Bettina Klinger

Bettina Klinger is a driven, hardworking leader of a cutting edge, seasoned team. She created Brand Varietal to offer brands a well-defined set of professional expertise. Klinger is often referred to as an award-winning retail and marketing pioneer, product innovator and branding expert. Skilled in long-range image & brand planning through multiple distribution channels, Klinger prioritizes emerging, re-positioning, and heritage clients raising brand awareness and creating new revenue funnels. Guiding businesses to discover, define, design, implement and measure ROI is intrinsic to her rules of engagement. From weaving company cultures, or garnering market share through consumer education Klinger is a veteran of co-branding, licensing, and establishing strategic partnerships and alliances to achieve these goals.

The company’s focus is creative identity development, branding, marketing, curating and evolving digital/viral footprint(s). The goal is to raise awareness by elevating a range of brands, products, legacy icons and personalities in today’s marketing landscape. We are skilled in concept development, production and execution for revenue generation. Success in business can hinge on many complex and dynamic factors for existing and emerging brands. Our model effectively discovers insights into behavior and values of a diverse consumer base, elevating authenticity, approachability of the brand, its legacy and message. Our core values are steeped in the productivity of a collaborative, passionate, progressively creative, and strategically thinking team. We work with other talented resources outside of our team for multi-faceted engagements. We tactically execute campaigns across all platforms with consistency in messaging and promotion. The need to empower consumers through target market funnels to emotionally connect with a brand has never been greater or more diverse. This paradigm led to a strategic alliance with noted Hollywood public relations, special events and licensing firm, Digney & CO.

Jerry Digney

Jerry Digney has always been a promoter. He learned his skills from a long line of ballyhoo icons and legendary press agents. Knowing how to get attention for his clients comes naturally.

Digney, a native Bostonian, was the first ever Director of Public Relations for Feld Entertainment, producer-owner of Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice touring productions, where he supervised a staff of marketeers and publicists for numerous touring productions.

Digney’s Presidential run for Bozo The Clown revived the character’s popularity with a new generation. Digney later worked with Larry Harmon Pictures, owner of the Bozo the Clown franchise. It was Digney’s idea to enter Bozo in the 1984 presidential race. The Bozo for President campaign resulted in coverage by every major media outlet in America. 

Leaving Harmon’s company shortly after his success with the campaign, Jerry joined one of the industry’s leading public relations firms. Joining Solters/Roskin/Friedman as vice president he quickly became right hand to Lee Solters, a legend among international entertainment publicists. They served as imagemakers and confidants to a virtual show biz Who’s Who from Broadway to Hollywood.

In the ’90s Jerry partnered with Lee Solters to form Solters & Digney.  He worked with the elder statesman of public relations until his death in 2009.

Jerry Digney has long been at the forefront of many memorable chapters in entertainment history. From publicizing two presidential inaugurals and numerous breakthrough films, including “The Graduate,” to promoting major touring shows like Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Circus and long-running installations like Cirque du Soleil, The Beatles.

Jerry Digney conceptualized and led the effort for the USPS to issue the first-ever showbiz-themed postage stamp.

Celebrity clients have included Michael Jackson, BB King, Ray Charles, The Neville Bros, The Rolling Stones, Jackie Gleason, Whoopi Goldberg, Carol Channing, Whitney Houston, Liza Minnelli, Dolly Parton and Bette Midler. Venues and events including Caesars Palace, the Beverly Hills Hotel, Mattel, Universal Studios Tour, 20th Century Fox film studios, the City of Las Vegas and the many legendary Chrysler-sponsored Golf Tournaments and Bob Hope television specials have all relied on Jerry Digney for direction and exposure.

He was the first person to get a female client over 50 on the cover of Playboy magazine and arranged for the Pope (John Paul II) to be made an honorary Harlem Globetrotter.

It was Digney who lobbied for the first show biz-themed U.S. postage stamp featuring Laurel and Hardy. The beginning of an ongoing campaign to feature entertainment icons on postage stamps.

Today the number of media outlets (and opportunities for coverage) is expanded exponentially. For client TCL Chinese Theatre, Digney & Co. has produced over 1 Billion impressions via social media alone. New clients—superstars to be—are emerging from the Internet. All they need is a little ballyhoo.

