Warren, Melissa, 1959-

Linda Faiss, Helen Foley, and Melissa Warren founded and run Faiss Foley Warren Public Relations and Public Affairs.

Melissa Warren grew up in Salt Lake City Utah before moving to Las Vegas at the age of 31 in 1990.

In this Oral History the three narrators discuss their career in public affairs in Las Vegas and founding their own company. They begin by discussing Pardee Homes and the expansion of master planned communities across the Las Vegas Valley. They emphasize their different approach to public relations by avoiding ribbon cuttings and big check presentations and instead putting on a show. They share their experiences working with downtown redevelopment including the Fremont Street Experience, Downtown Alliance, Mob Museum, Symphony Park and the World Market Center.

Faiss, Foley, and Warren detail how they helped reshape Henderson and crisis management working with Basic Magnesium after the plant explosion of 1988. They also discuss solar clients and rideshares such as Uber and Lyft. They highlight navigating public relations in the world of social media. They continue by explaining how and why they started their own PR firm and the process of retaining clients.

They conclude the interview by addressing contemporary politics and focusing on their role in the Women’s March of 2017, the working relationship in an all-female firm and the emergence of a WNBA professional sports teams in Las Vegas