Kelly Rossi '95: Digital Marketing Expert Based in Vegas

Tell us about your current role at Family Fun Vegas.

My primary business is Marketing Magnitude, a digital marketing agency. FamilyFun.Vegas is the second popular local website that I've built while running an advertising agency. I built the site after my son was born because I saw a need to easily find family-friendly things to do in Sin City. 

I do all of the geeky stuff it takes to run a website: build it, put up new content, track it, etc.  I don’t have anyone else working on this site right now, so it’s just me. 

Was this the career path you expected to take?

My industry didn’t exist when I graduated high school. My senior year at OES, I spent a week at Intel with my dad. I was very curious about the internet, so he walked me over to the one guy on his floor that had it. In fact, the staff at Southern Oregon University, where I went, was about 50/50 on whether or not computers should even be included into art or graphic design. Then, my first boss out of college told me in 1999 “the internet wasn’t going to last long,” which was a huge reason I quit. 

Regardless of the uncertainty of the internet at the time, I had been on DOS systems playing Rouge since I was five, so I knew a computer was going to be involved in whatever I was going to do.  

I initially wanted to be in 3D animation and worked on one video game in college.  But after receiving what must have been one of thousands of postcards back from PIXAR rejecting my application, I went into advertising.  

Looking back at your OES experience, what was your favorite class?

I loved my experience at OES and pinning down one class is hard. Several of them contributed to who I am. 

I remember at the time thinking that David Straight’s “Philosophy of Love” was my favorite.  But I know that Jack O’Brien’s drawing classes set my course artistically. I use things he taught me there to teach my son. I also liked all of my math classes.  

However, for pure entertainment value it was definitely when I was put in class where I got to witness the comedic duo of my classmate Ian Peterson Nedry and Mr. Locke together. 

Do you still keep in touch with classmates from OES?

I don't keep in touch with my classmates as often as I should. But I think our class is tight and we can all reach out to each other at any time. For example, this last summer, the Dead and Company were at the Sphere. When I saw that, I immediately texted Courtney (Kaempf) Laing ’95, and a few weeks later we were reliving our glory days. 

The class of ’95 is having their 30th reunion this year, on May 31. Will we see you there?

Of course!