Runyon Saltzman

What Runyon Saltzman does

Runyon Saltzman, Inc. (RSE) is a full-service advertising and public relations agency founded in 1961 in Sacramento, California, and originally established by Jean Runyon as the first women-run agency in the city. The firm provides integrated marketing communications services spanning advertising, public relations, digital and social media marketing, video production, media planning, crisis management, community engagement, and public affairs. It operates from a Rancho Cordova, California headquarters with additional offices in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and New York, and employs between 101 and 250 staff.

RSE's client base is concentrated in California state and local government, with additional engagements for healthcare organizations, non-profits, and select commercial accounts. Major engagements include the State of California COVID-19 public education campaign (Vaccinate ALL 58), California's Master Plan for Aging communications, the Alzheimer's Disease Public Awareness Campaign for the California Department of Public Health, the Digital Equity Plan for the California Department of Technology, financial protection and student loan awareness campaigns for DFPI, extreme heat safety outreach, and a federal postpartum depression initiative for the Office on Women's Health. To execute large-scale, multilingual campaigns, RSE operates a 'Team RSE' coalition of 12 partner agencies spanning ethnic media, research, public affairs, and multicultural marketing.

Revenue is generated through project-based fees and retainer arrangements typical of professional services agencies. The firm holds a GSA Multiple Award Schedule Contract (#47QRAA21D007Z) and California Multiple Award Schedule Contract (#4-21-06-1011), providing direct procurement pathways for federal and state government clients. RSE reported 373% revenue growth from 2019 to 2021, earning recognition on Sacramento Business Journal's Fastest Growing Companies list in both 2022 and 2023. In September 2024, Sacramento entrepreneurs Rachel Zillner and Anne Descalzo purchased the agency in its 64th year, returning it to women-owned, women-led ownership.

Name

Runyon Saltzman

Legal name

Runyon Saltzman, Inc.

Website

https://rs-e.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Runyon Saltzman (RSE) is a Sacramento-based full-service advertising and public relations agency founded in 1961, serving primarily California state and local government agencies, healthcare organizations, non-profits, and select commercial clients through integrated marketing communications and social impact campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advertising and Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Advertising Agencies (541810)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Product & Brand PR (Consumer & B2B) (BPAFADAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Social Media & Community Management (PR-led) (BPAFADAM)

Keywords

• Integrated marketing communications
• Social impact campaigns
• Public education campaigns
• Government communications services
• Multicultural media outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Integrated Marketing Communications Services: Project-based fees and retainer arrangements for full-service advertising, public relations, digital marketing, social impact campaigns, and media planning services targeting government and commercial clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Runyon Saltzman (RSE) is a full-service advertising and public relations agency that delivers integrated marketing communications, including advertising, public relations, digital and social media marketing, video production, media planning, crisis management, community engagement, and public affairs. The agency specializes in social impact and public education campaigns for government, healthcare, non-profit, and commercial clients, executing behavior-change communications across multiple channels and languages.

Product overview

Runyon Saltzman (RSE) is a full-service advertising and public relations agency offering an integrated portfolio of services. The agency's core offerings include advertising, public relations, digital/social media marketing, video production, media planning, crisis management, community engagement, and public affairs. The agency specializes in social impact campaigns, particularly for government and nonprofit clients, with expertise in public health campaigns, behavior change communications, and statewide public education initiatives. Services are delivered through GSA-certified contract vehicles including the California Multiple Award Schedule and General Services Administration Multiple Award Contract.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advertising Services
• Public Relations
• Digital Services
• Social Media Marketing
• Media Planning
• Video Production
• Crisis Management
• Community Engagement
• Public Affairs
• Marketing Consultation

