About VIRGEN
We started out as VIRGEN in 1999 with the desire to bring never-before-experienced creative to the masses.
Today we've grown to a full-service agency specializing in - you guessed it - Digital Brand Marketing. The world is changing every day, and we've created a way for your brand, your business, your baby to move (and grow) right along with it.
Merrell Virgen
President
25 years’ experience guiding creative development to meet the marketing goals and objectives of multiple companies and organizations, with a strong focus on the resort and entertainment industry. Creative skills and collaboration are the foundation in developing compelling, innovative, and results-producing marketing campaigns.
Andrew Hosak
CFO
Andrew serves as executive vice president/COO and leads critical strategic thinking for VIRGEN. With a broad understanding of marketing and media, Andrew brings more than 20 years of corporate experience and accountability in developing result-driven campaigns. His expertise lies in casino and resort marketing, health care, and retail industries.
Maurella Bell
Research Analyst
Maurella brings national and international experience to VIRGEN. Maurella is responsible for integrating and guiding daily operations for several VIRGEN departments. In her role as a research analyst, Maurella studies the relationship between the consumer, the brand, and the particular client category to link advertising to broader business objectives via research, analysis, and implementation of strategic marketing and media plans.
Dawn Ritzo-Arbelaez
Marketing & Account Executive
With client experience spanning multiple industries, including gaming, hospitality, travel and tourism, renewable energy, entertainment, and nightlife, Dawn is an advertising professional with proven experience managing project details and deadlines and offering exceptional account service.
Jonelle Shimamoto
Marketing & Account Executive
Jonelle brings 15+ years of marketing experience to the Virgen team. Her background in hospitality, tourism, finance, and mobile technology industries makes her an integral part of the success of numerous partnerships. Her strength in building marketing programs is utilized to the fullest to expand awareness and generate attention.
Kristen Vanhorne
Marketing & Account Executive
As a UNLV graduate with a BA in Marketing and Public Relations, Kristen comes with more than four years of social media, marketing, and film/television production experience. With her in-depth perspective on everything from traditional to digital media and fresh marketing knowledge, she is well equipped to assist with any task, in any capacity.
Kyle Christian
Creative Director
Kyle boasts nearly 20 years working in the marketing and advertising industry. Specializing in brand creation and strategy, he uses his strong arts and design skills to make a visual impact across all marketing channels. Whether it’s client facing, employee engagement or creative execution, he leads our creative team to ensure the success of campaigns, clients and coworkers.
Jamie Delaney
Media Director
Jamie is responsible for senior-level strategic media planning, buying and negotiating, as well as client and departmental management. She strives to provide each of VIRGEN’s clients with a comprehensive media plan, always keeping strategy top of mind, while never losing sight of the client’s ultimate goals and objectives.
Trula Christian
Office Manager
Trula is the office manager and supplies many years of experience in administration and management. Trula provides support in all areas related to daily operations.
Branden Perrin
Email Marketing Manager
Branden has been in marketing for more than ten years, creating marketing campaigns for product manufacturers, as well as event-based marketing strategies for the education and entertainment industries. He believes in the power of psychology in marketing and how engaging content, when targeted to the right audience, creates powerful relationships between the brand and consumer.
Aya Peters
Graphic Designer
Aya is a graphic design and branding expert who elevates brands through fresh visual designs. Aya is a problem solver with experience across multiple disciplines from typography to art history. She’s committed to staying current with design trends and challenges herself to learn each day.
Kyle Le
Graphic Designer
Kyle Le is a passionate designer who has a background in visual arts and earned a master’s degree in multimedia arts in California State University. In his career, Kyle Le believes in hard working ethic can makes a success. He loves to learn, get inspired and follows Human-centered design philosophy.
Ernest Castillo
Graphic Designer
Ernest is a graphic designer and artist from Las Vegas. After graduating from high school with a focus on visual arts, he developed his skills as an artist while earning a BS in graphic design from The Arts Institute of Las Vegas. His creative style is always progressing, as he's always thinking of unique ways to blend art and design.
OUR TEAM
We're more than the 22nd letter of the alphabet. We are a motley crew of creatives, analysts, designers, researchers, foodies, gamers, yogis, musicians and sports nuts who thrive on wielding our powers for good.
OUR APPROACH
THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE
$100M+
Clients’ Income during the Last Quarter
5
Industry Awards
355
Business Partners in over 30 Countries
27
Years of Experience