The Patron Saints of PR

Entrepreneurs Samantha Grimes and Stephanie Capellas have reached “Saint” hood with their new public relations agency

By Stacey Gualandi / Photo By Alexis Zolina

Eight months ago, longtime friends and colleagues Samantha Grimes and Stephanie Capellas launched their PR full-service agency, Saint, and clients haven’t stopped singing their praises.

“It was overdue,” Grimes says. “I think we should have done it sooner.” Saint Public Relations works with brands in hospitality, sports and philanthropy through strategic communications, media and influencer relations, reputation management and events.

These Sin City specialists have more than earned their wings. Each has nearly two decades of experience on the Strip, first on the agency side, then in-house for powerhouse properties including Tao Group, Cirque du Soleil and Hakkasan Group. They met at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where they collaborated for five years.

“I think we thrive with experiential public relations, because we believe that tells the story for clients the most,” Capellas says.

“We want to curate the moment, because a press release isn’t going to cut it in this day and age,” Grimes adds. “We’re social heavy and you need more than that to capture people’s attention.”

Their growing roster includes Rare Society Steakhouse, Nomikai, the “She’s Got Time” Women in Sports Summit, NBA Summer League, Optix Fest and One Night for One Drop — mostly secured by referrals.

No wonder clients are worshiping at their altar. Vegas Inc. named both women to its “40 Under 40” list: Capellas as The Cosmopolitan’s former vice president of public relations, and Grimes as chief communications and marketing officer for the Las Vegas Super Bowl LVIII Host Committee.

“It was tough in the best way,” Grimes says of Super Bowl LVIII, “but what an opportunity to work with so many individuals across the city to create this once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Capellas calls Grimes the backbone of their partnership, while Grimes praises her partner’s client relations expertise. “We have different interests, so it comes full circle when we’re looking at the type of clients that we’re bringing on,” Capellas says.

In the meantime, this talented twosome has an F1 Celebrity poker tournament, Walk for Water charity event and more to plan. “At the end of the day, we both go with our gut in the same way, which I think has made us a good match since day one,” Capellas says.

Eaux-vert Expressions

Melissa Desrameaux releases a poetry anthology and associated works

By Jen Smith

When Melissa Desrameaux moved to Las Vegas, she instantly lost her job.

After relocating from south Florida following college, a role she had lined up with a radio station fell through. But she wasn’t worried. Having studied tourism and hospitality marketing, she was confident Las Vegas would welcome her with opportunities.

“I was like, ‘I’m already here,’” Desrameaux says. “It’s the Entertainment Capital. There’s something in communications or events — I’ll be fine.”

Desrameaux quickly found a home with event planning service Fresh Wata and later its hybrid event space, StarBase. Through both companies, she has continued to cultivate a creative and administrative skill set that fuels her many endeavors.

Beyond the demands of her day job, Desrameaux maintains a budding writing career.

She recently published her first poetry collection, Anthologically Speaking, available in hardcover on Amazon. The teal-and-gold cover nods to the vibrant palette of art-deco Miami and her native Florida.

“I wanted a cover that would look nice on a coffee table and would draw you in,” she says. “My color scheme, which I usually carry in my home or any time I get to design something, is gold, teal, black and white.”

While Desrameaux goes by Dot in professional settings, she writes under the pen name M. Eaux. For her literary undertakings, she cites inspirations ranging from Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss — anything “whimsical,” she says — to the poetry features in teen magazines such as Seventeen and Teen Vogue.

“Once in a while, there was poetry those magazines would feature, and that was my favorite thing to read,” she recalls with a laugh. “Forget the articles about celebrities and boy bands — I wanted to see who had submitted poetry.”

Desrameaux describes her style as “very sensational, very witty, very descriptive.” Her work explores themes of love, with select pieces touching on intellect and romance.

She is already working on her second anthology, along with an audiobook version of Anthologically Speaking and her first screenplay.

Her book is available on Amazon.

To follow her recent works and media appearances, visit her on Instagram at @meleauxyeadot and her Linkedin under /in/meleldes.