The Story Behind In Plain Sight Marketing
Compiled by Abbi Drysdale and Renee Plaine
Some businesses start with a service. In Plain Sight Marketing (IPSM) started with a mission: to help small businesses and nonprofits find their voice, tell their stories, and create impact. Before launching IPSM, Renee Plain spent five years in advertising, where she saw small businesses and nonprofits struggle to get strategic marketing support. They weren’t just looking for advertising; they needed a partner who believed in their success. “I saw so many small businesses and nonprofits struggling with the many marketing and advertising options out there,” Plain said. “I started IPSM to be a strategic partner, not just another vendor.” What began as a one-woman operation grew quickly. In 2015, her mother, Kathie Taylor, APR, joined, bringing her background in journalism and public relations. By 2018, IPSM had evolved into a mother-daughter partnership, expanding into a full-service marketing, public relations, and business development agency. Today, their team serves clients across Nevada and beyond, supporting those who strengthen communities.
“Connecting students with careers is sum of the most fulfilling work we’ve done. When
businesses and educators work together, we’re not just filling jobs—we’re building futures.”
For IPSM, marketing isn’t just about building awareness; it’s about building futures. Workforce development has become one of their most impactful focus areas. IPSM connects educators and industry leaders to ensure education and industry align. “Connecting students with careers is some of the most fulfilling work we’ve done,” Plain said. “When businesses and educators work together, we’re not just filling jobs—we’re building futures.”
That same passion extended to the work IPSM did with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, where they introduced club leadership to professionals to enhance programming. They brought in local chefs to teach teens how to cook, giving them confidence and life skills. These weren’t just career lessons; they were moments that sparked self-belief.
Mentorship is personal to Plain and the IPSM team. She has been a guest speaker in Carson High School’s Business Marketing class, a sponsor and judge for the school’s Shark Tank program, and a mentor for the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Carson City chapter. She has also judged FBLA’s state competition and, most recently, was a guest speaker for the Reynolds School of Journalism’s Media Ethics class. Plain also spent over two years mentoring small businesses in marketing and business development at the Adams Hub.
