analyst relations and crisis communications for companies large and small.

Start-Up Companies

Established Companies & Brands

Through his experience as a journalist, Dave understands how to shape the narrative for a start-up to achieve maximum media attention and buzz, as well as stimulate interest within their given industry, including with potential investors and employees. He works closely with founders to help them better understand and approach the entire business ecosystem.

New-To-Market Brands

Established Companies & Brands

New-To-Market Brands

Dave has launched countless new brands and brand extensions over his career, including such high-profile products at the Sony PlayStation 3, Sega Dreamcast, Tomb Raider, Espolon Tequila and Blue Run Spirits Bourbon. He carefully analyzes the brand assets and the competitive landscape to develop launch and maintenance plans that help brands rise above the clutter.

Why Raptor?

In this instance, a raptor is not a fierce dinosaur. It's a bird. My father, in addition to being a National Park ranger, was an ornithologist. His favorite birds? Raptors - eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and the like – also known as "birds of prey." I remember many a time when the family’s bright orange Volvo would go careening off the paved road as my dad pointed to the sky asking the kids to identify the raptor soaring high overhead. Raptor Communications reflects the traits commonly associated with birds of prey - keen observation, followed by swift and strategic action when the time is right... and it reminds me of my dad.