Raina Penchansky, Co-Founder/CEO

 
 

Raina Penchansky brings an incredible wealth of strategic talent to the DBA team. She actually began her career in the star-studded world of film, building large-scale premieres and awards campaigns, before moving on to product launches for global brands like Juicy Couture and Jimmy Choo.

After stints with Edelman PR and Saks Fifth Avenue, Raina joined Coach in 2002, leading the exploding brand’s global communications strategies for celebrity initiatives. In that role, she proved her talent for synergizing the forces of marketing, events and public relations, becoming an instrumental force in growing the company to a multi-billion-dollar brand. Under Raina’s direction, Coach enjoyed a completely revitalized image through key collaborations, directional events and strong positioning in the marketplace.

Raina applies her passion for brand building to DBA clients’ goals by thinking strategically at every step, always searching for opportunities to push the original brand vision forward across a multifaceted marketing landscape. She was listed as one of Variety's 80 Women of Power in 2016.

A Miami native, Raina is currently based in Los Angeles, where she oversees DBA West and maintains the overarching strategy that keeps the company and its clients on a constant upswing.

Reesa Lake, Partner/SVP of Brand Partnerships

 
 

Reesa Lake is the Senior Vice President of Brand Partnerships at Digital Brand Architects, where she leads development with brands, agencies, publishing houses, digital networks, amongst others. With over fifteen years of experience working in the media, from traditional print to television to digital, Reesa offers expertise in branded content and integrations, marketing, public relations, and branding. 

Prior to DBA, Reesa was the Director of Business Development at Union Square agency, where she served as Executive Producer and co-creator of NBC’s The Great American Health Challenge and worked across the agency’s portfolio of clients to drive sponsorship and bespoke branded entertainment opportunities. She also spent six years in public relations, where she created and implemented strategies for global brands that ranged from Fred Leighton, Donna Karan, DKNY and L.A.M.B. to Harajuku Lovers, and Yigal Azrouel.

Reesa started at DBA in 2011 and has been a vital part of the agency’s growth. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and their teenage son. 

Vanessa Flaherty, Partner/SVP of Talent Management

 
 

Vanessa Flaherty is Senior Vice President of Talent Management for Digital Brand Architects, where she is responsible overseeing a world-class portfolio of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle influencers, implementing strategic counsel to both her clients and team.

 Prior to joining DBA, Vanessa spent over 5 years in Coach’s global communication office where she was an integral part of the brand’s much-lauded approach to digital public relations, influencer partnerships, and integrated social media programming. One of the first to see the potential for digital talent to serve as brand ambassadors and become brands themselves, Vanessa championed bloggers on the brand’s homepage, in ad campaigns and behind design collaborations long before it became mainstream.

She has been with DBA since 2011 and orchestrated some of the industry’s most dynamic and noted award winning activations. 

Vanessa holds an M.A. from New York University and a B.A from the University of California, Santa Barbara. After an 8-year stint in New York City, the California native returned to the West Coast and currently resides in West Hollywood with her husband.