We recently connected with Reina Kendall and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Reina, thanks for joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

Reina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Reina Kendall is a writer, model and the CEO & Founder of Reina Kendall Public Relations. Originally from New York City, Ms. Kendall spent her entire life flying back and forth from New York to Palm Beach, Florida where her grandparents lived on the island. Her grandparents Richard and Adele Raffo were significant philanthropists in the community and big supporters of the American Cancer Society Palm Beach Chapter, Palm Beach Civic Association, PB Police & Fire Foundation, Trustbridge Hospice Foundation, the Shore Protection League among many others. Ms. Kendall had a very close relationship with her grandmother ‘Della Bella’ (her “muse”) and it was that relationship that led to her love for fashion, philanthropy, public relations, modeling and the Palm Beach culture. Interestingly enough, it was Ms. Kendall’s close tie to her grandfather Richard Raffo that sparked her strong passion for the automotive and marine industry. In fact, the name ‘Kendall’ originated from one of her grandfather’s car dealerships in Kendall, Florida. Reina has been in the corporate communications, hospitality and fashion industry for over a decade working in the corporate office at Vineyards Vines for eight years, two highly regarded financial firms Goldman Sachs and Thales, interned at CBS Television Network “The Early Show” in New York City and several other fashion houses. Ms. Kendall joined the Supercar Week Inc. and ICTV1 Networks in December of 2019 as a professional model, writer and eventually earning director of Public Relations. Following her family’s lead, Ms. Kendall is a member of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, Ferrari Club of America, Palm Beach Symphony, Norton Museum and Palm Beach Young Professionals to date. Through these experiences and other smaller scale clients, Reina Kendall decided it was time to officially start her own Public Relations Agency, Reina Kendall Public Relations.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

2020 was absolutely one of the most challenging years experienced in history around the world. It’s safe to say that it Rocked each one of us to our core in one way or another. In my experience, it shattered a major part of the career I was building for myself in my new community in @palmbeachcountyfl PR, hospitality and media. It was pretty scary but….. .
“When the going gets tough, the TOUGH get going” and so I did. I chose to see what my options were and realized that there were very talented #photographers with much less work on their plates like myself who just might be willing to collaborate for a little while. Boy did I luck out and boy were they patient! With my new project on its way, I found myself tacking on a new skill set “Accidental Model.”

Today, I am beyond Grateful. Not only did this shift keep me busy but I’ve met some incredible professionals and have had a total blast!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Reina Kendall studied at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massage graduating with a bachelors degree in Political Science. After college, she moved back to New York City which eventually lead her to an Executive Assistant position to the CEOs for seven years at fashion house, Vineyard Vines. As time went on, Ms. Kendall’s marriage was headed for a divorce and as the relationship suffered, her health suffered. From 2016 until 2019, she was severely Ill, her organs started failing, she developed double vision (forcing her to stop driving), chronic severe neuropathy in both her legs putting her in a wheelchair and lost a dangerous amount of weight due to depression. Ms. Kendall spent three intensive years of hospital stays where she faced two close encounters with her own fatality due to her organs failing, three birthdays, two Christmas’ and one thanksgiving. Now, perfectly healthy, recovered and succeeding, Reina Kendall believes that she would never be alive today without the financial support and health insurance that allowed her to see the best medical specialists. With that knowledge in tow, she accepted the LLS Woman of the Year nomination in hopes she could help raise funds for those in need. LLS is a cause very dear to her heart as her aunt passed away from leukemia at the age of five. With incredible perseverance, a willingness to leave her comfort zone by asking peers for donations, and heart, Ms. Kendall won! She placed runner up to the first place candidate who raised a LLS record of $450,000 +

Contact Info:

• Website: www.reinakendall.com.
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/reinakendallpublicrelations?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076563397225

Image Credits
Neil London, Yuliana Chev