About Us
Meet the Team

Sarah Thornton, APR
President and Founder
Having worked with the country’s top developers throughout her career, Sarah is one of the most experienced real estate PR experts in Nevada. Her passion for construction and development is rooted in successful tenures at Southern Nevada’s largest master plan developer and the valley’s largest construction equipment dealership. While working with Del Webb Corporation, she garnered more news coverage in her first quarter than the company had ever received, earning the company an average of 20 million news impressions per month.
Sarah is an active member of the community and currently serves as an advisory board member for Family to Family Connection, High Rollers Adaptive Sports Foundation and Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Las Vegas chapter. She spent two years on the Board of Directors for Kenzi’s Causes, a children’s nonprofit in Denver. She has also served on the board of directors for the PRSA Colorado chapter and the International Association of Business Communicators’ (IABC) Las Vegas and Colorado chapters. She regularly volunteers with the Clark County Bar Association’s Community Service committee and Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. She has also volunteered with the National Association of Women Business Owners- Southern Nevada chapter. Sarah was named Public Relations Principal of the Year at the Electronic Media Awards in 2011, and the 2018 Volunteer of the Year by the Clark County Bar Association. Most recently, Sarah was named Senior PR Practitioner of the Year in 2020 by PRSA Las Vegas.
Sarah received her bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and in 2019 was honored as UNLV’s Alumna of the Year for the Greenspun School of Communications. Sarah was awarded Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from PRSA, a distinction held by only 15 percent of public relations professionals within the society’s global membership.

Whitney Maher
Public Relations and Social Media Manager
Whitney Maher brings a wide range of experience to the firm. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from Arizona State University in 2015. Whitney worked as a sports reporter and copy editor at The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, covering sports teams that included Gonzaga University basketball, Eastern Washington University football and the Spokane Indians Minor League Baseball team. She also worked as a news and sports producer for Spokane’s local CBS affiliate, KREM 2 News.
Whitney is an active member of the PRSA Las Vegas chapter and has served as the board’s liaison for UNLV Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She was named PR Newcomer of the Year in 2020 and was awarded a Pinnacle Award (top award) for a digital platform by the PRSA Las Vegas chapter.
Whitney offers an array of experience in media relations, digital and print content development, social media management, digital marketing, website management, photography, videography and editing.

Carlee Gettman
Senior Social Media & Public Relations Specialist
Carlee Gettman is a Las Vegas native and senior public relations specialist with a wealth of experience across diverse markets, including multifamily and residential real estate, corporate and non-profit industries.
She is currently a senior public relations specialist for Connected Communications, where she is responsible for optimizing team members performance to promote internal development, managing client accounts, overseeing the firm’s public relations department and innovating strategies to strengthen media relations.
Throughout her career, she has built an extensive background in media relations, writing, marketing, creative services and digital marketing. Carlee specializes in media relations and copywriting, which has supported her successes in garnering hundreds of millions in coverage for clients. She has secured placements in some of the industry’s most prestigious media outlets, including the New York Post, Robb Report, L.A. Times, Yahoo!, Mansion Global, People and more.
Carlee is the vice president of communications with the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Las Vegas Valley chapter, having previously served as its chapter administrator for two consecutive years.
At the beginning of 2022, Carlee co-founded a public relations and marketing networking group called New Society. The organization promotes and connects new and up-and-coming public relations and communications professionals through quarterly social events and meetings.
Carlee earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2020.

Zora Asberry
Public Relations Specialist
Zora Asberry is a Public Relations Specialist with Connected Communications and has a decade of experience in media as a former News Anchor and Reporter. Zora is an Emmy award-winning journalist winning in the category of “Best Morning Newscast for medium to larger markets” in 2022, for her coverage of the first day of school titled, ‘Yes, Kids Go to School in Vegas’, in 2021.
She earned her degree in 2014 from the University of Texas at San Antonio, studying Technical Communications with a minor concentration in Business Administration. She has worked at television stations in Texas, Alabama, and Nevada. As a journalist, Zora covered everything from former President Barrack Obama and former President Donald Trump, hurricanes Nate and Irma that struck the gulf coast in 2017, and the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas.
Zora is a newly active member of the PRSA Las Vegas Chapter. She is an expert at writing digital and print content including press releases and bylined articles. She is also well-versed in photography, videography, and producing and editing content for social media, web, and broadcast television. As a Public Relations Specialist, Zora has a wealth of experience in writing for residential real estate, law, medical, corporate, and non-profit industries.
Philanthropy and being involved in charity are important to Zora. She ran for Woman of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in 2019 and raised $15,000 that was donated to the society to fund research for various blood cancers.
Zora’s hobbies include spending time with her family, being active by swimming, lifting, and yoga, and singing and dancing.

Kayla Morrow
Social Media & Digital Marketing Specialist
Kayla brings a passion for social media and creativity to her position as Social Media and Digital Marketing Specialist. She loves to help clients build and showcase their brands and tell their stories through social media.
Previously, Kayla worked for The Walt Disney Company, where she honed her communication skills and gained invaluable experience in delivering high-quality customer service. She also worked for multiple professional sports organizations, where she was responsible for managing and promoting the teams’ brands and enhancing the fan experience.
Kayla graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2018 and holds a B.S. in Strategic Communication, with a double emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising.

Emily Hollister
Intern
Emily Hollister is a driven and talented professional with a passion for design, social media and public relations. As a certified expert in Adobe Suites, she has mastered the art of content creation and storytelling.
Throughout her career, Emily has gained extensive experience interning in various industries, including marketing, PR and fashion design. Leveraging her skills and knowledge in her internship roles, she has developed a deep understanding of effective branding and communication.
After completing her first year of study at California State University San Marcos, Emily returned to her hometown of Las Vegas, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in business marketing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2023. Emily’s education, extensive practical experience and deep-seated passion for design have equipped her to comprehend clients’ needs and translate them into reality.
Awards

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Las Vegas Valley Chapter’s Pinnacle Award winner for Senior PR Practitioner of the Year in 2020.

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Las Vegas Valley Chapter’s Pinnacle Award winner for Newcomer of the Year in 2020.

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Las Vegas Valley Chapter’s Pinnacle Award winner for Naqvi Injury Law’s Culture Code in 2020.

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Las Vegas Valley Chapter’s Pinnacle Award winner for William O’Keefe of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nevada Properties social media campaign.
- Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Las Vegas Valley Chapter’s Pinnacle Award winner for Quick Turnaround Programs
- Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Las Vegas Valley Chapter’s Pinnacle Award winner for Marketing Communications
- The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Greenspun College of Urban Affairs’ Alumna of the Year
- Clark County Bar Association’s Volunteer of the Year
Connected Communications is an award-winning public relations and marketing firm in Las Vegas that was founded in 2007 by Sarah Thornton, APR. Our boutique firm specializes in working with companies in residential and commercial real estate, professional services, healthcare and nonprofits. The firm works with clients in Las Vegas and across the US in Arizona, California, Utah, Oklahoma and Texas.
Our talented and seasoned team at Connected Communications has garnered millions of dollars’ worth of product promotion and news placement, created powerful and effective marketing campaigns and elevated our clients’ brand reputations in their industries and communities. Whether you are launching a new division or reviving a brand, our team is tenacious in our desire to help you achieve your business goals. We offer creative services for media relations, strategic planning, marketing, content development, special events, business development, digital marketing and social media.