Leadership

As founders of The Point PR, Laura Millett Notaro and Kimi Ozawa are respected leaders with a proven track record in the hospitality industry. Their reputations are backed by award-winning campaigns, a carefully crafted network of media heavy hitters and tastemakers, and a seasoned team of PR practitioners who deliver brand-defining results for The Point’s collection of clients.

After working together for more than a decade as managing director and senior vice president of a 60+ person agency, Laura and Kimi launched The Point to focus on utilizing their strengths and best assets to be strategic partners for their clients. With a history of representing some of the most prestigious hospitality brands and a current client roster that includes Los Angeles Tourism, Grace Bay Resorts, TCS World Travel, iconic independent properties such The Sea Ranch Lodge and Hotel Wailea, Relais & Châteaux and various Four Seasons and St. Regis hotels, their combined experience and complementary skill sets are a combination that can’t be found elsewhere in the industry.

Together, Laura and Kimi’s efforts have resulted in award-winning campaigns and their clients have achieved international acclaim including Travel + Leisure’s coveted It List, Robb Report’s Best of the Best, and Condé Nast Traveler’s competitive Hot List, in addition to landing feature coverage in Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The New York Times, Vogue, Architectural Digest, Forbes.com, TODAY Show, Good Morning America, EXTRA! and more.

 

Meet Laura Millett Notaro

Co-Founder

Known for her ability to cut through the clutter and always see the big picture, Laura skillfully leads hospitality campaigns leveraging her network of media contacts around the world. Whether negotiating high value network TV opportunities and partnerships for her clients, managing red carpet and celebrity personalities, or expertly navigating crisis scenarios – Laura’s poise under pressure and ability to ensure her clients’ stories are told with integrity and authenticity have made her a valued advisor for the hospitality C-suite. Her acumen for measurement and analytics ensures The Point PR is a trusted resource for marketing professionals and each client campaign is laser-focused on generating ROI.

Meet Kimi Ozawa

Co-Founder

From leading communications strategies for global travel brands to executing viral influencer campaigns across digital platforms, Kimi’s strategic counsel and genuine love of connecting with people are evident through her long-standing hospitality industry, tastemaker, and media relationships she’s cultivated. With an expert eye for detail and an innate ability to scope out the next “big thing,” Kimi is known for concepting creative campaigns that are always one step ahead of trends. Her tenacity and passion for bringing her clients’ stories to life are realized through the game-changing media coverage and multi-channel content she orchestrates, which drive conversations and organic SEO for her clients.

Elizabeth Melgoza

Account Director

A dynamic travel and lifestyle publicist who has been to 18 countries and counting, Elizabeth has a keen sense for finding creative ways to garner press for her clients inspired by her world travels. She has spearheaded award-winning campaigns for her clients, which span hotels and resorts, tourism boards and aviation. In between securing A-list coverage for her clients and off-roading trips in a Jeep Gladiator, Liz found time to create a whimsical fashion brand for families, Beechwood Crew, inspired by her love for the beach and the great outdoors.

Jennifer Padilla

Account director

A Southern California native, Jennifer is a results-driven PR pro, who has brought her master media relations strategy and creative thinking to a wide range of hospitality clients, from luxury international hotel destinations and boutique, historic properties to Michelin-starred restaurants and celebrity chefs, successfully leading awareness PR campaigns, project grand openings, curating and executing events, and more. Passionate about all things hospitality, Jennifer was recently accepted into HSMAI’s Rising Marketing Leaders Council and was awarded her Level 1 Certification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET).  When not in the office, Jenn is likely checking off another National Park visit, heading up the coast for a wine-tasting weekend, or combing through her cookbook collection for a new recipe.  

Shelby Sabat

Director, Media Relations

On a day-to-day basis, Shelby utilizes her natural extraversion and academic background in journalism to promote luxury brands and startups, knowing what truly drives ROI and piques the interest of the media elite. Shelby lives and breathes her bicoastal media relationships, splitting her time between Los Angeles and New Jersey, and always makes an effort to grab a coffee with her contacts from The New York Times to Vogue. You can often find her sipping a cosmopolitan in NYC’s Meatpacking District or dining at one of L.A.’s hottest new restaurants. 

Martha Dickerson

ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR

A native Californian with an innate love of travel, Martha got her start in public relations with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp before moving home to the West Coast. Martha has since developed and executed award-winning public relations campaigns for a collection of luxury hotels, resorts, and developers, securing top-tier media coverage while striving to be a positive and empowering presence for clients and colleagues. She now calls sunny San Diego home, where you can catch her sampling low-intervention wines with her wine club, trying her hand at the latest Bon Appetit recipes, or watching a baseball game at Petco Park.

 

 
 
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