RBB COMMUNICATIONS - Key Persons


Bruce Rubin

Job Titles:
  • Senior Counsel, Litigation & Crisis Communication

Christine Barney - CEO

Job Titles:
  • CEO
  • Managing Partner
Christine is our fearless leader. An inspiring public speaker, creative writer and analytical thinker, she drives strategic and creative operations while being hands on with B2B/B2C global, national and local brands who want unvarnished truth and real answers. Christine has thoughtfully guided entities like Thomson Reuters and Masterfoods/M&Ms through a variety of needs such as change management, lead generation, mergers & acquisitions, executive communications and brand development. A firm believer that happy employees create happy clients, Christine leads the agency's diverse team of Counselors, Connectors and Creators. With her innovative management style and "employee-driven" philosophy, the firm is a repeated winner in "Best Place to Work" rankings and average Employee and Client tenure (7 years) that blows most other agencies out of the water. An active and influential community leader, Christine is the past chair of the South Florida Business Council, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Miami and Florida International University Metropolitan Center. She is in the officers cabinet of the Beacon Council, board member of the Orange Bowl Committee and a member of Leadership Florida, the International Women's Forum, the Page Society and the Florida 500. Christine is Accredited in Public Relations (APR) by the PRSA where she received the 2016 Bill Adams Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jeanine Karp - VP

Job Titles:
  • Partner
  • Vice President

Josh Merkin - VP

Job Titles:
  • Partner
  • Vice President

Laura Guitar

Job Titles:
  • Executive Vice President, Health, Crisis Communications & Issue Management

Lauren Bernat

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Account Services, Partner

Lisa K. Ross - President

Job Titles:
  • Partner
  • President
Lisa is a strategic marketer with more than 25 years' experience in developing breakout brands. She co-founded rbb and serves as its Chief Growth Officer overseeing new client relationships and strategic alliances as well as the firm's Hospitality Practice. Lisa has counseled numerous consumer brands such as Allegro Resorts, Cleveland Clinic, Hilton, Virgin Voyages and Zumba Fitness on breakout strategies that led to increased brand loyalty, sales and market share. She connects complimentary and unlikely partners, and transforms smart, fresh ideas into award-winning campaigns which in turn has earned her the gratitude and friendship of many business leaders who remain long-term rbb clients and firm ambassadors. Lisa believes in giving back and is active in various industry and business organizations. She is often tapped to serve as a judge for leading awards competitions and conference speaker on communications industry issues. Lisa currently serves as a board member of Easterseals South Florida and recently co-chaired Big Brother Big Sisters of Miami's annual Jazz@Joes luncheon. She also recently completed a term as board member and co-chair of the Americas for PROI, the largest global partnership of independent communications agencies, and served as former board chair of The Strategic Forum and a past board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. She is a member of WPO (Women Presidents Organization) and HSMAI (Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International) and has served on its Marketing Advisory Council and as a Platinum judge of its highly-regarded Adrian Awards. She also received designation from the organization as one of Top 25 Minds in Hospitality Sales & Marketing. Lisa‘s career success, creativity and entrepreneurialism have gained her recognition in Who's Who in Communications; Enterprising Women's Top 100 Female Executives and South Florida Business Journal's Most Influential Business Women. She graduated from New York University with a bachelor's degree in English Literature and attended Columbia University's Executive Education Leadership Program. She currently resides in Aventura, Florida and enjoys meeting new people, traveling, exercising, discovering exciting new venues and wines, and especially spending time with her sons, Alec, 24, and Cameron, 21.

Lisette Loughner

Job Titles:
  • Partner
  • Vice President of Human Resources

Maite Velez-Couto - SVP

Job Titles:
  • Partner
  • Senior Vice President

Rashid Saker

Job Titles:
  • Partner
  • Senior Vice President of Operations

Sandra Fine Ericson

Job Titles:
  • Executive Vice President, Energy Practice Leader, Partner

Shawn Warmstein - VP

Job Titles:
  • Partner
  • Vice President
Headquartered in Miami's historic Coral Gables, our roots in Florida are strong and run deep. Yet our true reach is broad as we have rbb team members in New York City and Los Angeles. We are a true national agency serving brands across the entire US and when needed, a partner-presence in Mexico, Latin America and Canada. In addition, as a result of being a member of PROI Worldwide, we have access to the world's largest partnership of agencies in 5 continents, 50 countries and over 100+ cities.

Tina Elmowitz - EVP

Job Titles:
  • Executive Vice President
  • Partner
Tina is our Chief People Officer, who leads the consumer sectors, and drives talent management. In the pursuit of incredible media and bottom line results, Tina has found elephants who paint, created a frosting experience that grew sales by 106% and launched a coffee College for Starbucks. Her work is far-reaching, with clients including Hampton by Hilton, Bank of America, Disney on Ice, Cinch Home Services and the Miami Marlins. And on top of her clienting skills, Tina ensures rbb's team is getting the professional development they desire - more than 60 hours a year, that our teams are staffed with the most exceptional talent and that our diversity and inclusion efforts continue to raise the bar. She guest lectures and creates connections at various universities to ensure the next generation of talent recognizes rbb's incredible offerings. She sits on the University of Florida's PR Advisory Council, is a member of The Women's Edge, Broward Forum and former board member of The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida.

Tom Bolger

Job Titles:
  • Director, Content Studio