Mike Tankel

Mike Tankel is a seasoned marketing executive, known for his ability to consistently find strategic and creative solutions against some of the most interesting and challenging obstacles from corporate America through the digital revolution to global entertainment franchises and experiences, leveraging his ability to “simplify and amplify”.

Throughout his 25+ year career, Mike has had the pleasure to “work with people he likes on projects that matter”, starting with AT&T, where he began his career as a Marketing Manager overseeing the $7B Seniors segment where he became the youngest person to speak at an AARP convention as well as representing AT&T across a host of media interviews including CNN, Financial News Network and Newsweek.

He then moved on to overseeing International Calling Plans where his multicultural marketing strategy led him to Cirque du Soleil as one of its first sponsors, recognizing that its made up language made it equal to all and served as a wonderful, emotional equalizer.

Moving to the agency world, he helped spearhead the rebranding of First Data Corporation, yielding many innovations in credit card programs and marketing, led creation of Tampax’s first website that helped close their sale to P&G (coining the line: “Tampax.com, a place you’ll want to visit more than once a month”), who then spun the site out into 3 unique businesses of their own and then helped build and grow Suissa Miller advertising where he oversaw new business, ultimately leading to a sale to Interpublic Group.

In the entertainment space, Mike held the role of Chief Innovation Officer at The Cimarron Group, where he brought strategic thinking to Hollywood entertainment campaigns and Hollywood magic to brand campaigns, including the likes of Lotus Cars return to the US, MGM Resorts properties throughout the world, The Twilight Franchise, James Bond Skyfall and many other globally recognized efforts from the rebranding of Pasadena and Santa Barbara to the casinos of the Cotai Strip.

Through Mike’s company, To Be Continued, he has consulted across a range of blockchain companies and digital disruptors from Akoin to VeChain, IPXYZ to Stream Lounge, Immortal Studios and more; works with writers and directors to review their projects pre-production from a marketing lens and advises “do-good” companies across branding, positioning and communications.

He is a strong believer that strong strategy leads to emotionally-powerful creative which can have an incredible societal impact. With that in mind, he is a founding partner of aMENAcan, a consulting and advisory group focused on giving MENA region stories the respect and opportunity they deserve.

You’ll often find Mike quoted on marketing across the pages of Forbes Magazine, speaking at comic-cons, marketing conferences and universities and inside the 1 Habit book series of Happy Achievers, where there is a chapter on him. He was recently named a jurist for the prestigious Forty Under 40 Global awards. In his spare time, Mike enjoys playing guitar, a fine cigar and time with his wife and family.

Jennifer Sawalha

With a master's degree in clinical psychology and a bachelor’s degree in television and radio, Jennifer Sawalha emerges as a multifaceted leader within the entertainment industry. Currently serving as the Vice President of Programming at IHEART Media, Jennifer's global influence is palpable as she steers acclaimed shows like the syndicated "On Air With Ryan Seacrest," "American Top 40," and the captivating "Direct From Hollywood." In addition to her adept management of these flagship productions, she exercises oversight over all branding and digital platforms associated with these esteemed programs.

Jennifer's illustrious career boasts collaborations with industry luminaries in both radio and television, including the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Wanda Sykes, Dr. Phil, Tyra Banks, Dr. Drew, and the iconic Ryan Seacrest. Renowned for her expertise as a seasoned producer and network executive, she consistently shapes compelling content that resonates with audiences worldwide.

Moreover, Jennifer Sawalha's portfolio extends to talent media training, where she hones the skills of emerging and established personalities, equipping them with the tools to excel in the competitive entertainment landscape. Her acumen also encompasses artist development and management, guiding talent towards new heights of success, as well as sync for film and television, seamlessly integrating music into visual media to enhance storytelling and evoke emotion.

Never one to rest, Jennifer remains at the vanguard of industry innovation, continuously cultivating both scripted and unscripted television and film projects that push creative boundaries. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and an unparalleled passion for her craft, Jennifer Sawalha stands as a visionary force in the entertainment landscape, poised to leave an indelible mark on the industry for generations to come.

James Clifford

James leads creative innovation, concepts and campaigns in line with briefs informed by internal insights and marketing teams.