Quantifiable outcome

• 373% revenue growth from 2019-2021, ranking seventh among Sacramento's fastest growing companies
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Office on Women's HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2023RSE partnered with Office on Women's Health to launch new federal nationwide postpartum depression initiative 'Talking Postpartum Depression' featuring real stories from women.
• State of California's Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2023RSE developing integrated public education campaign to help Californians stay safer during extreme heat events, focusing on vulnerable populations including pregnant people, parents of young children, elderly, and those in urban areas.
• California Department of Public Health - Alzheimer's Disease ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023RSE selected to launch California's first Alzheimer's Disease Public Awareness Media Campaign to increase public awareness, reduce stigma, and educate on signs of Alzheimer's disease targeting women and LGBTQ+ populations disproportionately impacted.
• California Department of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2023RSE expanded scope of work with CDT to assist with developing California's Digital Equity Plan, focusing on promoting participation through online surveys, local agency engagement, and community organization outreach to inform the plan for securing federal grant funding.
• California Department of Financial Protection and InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2022RSE engaged with DFPI to help Californians protect their financial health through statewide digital and out-of-home media campaigns about federal student loan repayment and cryptocurrency fraud awareness.
• California Black MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Team RSE coalition for State of California COVID-19 Public Awareness and Education campaign, providing ethnic media outreach and communications support.
• Ethnic Media ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Team RSE coalition providing ethnic media services and outreach coordination for COVID-19 public education campaign.
• CiviConnectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency in Team RSE coalition for COVID-19 campaign execution.
• EMC ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing research support for Team RSE COVID-19 public education campaign.
• LAGRANT CommunicationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency in Team RSE coalition providing communications services.
• Lucas Public AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency in Team RSE coalition for public affairs support.
• M&M Media SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing media solutions for Team RSE COVID-19 campaign.
• Nakatomi & AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency in Team RSE coalition for COVID-19 public education efforts.
• NUNA Consulting GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing consulting services for Team RSE campaign.
• SensisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency in Team RSE coalition for multicultural marketing support.
• Solsken Public Relations & MarketingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing PR and marketing services for Team RSE.
• VPE Tradigital CommunicationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing digital communications support for COVID-19 campaign.
• First 5 San JoaquincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2018 supporting children's health programs including Stella's Shiny Smile dental health campaign, family wellness initiatives, and mental health destigmatization efforts.
• Mondavi CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partnership supporting Mondavi Center's 20th anniversary gala celebration with marketing materials, theme development 'The Art of Transformation,' and ongoing collaborative creative work.
• Witherell's Auction HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComplete rebranding partnership including new logo suite development, website refresh, and promotional campaign for Al Capone estate auction generating worldwide media coverage.
• ecogroundscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for sustainable coffee brand packaging design and advertising campaign targeting college campuses with recyclable packaging messaging.
• Western HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComplete rebranding including new name, logo, and accompanying campaign to position Western Health as offering unique care for unique individuals and communities.
• California Mental Health Services AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver decade-long partnership on Each Mind Matters: California's Mental Health Movement including Walk In Our Shoes, Know The Signs, Help@Hand, and various stigma reduction campaigns.
• California Department of AgingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunications and outreach support for California's Master Plan for Aging including comprehensive communications plan development, key messaging, collateral creation, and earned media resulting in 44 media placements reaching 265 million.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• M+R Strategic Communications: M+R is a mid-sized public health and advocacy-focused marketing agency known for nonprofit and public health campaigns. It is comparable to RSE because both specialize in behavior change communications, public health awareness, and government/nonprofit clients with similar project-based retainer economics.
• GMMB: GMMB is a full-service communications agency that focuses on health, social impact, and public affairs campaigns for government, nonprofit, and advocacy clients. It is highly comparable to RSE's government PR and behavior change campaign model, with similar federal contracting credentials and multicultural execution capabilities.
• ICF Next: ICF Next is the marketing and communications arm of ICF, a global consulting firm, focused on government, health, and public education campaigns. It is highly comparable to RSE because both compete for the same California-style state and federal health communications RFPs with similar outcome-based contract structures.

Broad incumbents

• Burson (formerly BCW): Burson is a global public relations and public affairs agency (formed by the merger of Burson-Marsteller and BCW) with strong healthcare and government practices. It is comparable to RSE through overlapping crisis communications, public affairs, and integrated public-sector campaign delivery.
• Ogilvy PR: Ogilvy PR is the public relations and social marketing arm of Ogilvy, with deep public sector, social impact, and behavior change campaign practices. It competes with RSE for similar government and nonprofit public education engagements at much larger scale.
• Hill+Knowlton Strategies: Hill+Knowlton is a global public affairs and communications agency serving government, healthcare, and corporate clients. It is comparable to RSE through overlapping public affairs, crisis communications, and public education campaign work for regulated and public-sector buyers.
• FleishmanHillard: FleishmanHillard is a global public relations and integrated communications agency with strong public affairs and healthcare practices. It is comparable to RSE through overlapping public sector, healthcare, and public education campaign work and a similar integrated advertising-PR delivery model.
• Ketchum: Ketchum is a global public relations agency (now within Omnicom) with dedicated social marketing, public affairs, and healthcare practices. It is comparable to RSE through similar full-service PR-advertising capability mixes serving health, government, and nonprofit clients with social impact emphasis.
• Weber Shandwick: Weber Shandwick is a global public relations and integrated communications agency with deep public affairs and social impact practices. It is comparable to RSE as a full-service PR-led shop serving government, healthcare, and nonprofit clients on behavior change and public education campaigns at vastly larger scale.

Regional players

• Berlin Cameron (BC): Berlin Cameron is an integrated, full-service creative and PR agency headquartered in New York with strong consumer brand and social impact work. It is a comparable full-service creative-PR shop serving brand and mission-driven clients with a similar integrated delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rseagency
• Facebookfacebook.com/rseagency
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/runyon-saltzman-einhorn
• Instagraminstagram.com/rseagency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Runyon Saltzman