The seasoned leadership team behind boutique communications agency Battalion has leveraged their expertise to attract a client roster of luxury timepieces, fine jewelry and equally beautiful cultural establishments. From the New York Botanical Garden to lab-grown diamond brand Lightbox, Battalion supports storied names and newer players alike across media relations, event production and social media strategy. Most recently, they started offering crisis prevention communications, a solution where they work closely with clients to quickly engineer solutions that mitigate the risk of a crisis actually happening. In addition to supporting cultural institutions on their annual events and orchestrating the American debut of global fundraiser The Prince's Trust Gala, the agency is doing their part DEI-wise. Keep an eye out of their upcoming initiative that will showcase the work of 13 incredible BIPOC jewelry designers who have been given first access to new De Beers Code of Origin diamonds – which are responsibly sourced, coded and blockchain-enabled to provide consumers with the ultimate assurance that their diamond is doing good.
Leadership team:
Jim Kloiber, Founding Partner
Robbie Cantonwine, Partner
Notable long-term clients:
De Beers, Girard-Perregaux, Johnston & Murphy, Watches of Switzerland, The New York Botanical Garden, Birdwell, Lightbox, Watchfinder & Co.
New client wins:
Breitling, School of American Ballet, The London Collective
How are you innovating and moving the industry forward?
“Something that we are passionate about and are now pushing harder than ever with our clients is the importance of being a good media partner. Of course, our job is to get great press for our clients, but it's also to advocate for the media outlets with whom we work. We operate within an increasingly fragile ecosystem, and if brands want to continue to get placements in quality media, then they must support them. That doesn't have to mean traditional advertising, and an important part of what we do for our clients is helping develop innovative, impactful, cost effective media partnerships that move the needle. They also help to ensure that these important media outlets will be able to retain the brilliant editors and writers that we all rely upon. We must do our part.”
Founded 29 years ago, Marino has deep roots in the real estate and development space, and has long been a trusted partner to some of the most iconic brands in the world. Earlier this year, Marino rebranded its real estate practice to Real Estate & Property Innovation. Marino’s PropTech work spans flex workspace, co-living, FinTech, short term rentals, single family e-commerce, venture capital firms, energy and sustainability, digital connectivity, commercial real estate SaaS and more. Marino also ramped up its creative and advertising department, managing multiple successful performance marketing campaigns across verticals. Additionally, the team produced and launched a podcast, “The Housing Problem,” hosted by Kirk Goodrich and Rafael Cestero, that covers affordable housing issues in New York City. The agency has expanded its roster outside of its original core categories, with new client wins across cannabis, food and beverage and non-profit.
Leadership team:
Frank Marino, CEO
John Marino, President
Notable long-term clients:
Chelsea Market, McDonald’s Tri-State, VTS, Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation, National Grid
New client wins:
Skanska USA, WiredScore, BEB Capital, The Parent Company, Etain, House of Puff, Fratelli Beretta, Global Kids, Jamestown Properties
How is the agency advancing DEI in the industry?
“Composed of a cross-section of team members at all levels, Marino’s Dedicated to Diversity Committee works in tandem with executive leadership and external partners to create vehicles for communication, education, empowerment and action, while taking a deeper look at how Marino incorporates DEI into the agency’s culture, hiring and philanthropic efforts. The committee has spearheaded initiatives that create avenues of discussion, learning and powerful conversation. By frequently sharing resources both company-wide and to external agency partners that educate, support minority-owned businesses and clientele, honor cultural and religious milestones and foster thought-provoking discussions, Marino’s Dedicated to Diversity Committee further cultivates an existing company culture that values diversity, equity and inclusion as a core ethos. Marino remains committed to representing and promoting a diverse roster of clients, including our work with Etain, the first and only women-founded-and-operated medical cannabis dispensary in New York; New Settlement, whose mission is to break systemic barriers, advance racial justice and strengthen neighborhoods in the Bronx; and elevating the voices of LGBTQ+ leaders through our work with brands such as the Pantheon Collective.”
