ABOUT US
Dave Karraker
Dave is the founder of Raptor Communications and has more than 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 brand and corporate communications for Campari Group in North America for 12 years, including entertainment partnerships, bartender relations and licensing. He served a similar role in the U.S. 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.
Sarah Bessette
Sarah has more than 20 years of communications and experiential events experience with a specialized focus on spirits. During her career, she's worked on some of the most prolific brands in the business, including ABSOLUT Vodka, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Wild Turkey, Beefeater Gin, Malibu Rum, The Glenlivet, Grand Marnier, and more. She held director level positions at Pernod Ricard USA and The Absolut Spirits Co. and managed corporate and brand PR at Campari America before launching her own consultancy business focusing on craft spirits. From 2019 to 2021, Sarah held a seat on the Kentucky Distillers' Association Corporate Social Responsibility Board.
Before working in spirits, Sarah managed in-house communications and events for famed retailer Toys "R" Us - launching some of the most valuable and renowned entertainment properties in the world, including Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Tickle Me Elmo. She started her PR career on the agency side with positions at both Access Communications and Ketchum.
Sarah is the recipient of multiple industry accolades, including the PR Week Awards “Consumer Launch Campaign of the Year,” a Silver Anvil Award for “Marketing Consumer Products Alcoholic Beverages”, a Sabre Award, and a Big Apple Award.
Erin Smolinski
Erin is a dynamic, seasoned communications and marketing professional with a proven history of driving brand storytelling, strategic communications, and impactful, award-winning campaigns across the wine & spirits, CPG, fashion, music, luxury, and lifestyle industries.
During her tenure as Senior Global Communications at Campari Group, she spearheaded PR efforts for the entire portfolio of brands, managed celebrity partnerships—including campaigns with Matthew McConaughey—and developed innovative media strategies that elevated brand visibility worldwide. She also played a key role in the launch and PR campaigns for the Campari RARE Division, where she created a bespoke, omni-channel approach for the super-premium and luxury portfolio.
In her previous leadership roles at Universal Music Group, Sandro & Maje (Paris), Scotch & Soda (Amsterdam), Diesel, and, among others, she garnered a wealth of experience in brand-building. Her narrative-driven PR approach has been an instrumental part of successful strategic partnerships, integrations, and media relations, garnering billions of earned media impressions.
Who Should work with Raptor communications?
Established Companies & Brands
Established Companies & Brands
Established Companies & Brands
With decades of in-house experience in the spirits industry, including executive leadership roles, the Raptor team 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
Established Companies & Brands
Raptor 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 retailers, distributors, business partners, potential investors and employees. The team 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
The team from Raptor has launched countless new brands and brand extensions over their careers, including for existing high-profile products like Absolut, SKYY Vodka, The Glenlivet and Wild Turkey, as well as new products such as Espolon Tequila and Blue Run Spirits Bourbon. We carefully analyze the brand assets and the competitive landscape to develop communications plans that help brands rise above the clutter.
Why Raptor?
In this instance, a raptor is not a fierce dinosaur. It's a bird. Founder Dave Karraker's 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." Dave recalls many a time when the family’s bright orange Volvo would go careening off the paved road as his 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 us of Dave's great dad.