• Delivers insightful creative concepts for all integrated customer and consumer marketing campaigns as per briefs from internal stakeholders. Direct and lead team ideation sessions. Deliver all commercial trading requirements to achieve budget.

• Establishes excellent working relationships across the business and internal stakeholders.

• Own quality assurance across all deliverables.

• He ensures that robust workflow process management across the team. Ensures teams meet deadlines.

• Creates compelling presentation proposals for potential brand collaborations.

• Supports teams with packaging concepts and development

• Enables the Email and Trading teams with campaign assets

• Drives and delivers quality photography and video requirements and outputs.

• Shares and adopts creative best practice.

• Responsible for global adaptation with local territory teams (US, AU and EU)

Tor CaraCappa

Tor CaraCappa is the Digital Media Director for BV & D&CO, working on social media & websites for a vast array of clients from hollywood legend, Gary Cooper, and his daughter, Maria Cooper Janis to iconic 80's rockers, Twisted Sister as well as, quintessential jazz guitar manufacturers, D'Angelico Guitars and many others.

A native New Yorker, Tor began his career at the Manhattan landmark, Bergdorf Goodman as part of their fabled visual department molding an eye for displaying luxury items in the best possible light. From there he was hand picked by men's designer, John Varvatos to be Creative Director for his budding brand. This included designing stores and showrooms, runway shows and curating all things visual as well as producing monthly events held at the stores for hundreds and sometimes thousands of attendees, oftentimes doubling as the Master of Ceremonies, as well.

These events would at times mean working directly with entertainers such as Willie Nelson and Ringo Star or legendary artists such as Mick Rock or Storm Thorgersen.

As our attention turned more to social media and all things digital, so did his. Leaving his life in fashion behind for a more "virtual" career but still pulling from his experience as a Creative Director, he fully embraced social media and saw it as a creative form of curation, communication and marketing.

Quickly specializing in legacy brands, the creative challenge (fun part) became to not only harness the power of social media and directly interact with already interested fans but to help reach a younger demographic that may not realize they are fans, thereby growing said fan base. All by carefully curating photos and video clips etc. and giving the public something to embrace and engage with on a daily basis.

Drawing once more on his experience as a Creative Director and his experience of working directly with artists, Tor began producing and directing short form videos and photo shoots for D'Angelico Guitars helping to elevate their online presence.

From working with luxury items to working with "A"list artists, Tor has found a way to filter all of that into the digital realm we all continue to experience more and more with each passing day online.

Hunter D’Ancona

Hunter D’Ancona is a writer-producer who recently graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts Screenwriting for Film & TV program. He is a Co-Founder and Creative Director of iNGSANE Productions, a feature film and fine-art commercial production company. At Collective 222, Hunter functions as a creative project manager and web/social media coordinator, leveraging skills in the graphic design and commercial space to hone brand messaging for a variety of clients.

Gaoyang Ganjin

Gaoyang Ganjin is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and landscape photographer who recently graduated from Film & TV Production at USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Born in China and raised in Singapore, Ganjin's international perspective informs his photography's stark and ethereal aesthetic. He is a Co-Founder and Creative Director of iNGSANE Productions, a feature film and fine-art commercial production company. At Collective 222, Gao collaborates with the team to spearhead commercial production and graphic design development.

Jinglin Jingan

Jinglin Jingan is a Los Angeles-based multimedia artist. She has studied Graphic Design at the Rhode Island School of Design and Media Arts and Practice at USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Her expertise spans graphic design, augmented and virtual reality, AI integration, and 3D modeling, blending traditional and innovative techniques to craft immersive experiences. Jinglin's work has been exhibited at the Kennedy Center, the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, Niantic Labs, the Congressional Institute, and received 2nd place at the Stanford University AI New Frontiers Awards. 

Héber Medina

As a designer, Héber Medina believes that design is the problem-solving process of envisioning and executing the best possible experience for an audience. He specializes in print, branding, and logo design. With a creative eye for colors, shapes, typography and print design, he is a valued member of our team.

Kiara Lynn Medina

Kiara Lynn Medina is an artist and illustrator who thrives on creativity and hands-on projects. At Collective 222, she channels a passion for storytelling and design into crafting engaging social media content that celebrates our amazing clients. Originally from New York, Kiara is proud to call Portugal home for the past seven years.