Our Team

Who We Are

Meet the Founder

Beth McRae

CEO

Beth McRae oversees The McRae Agency with 30-plus years in the public relations, social media, and marketing industries. She specializes in strategic planning, news media, community and public relations, social media and online relations, and marketing communications in various industries, including retail, franchises, consumer products, and business-to-business industries.

Beth has secured coverage in news outlets such as Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, CNN, Better Homes & Gardens, USA Today, The Today Show, Consumer Reports, U.S. News & World Report, Los Angeles Times, This Old House, Robb Report, CNET, Parenting Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Self Magazine, MSNBC, Entrepreneur Magazine, HGTV, CNBC, and virtually every conceivable local, regional and national, traditional and online news organization out there.

She has worked with a variety of clients, including Google, Nextel/Sprint, Sunny Delight, Red Bull, CBRE, Piper Jaffray, Z Gallerie, Skanska and Cushman & Wakefield, including franchises such as Massage Envy and The Joint. Beth has received more than 45 awards for her public relations and marketing campaigns, including the Bank of America Enterprise Award and was a pioneer in the early days of social media, leveraging various platforms to benefit clients.

She was recognized in the Business Journal “Who’s Who in Business” special report and has served as a board member for numerous non-profit organizations over the years. Beth is a graduate of LEAD, a leadership-training program, and a member of the Junior League, serving on its Foundation board. She is the chair of the Phoenix Art Museum's Circles Advisory Council and is a graduate of Valley Leadership, a Phoenix-based leadership-training program. She won the Community Megastar Award for excellence in community service. She was named a 2011 Trendsetter for lifetime achievement in civic and charitable contributions and was given the Childsplay "It Takes A Village" award.

She has served on boards ranging from the Arizona Humane Society and HomeBase Youth Services, to the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society. She is on the Barry and Peggy Goldwater Foundation board. She has previously been appointed to the Governor’s Commission to Prevent Violence Against Women and is a founder of Las Palomas, a women’s group that has raised over $1 million for women's and children's charities. She is a graduate of the FBI Phoenix Citizens Academy and serves on its board. She has chaired numerous nonprofit events, such as Phoenix Heart Ball, Phoenix Symphony Ball, Moondance at the Heard, American Cancer Society Gala, Trends Gala, TGen's Runway for Research, and Arizona Costume Institute's Holiday Luncheon, to name a few. She is the co-founder of the hugely successful Compassion With Fashion Luncheon, benefitting the Arizona Humane Society.

Beth earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism, with an emphasis in public relations and advertising, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing from Texas Christian University where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Sigma Pi. She also received a master's degree in business administration.

Samantha DeRose

Vice President

Samantha DeRose works as Vice President at The McRae Agency in Scottsdale, Arizona, overseeing all Agency staff. She specializes in social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, public relations, and marketing communications in various industries, including retail, consumer products, and business-to-business industries.

Samantha has worked with a variety of clients, including Solatube International, Skanska USA, Pinnacle Aviation, To Be Continued Consignment Boutique, Get Organized with Bridges + CO, Debbie Gaby Charities, The Junior League of Phoenix, The Southwest Shakespeare Company, Spinelli's Pizzeria and Vincent on Camelback; creating content, writing and distributing press releases, pitching feature stories, designing digital newsletters and growing and strengthening their social media channels.

She has secured coverage in local and national media, numerous consumer and trade magazines such as; My Renovation Magazine, Architect Magazine, Retrofit Magazine, Modern Luxury Magazine etc., and hit HGTV shows Love It or List It and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Samantha also works as the Fashion Editor for Trends Magazine in Scottsdale. You can read her “Samantha’s Favorite Finds” in each issue and catch her email marketing handiwork in each “Trends Chatter” digital newsletter.

Pro bono, she manages the social media and content development for non-profit, Read Better Be Better.

Samantha was awarded by The Arizona Republic “Who’s Next” as one of 23 young communications professionals helping Arizona find its voice, and was nominated by PeopleMaven as a Brilliant PR Expert Under 30 For 2018.

Samantha earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication with a minor in Public Relations and Strategic Communications from Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business.

Robin Graber

PR Director

Robin Graber works as the PR Director at The McRae Agency, where her expertise shines in crafting compelling narratives. With experience in social media marketing, writing and distributing press releases, pitching feature stories, designing digital newsletters, and expanding social media presence across diverse sectors, Robin is a valuable asset to her clients. Her passion for storytelling and adeptness at navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape make her indispensable at McRae.

Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, complemented by minors in Economics and International Relations, Robin brings a unique perspective to her role. Her academic background provides a deep understanding of global markets and business dynamics, enriching her strategic approach. This insight enables her to tailor campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences, driving impactful results and helping her clients stand out in a competitive market.

In her spare time, Robin Graber extends her expertise as a social media manager through freelancing for two notable trade publications: Retrofit and Retrofit Home. Leveraging her proficiency in crafting engaging narratives and navigating digital landscapes, Robin curates compelling content and spearheads strategic social media campaigns for these platforms. Her dedication to staying ahead of industry trends and fostering meaningful engagement allows her to effectively connect with audiences and drive impactful results.