Longtime PR leader Kristel Wagner retires after 20 years with Rinck
Lewiston, Maine – In its 25 years as an agency, Rinck Advertising has built its reputation on something deeper than campaigns: strong, lasting relationships with clients, colleagues, partners, and communities. This spring, that commitment came full circle as Rinck celebrated the first employee retirement in the agency’s history.
Kristel Wagner
Kristel Wagner, a longtime public relations leader and one of Rinck’s most beloved team members, has retired after 20 years with the agency and more than 30 years working in marketing and communications in Maine.
Wagner joined Rinck in 2007 as Public Relations Manager after serving in the same role at a Portland agency and previously working at Central Maine Heart & Vascular Institute. At Rinck, she helped lead public relations and media relations for clients including the Maine McDonald’s Owner Operator Association, Gorton’s Seafood, Mechanics Savings Bank, Amtrak Downeaster, Portland Jetport, and Garelick Farms, among others.
For nearly two decades, Wagner was known for her ability to listen deeply, earn trust quickly, and help clients tell their stories with clarity and care. She brought a steady, thoughtful presence to high-stakes communications work, including crisis communications, media relations, community events, and client counsel.
One of Wagner’s most meaningful bodies of work was her long-standing public relations leadership for the Maine McDonald’s High School Senior All-Star Basketball Games; a signature Maine high school sports tradition. She was on the team who created the Spirit of the Game Awards, which honor student-athletes whose courage, character, and love of the game transcended the scoreboard. Patrick Thibodeau and Josh Titus were among the first honorees, and Wagner has maintained deep friendships with the families connected to the award.
“Kristel’s retirement is a milestone not only because she has given Rinck nearly two decades of extraordinary service, but because she represents exactly what we hoped to build when we started this agency,” said Laura Rinck, CEO and Founder of Rinck Advertising. “Rinck has always believed that great work begins with great relationships. Kristel lived that every day. She cared deeply about our clients, our team, the media, and the communities our work touched. Her impact can be seen not just in the stories she placed or the events she helped lead, but in the friendships, trust, and goodwill she built along the way.”
In 2014, while maintaining her PR role, she became Rinck’s first human resources manager overseeing new employee onboarding, employee benefits, and company culture initiatives. In 2022, Wagner transitioned to the role of administrative services director.
“Kristel brought intelligence, calm, humor, and heart to every role she held at Rinck,” said Peter Rinck, Co-Founder of Rinck Advertising. “She was trusted by clients, respected by colleagues, and loved by this team. To see her become our first retiree is a proud moment for all of us and a meaningful reflection of the kind of agency we have worked so hard to create.”
Wagner was a longtime member of the Maine Public Relations Council and will be remembered by her Rinck colleagues and clients alike for her quick wit, great fashion sense, and her genuine care for everyone she interacted with.
“McDonald’s of Maine had an outstanding relationship with Rinck,” said retired McDonald’s Owner Operator Gary Eckmann, Sr. “Kristel and her team were the primary reason for the excellent communication and execution of the first McDonald’s PR plan in Maine. Kristel was always very professional, warm, and dedicated to the success of our brand.”
“One of the most rewarding parts of my two decades at Rinck has been the many colleagues, mentors, and partners who supported and inspired me along the way,” said Wagner. “I’m excited for what’s ahead and will carry forward so many great memories from a career I loved.”
About Rinck Advertising: Founded in 2001, Rinck is a nationally recognized marketing, advertising, and public relations agency headquartered in Maine with teams across the U.S. Rinck helps brands change minds and drive action through behavioral insight, culture-first strategy, and experience-led execution. The agency works with local, national, and global clients across consumer-packaged goods, restaurant service, healthcare and public health, higher education, government, financial services, tourism, and nonprofit sectors. Learn more at www.rinckadvertising.com or check out @RinckAdvertising on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.