WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. – As soon as Rob Russini purchased his Minuteman Press franchise in Wappingers Falls, NY early in 2026, he hit the ground – or should I say the baseball field – running. Rob immediately went to work and has landed a marketing partnership with the Hudson Valley Renegades baseball team. The Renegades are a High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

In a joint press release published on MiLB.com, Minuteman Press in Wappingers Falls and the Renegades announced a multi-year partnership that included the unveiling of “Minuteman Press Terrace” at Heritage Financial Park. The article states, “The Minuteman Press Terrace can seat up to 50 guests, and is perfect for corporate outings, celebrations, and individuals looking to package field-level seats with an exhilarating hospitality experience, inclusive of food within this exclusive section of Heritage Financial Park. Situated next to the tunnel leading to the Renegades home clubhouse, the Minuteman Press Terrace offers an unmatched ability to get up-close and personal with Renegades players before and after the game.”

Rob Russini shares, “The Minuteman Press Terrace is the perfect choice for group outings. Groups can pair quality socialization within an electric atmosphere sure to impress. As we look to grow our footprint within the area, we want to be top of mind for businesses in need of printing, advertising and marketing design. We are thrilled to be partnering with the Renegades, and we look forward to the long-term relationship.”

Tom Denlinger, General Manager of the Renegades, says, “We are thrilled to welcome Minuteman Press in Wappingers Falls into our Renegades family. We are looking forward to helping them grow with us through this partnership and for guests at Heritage Financial Park to have magical experiences in the Minuteman Press Terrace.”

Partnership Builds Brand Awareness & Credibility

When asked about how the partnership with the Renegades came about, Rob shares, “I reached out to the Renegades while I was in Minuteman Press training to see if there were opportunities to partner. The Renegades have been a staple in the area and attract local members of the community, small business owners, and key decision makers of small to mid-sizes businesses every game.”

Rob continues, “Through having naming rights to our own Terrace, we are able to showcase our name on the left field padding, section banner, and receive various shoutouts thorough the season including during games. Additionally, we have season tickets with the name ‘Minuteman Press’ on the back of the seats and can hand out to our existing VIP clients throughout the season.”

He adds, “Lastly, as a networking opportunity, we can use the Minuteman Press Terrace once each season for free, which will allow us to invite 50 Chamber Members or members of other networking groups to the game with free tickets and free food. All of the above enhances our name recognition in the community and builds brand trust.

What does this mean for Minuteman Press in Wappingers Falls? Rob answers, “We are excited about the opportunity to grow our brand through non-traditional marketing channels like this. We are also happy to be able to share the benefits with our VIP clients to encourage continuous relationship-building. When it all comes together, this will help increase our brand equity through new clients and sales growth.”

Rob concludes, “This form of marketing acts as a touchpoint to the larger marketing plan, that increases impressions, recognition, trust, and eventually brand recall, allowing us to grow our footprint in the community.”

Quick Hits – Rob Russini

Background: “I spent 15 years in banking, working for large commercial banks to regional credit unions in retail banking, marketing, and senior leadership roles. After my time in banking, I went on to take a Chief Marketing Officer role with a debt management firm and later become the President and CEO. I was able to grow revenue and ultimately profitability by 150% within 3 years by focusing on people, process and growth opportunity.”

Why Minuteman Press? “I chose Minuteman Press after months of research on various franchises. I was looking for an established franchise that meshed with my background in marketing as well as a franchise that had products and services that target markets desired. With Minuteman Press, there was an opportunity in a nearby growing market where I could focus on sales, marketing, and servicing businesses with needed solutions. Every business could be a client; it's a win-win!”

Training & Support: “The initial training was tremendous. Pete Taglino and Tom Carnesi did a tremendous job delivering the training materials in an engaging and informative way. I then had the opportunity to work with our Field Representative Frank D'Elia and Area Manager Patrick Rozmus on various tasks and opportunities. Both Frank and Patrick have been incredibly responsive and supportive as I continue to orient myself with the franchise. Lastly, I had the chance to work with Brendan Reilly and Michelle Gassen when ordering new equipment, and both were great to work with. Michelle went out of her way to assist with a huge delivery and was fantastic in the process.”

Final Thoughts: “My mentality is, as a franchise owner, you NEED to invest in YOUR business. I started taking advantage of the Internet Marketing Program right away. I am constantly looking for opportunities to increase marketing efforts—both traditional and non-traditional methods, and I am looking at other expansion opportunities. Staying stagnant isn't an option if I want to increase my bottom-line.”