Renee Knight (Patricia)

Hi, this is ASD Market Week and the team is putting together this fundraiser for our dear friend and colleague, Renee Knight, who suddenly passed away.

We want to celebrate Renee, and help her mom to cover the celebration of life expenses and the care of her beloved pets.

We want to pay tribute to Renee's work for our team and the friends she made here. She was with us for ten years as a vital member of the ASD sales team. Renee was a top consistent performer, handling, on average, a 9M territory annually. She was well-liked by her team as well as by her key accounts, with whom she took exceptional pride in working with

Some comments from her team:

Renee had become one of my dearest friends through working together at ASD. We looked forward to the next show, hanging out with each other as well as our colleagues. We were already booking things to do together for our March 2024 event. Outside work, we did many things together, such as visiting the Barbie Café this past spring. Renee loved Barbie; she was a collector of them. I am grateful we were all together, having fun, laughing, and dancing; those memories will stay with me forever. Renee used to tell me you are my guardian angel here on earth, and I know that I have the sweetest angel in heaven watching over me. I will forever miss her.

Holly Harris, Sr. Account Executive, ASD

I'm deeply saddened by Renee's sudden passing. Having known her for half my life, she was more than a co-worker; she was a cherished part of my life's journey. From celebrating my college graduation to showering love at my first baby shower, Renee was there through my significant milestones. Her love for Barbie, with its message of "You can be anything," reflected her own spirit of endless possibility and joy. In the hustle of life, particularly with a new baby in my arms, I now reflect on the times I wished I had reached out to her more. Rest in peace, beloved Renee. You are immensely missed and will forever hold a place in my heart.

Brittany Wilke, Sales & Marketing Specialist, Pan Emerald Intl Team.

I will always remember Renee for her love for dogs. She had a very special connection with her dogs. I asked her back in 2021 about my family getting a foster dog. She was so excited!. She said it was going to be the best decision for us to have a dog. She was right!!. She asked me about my family and my dog every time we saw each other. I am going to miss her kindness and sympathy.

Elkin Rodriguez, Intl Business Development Director, Emerald

Renee greeted me with welcome arms when I first started at Emerald 4 years ago. Her warm personality, friendly nature and contagious smile made me instantly feel part of the “ASD Family” that was already well established. Renee wasn’t just about getting her job done, she took pride in her work and formed lasting relations with her customers. They trusted her! Renee worked with passion and integrity which I highly admire. I have many fond memories of Renee throughout my time at Emerald, but I especially enjoyed spending the last night with her at our 80’s Party! We had so much fun at the party reminiscing about 80’s fashion trends, music and her “rocker girl” costume which she loved as it came directly from her closet and still fit her!

Alina Finelli, Sales Director, ASD

"Renee was always so kind and thoughtful. She made a point to always ask me about how my dad (after he was in a near death accident) was doing whenever I saw her. We connected over our love for music and enjoyed swapping concert stories. I will always remember Renee for her bright warm energy and big smile".

Sara Scharnweber, Account Executive, ASD

“I met Renee two years ago when I joined the ASD Market Week team. She was the first person to welcome me at show site with a huge hug and smiles. She made me feel a part of the team instantly. We became friends right away. Her smile would light up a room. She was such a big animal loved and a proud mama to her two dogs. Renee was the most caring and happy person I have ever met in life and she will always hold a special place in my heart.

Devon Chartier, Account Executive, ASD

I was so shocked and deeply saddened by the news yesterday, especially just hours after seeing Renee having a great time at the 80s party the night before. I have known her for over 10 years, and she has always been so sweet and thoughtful. We bonded over our shared love of pets and being “pet parents,” and she always remembered to ask how my cats were doing. She knew that I’d had to say goodbye to both of my fur-babies since I’d seen her last. I was so touched that in the middle of the chaos of the 80s party, she pulled me aside and raised her voice to be heard over the band to check in about how I was doing and ask whether I planned to adopt again when the time is right. I am so sad to think now about the dogs she loved so much being without their favorite person. My heart goes out to her family in this terrible time.

I also always admired that she traveled alone to far-off places for vacation and would not be deterred if she didn’t have a travel companion. I know a lot of people who would rather sit at home rather than go it alone, and I love that she didn’t let it hold her back.

Leslie Patko, Operations Coordinator, Emerald

From her direct manager, Greg Schultz, ASD. “I knew Renee the entire 10 years she was with Emerald, and have been her direct manager for many of those years. She was highly adored by her teammates and colleagues. This is not just a professional loss but a very personal loss to many of us, as we have been through so much together. She will be sorely missed and starting today we will celebrate her life!

From her Senior Leader, Group Vice President, Camille Candella:

From the moment Renee met anyone, she brought with her an unwavering spirit of kindness and warmth that touched each of us. She was the embodiment of what it means to be welcoming, always greeting everyone with a smile that could light up the room and a heart generous enough to make each of us feel uniquely valued. Her dedication to her work was admirable, but it was her dedication to the people around her that truly set her apart. We are all better for having known Renee. As we move forward, we carry with us not just the memory of her smile, but the lessons she shared with each of us.

Renee, you will be profoundly missed but never forgotten. Your spirit will always be a part of this team, reminding us of the power of kindness and the importance of making everyone feel welcome. Rest in peace, dear friend.

From our Executive Vice President , Karalynn Sprouse “ I met Renee about 22 years ago when I went to work as a VP of Advertising for Media News in Los Angeles, I was new in a big role and Renee was an eager Account Executive handling a massive territory. At 32, she had just earned both a BA and Masters degree going to night school while working full time, all on her own. I was so impressed with her and felt she had the work ethic to have a long and rewarding career. Her first love were her two dogs, second was going to concerts, not to mention she loved all things ‘Barbie’. When I came to Emerald, she immediately started her campaign to join our team and the company. She started working in sales at ASD two months after I arrived and has done an excellent job in her entire tenure. On a side note, my very first thought when the 80’s party was announced for our Emerald wide event this week.. ‘oh Renee is going to love this, she will already still have those 80’s outfits in her closet and the music was from an era she was most passionate about. We will miss you dear girl, may you rest in peace, say hello to my big brother in heaven and have fun with all our heavenly fur babies.

The sudden departure of Renee has left me deeply saddened. She was not only a colleague but also a dear friend, and her kind and sweet nature had a profound impact on everyone around her. The connection we forged through our work has given rise to enduring memories, and I will forever hold dear the moments we spent together. May God and angels be with her in heaven, where I hope she finds eternal peace. I find comfort in the belief that she is now in a better place, looking down on us with the same grace and kindness that defined her on Earth. My heartfelt thoughts go out to Renee's loved ones during this challenging time, Renee will be greatly missed but will never be forgotten.

Winnie Liu, former colleague (Intl Team - Emerald)