Nicholas Ruiz
I Make Brands Look Good, Sound Smart & Feel Fun ✦ Creative Director | Digital Marketing | Experiential Design. Co-Founder @ America’s #1-rated Gay Bar
- Role
- General Manager Co-founder at Troupe429
- Location
- Norwalk, CT, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Nicholas Ruiz
Hi, I’m Nicholas : a creative leader, marketer, & entrepreneur with 15+ years of experience turning ideas into impact.I’ve built campaigns and experiences for MoMA, Ralph Lauren, Human Rights Watch, and more. My work blends storytelling, design, and strategy to drive engagement and inspire action.I also co-founded Troupe429, the highest-rated gay bar in America on Google. There, I lead events, marketing, community partnerships, and team development while running a fast-paced hospitality business from the ground up.I thrive in high-stakes, high-creativity environments and bring both vision and follow-through to every project.Portfolio:
Experience
General Manager Co-founder
Jan 2016 — Present
Co-Founder of America’s top-rated gay bar on Google, overseeing budgets, people leadership, compliance, vendor relations, experiential design, and marketing strategy to drive continued success· Lead all aspects of creative direction, including interior design, graphic design, digital content, and event production, ensuring a cohesive and dynamic brand experience across touchpoints· Develop and execute communications strategies, partnering with distributors and brands on campaigns that elevate products and drive sales, while integrating photography and video production to maximize engagement and audience growth· Spearhead award-winning events and experiences, earning top industry accolades, including Best LGBTQ Bar (Connecticut Magazine) and Best Gay Party (Paper Magazine, New York Magazine)· Expanded brand visibility worldwide, earning recognition in global press and mentions on tv shows, while generating over 720M views on Troupe429’s GIPHY channel to extend reach far beyond its physical location
Education
Future London Academy
Design Thinking and Innovation
2018 — 2018
Drexel University
B.S., Design & Merchandising
2006 — 2010
Harvard Business School Online
CORe
2020 — 2021
Skills
- Event Planning
- Social Media
- Event Management
- Art
- Fundraising
- Graphic Design
- Brand Development
- Museums
- Nonprofits
- Team Building Facilitation
- Creative Direction
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