Where Emily Kientzel would land next after graduating from the University of Wyoming was — like the coin toss before kickoff — a 50/50 toss-up. Would she choose the frigid winters of Green Bay or the desert heat of Las Vegas? In the end, a call from the Raiders and a desire to avoid below-freezing temps had her packing her bags for the Southwest.

Kientzel developed a passion for sports marketing while earning her business degree, and her role as an e-commerce content coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders certainly helped pad her portfolio. Not to mention the role came with some stellar perks. 

“Working in the NFL for the Raiders was definitely a cool experience,” Kientzel says. “I was fortunate enough to sit courtside at two Aces games (which introduced me to my new love for the Las Vegas Aces), and I even got free tickets to the final day of F1.”

Even though she’s grateful for the experience, the ambitious St. Louis transplant became hungry for more responsibility. She wanted a role where staying productive, providing friendly service, and waking up each day with a positive attitude makes a big impact.

As Integrated Graphics Services’ (IGS) new sales and promotions representative, Kientzel will be on hand to guide campus clients with print requests, promotional products, and branded materials — ensuring every project is simple, smooth, and on point.

Your role is a new one. How will it impact the services IGS provides to campus clients?

The two main parts of my job are promotional and print. I help manage our inbox and create jobs, whether it's flyers or postcards. On the promotional side, I mostly help Abbas Badani [senior director of Integrated Graphics Services] with apparel orders. The promotional side is insane — so many orders!

This new role allows for more: more jobs, more inquiries, and more help for the team. We are so busy, so having another person on board helps lessen the workload for everyone. I’m another person who can input your print request and get your t-shirts ordered. This will benefit the UNLV community because of that little bit of extra work we’re able to take on.

What was it like working for an NFL organization?

One thing about me is that when I set a goal or establish a new dream, I work as hard as I can to make it happen. My sports marketing professor at the University of Wyoming told me it’s very hard to get into the industry. And yes, I can see how that’s true — almost every sports job application somewhere says, “At least 1-2 years of sports-related experience is required.” 

I applied anyway, and I ended up getting two calls back: one from the Raiders and one from the Packers. I suppose it was “right place, right time.” I’m very lucky and grateful that I even received two phone calls at all!

So, it was the Raiders position that drew you to the Entertainment Capital of the World?

It was either Las Vegas or Green Bay, and I was really interested in both. I think the warmer climate and bigger city ultimately drew me in. I moved here in June 2025, and I’m so happy with my decision — I love it already!

Before Las Vegas, I was completing my bachelor’s degree in Laramie, Wyoming. Yes, Vegas and Laramie are basically polar opposites!

I also grew up in St. Louis, Mo., and Omaha, Neb. Something fun to note is that I have lived in every U.S. time zone! We lived in Atlanta for one year. I grew up in the Midwest, went to school in Wyoming, and now live here!

Since you’ve moved to Las Vegas, what are some things you like to do for fun?

The restaurant options are insane! Living in St. Louis, we were blessed with amazing Italian and BBQ. My family and I have always been foodies, so it’s super fun exploring options in Vegas.

One of my favorite restaurants, which I’ve already been to twice, is Din Tai Fung. Two of my favorite Italian places are Casa Di Amore and La Strega. I’m always searching for recommendations, so send them my way!

I haven’t done much exploring or tourist-related things yet, but I did visit the Valley of Fire, and that was super cool.

What drew you to marketing?

I got into marketing through my internship during college. I worked at a robotics company called UplinkRobotics. That was super fun, and I had amazing mentors. They signed me full-time after the summer. Next was the Raiders job post-grad.

Something I enjoy about what I do is learning — there is always something to learn. I like to soak up as much information as I can. I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge and becoming versed in the world of print and higher education.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

I don’t know if there’s a single “best” piece of advice, but something I heard recently that I like is: If you only have 20% to give and you give all of that 20%, then you just gave 100% of what you have. The “all-or-nothing mentality” can hold you back in a lot of ways.

Another piece of advice is to slow down. It seems like we’re always in a rush to do, do, do. I’m trying to remind myself more often to pause, take a breath, and relax.

Any thoughts on this year’s Super Bowl game between the Seahawks and Patriots?

I was hoping the Broncos made it in. The game was OK — not super interesting. Even the commercials weren’t that engaging.

Do you have any favorite hobbies?

I like to bake, cook, read, watch movies/TV, workout — kind of whatever feels best in the moment. Sometimes I want to tackle a 750-piece puzzle, and other times a new comedy movie is best.

How are you getting to know your role and learning about UNLV?

So far, my process has been to absorb as much information as I can. I learn something new every day. I’ve also been attending new hire events to learn more about my peers and the UNLV campus. Since I’m new to Las Vegas, I’m enjoying getting to know people around campus. If anyone wants to grab coffee sometime, I’m always up for checking out one of the campus spots.

There are many ways to define being a “Rebel” at UNLV. What does being a Rebel mean to you?

I would say being a “Rebel” is being kind, welcoming, and offering a smile. You know what they say — smiles are free. I also think being a Rebel means showing up every day with the intention to give your best.