SPROUTHOUSE - Key Persons
Having recently relocated back to her hometown of Kansas City, Abby discovered her passion for writing and strategically communicating stories at a young age. Craving a change of pace from the low-key Midwest lifestyle she grew up with, she began her career as a public relations intern in New York City, where she fell in love with the art of persuasion and building mutually beneficial relationships. Upon graduation from the University of Kansas, Abby moved to Nashville for a position at a local boutique PR firm, where she worked with clients in both the fashion and hospitality industries. As Nashville's restaurant scene grew, so did Abby's passion for it, and she sought a new role that married her personal and professional interests. She joined the Sprouthouse team in March 2020 with an excitement to provide clients with innovative yet effective ways to grow their businesses. On the weekends, you can find Abby at the Kansas City Comedy Club with friends, watching Disney movies with her husband and dog, Nala, or baking delicious desserts.
Originally from Long Island, New York, Alison has made a home for herself in the South since attending The College of Charleston. While refining her passion for marketing and design throughout her college years, she discovered her love for Charleston's lively hospitality scene after working as an intern at Charleston Wine + Food. During her senior year at The College, Alison joined Sprouthouse as an intern and felt right at home working with a team that shared her love of storytelling while helping grow her knowledge of the industry. After working in marketing for a boutique real estate firm, Alison returned to Sprouthouse's Charleston office to join the digital team in August 2021. When not at work, you can find Alison catching the sunset on Sullivan's Island, crossing another new restaurant off her (very long) list, and drawing her favorite Charleston spots.
A Florida girl born and raised, Amanda was exposed to the hospitality industry from a young age. She first caught a glimpse into the world of restaurant hospitality while working summers at the local beach resort growing up in Jacksonville. After earning her degree in Public Relations and Marketing from Auburn University, Amanda moved to Atlanta with dreams of working in restaurant PR. She honed her skills at a boutique lifestyle agency, specializing in retail and restaurant clientele. Working with national and local brands allowed Amanda to exercise her skills in traditional public relations, media outreach, influencer relations, and event planning. Notably, she has worked on restaurant, hotel, and shopping center grand openings along with influencer campaigns and events. She joined the Sprouthouse Atlanta office in September 2023 and is thrilled to be a part of this team, where her love for the culinary industry meets a group of talented, like-minded PR professionals. As a self-proclaimed foodie, Amanda loves watching the Food Network and trying out new recipes. After hours, you can find Amanda walking the Atlanta BeltLine with friends, enjoying a local happy hour, or cheering on the Auburn Tigers!
An Atlanta native and a graduate of the University of Virginia, Anna joined the Sprouthouse team after a nine-year career in cookbook PR at Clarkson Potter, Penguin Random House's largest cookbook and lifestyle publisher. There, Anna managed publicity campaigns and book tours for bestselling cookbooks by some of the country's biggest culinary stars. After nearly a decade living, working, and eating her way around New York City, Anna returned to her hometown to open Sprouthouse's Atlanta office in May 2017. A passionate writer who thrives on crafting the perfect pitch for clients, Anna puts her publishing background to good use at Sprouthouse, serving as both our resident cookbook expert and the team's in-house copy-editor. In her spare time, you can find Anna experimenting with new recipes from her extensive cookbook collection, hiking in the North Georgia mountains, and checking off as many novels as possible from her "to read" list.
A lifelong love of reading and writing took Ashley from her hometown of Indianapolis to Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Communications and then to New York City. There, she spent seven years working at public relations agencies, honing her skills with a diverse set of clients that ranged from beauty products to consumer-packaged goods to food and lifestyle businesses. Ready for a break from city life, in 2011, Ashley and her husband moved to Charleston, SC, where she worked as the Director of Communications for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival for three years. In May 2014, Ashley joined Sprouthouse and opened its Washington, D.C. office. In addition to leading client work across the hospitality, real estate, and non-profit sectors, Ashley works closely with Melany and Drew to manage and optimize Sprouthouse operations, processes, and strategic planning efforts. She lives in downtown D.C. with her husband, two boys, and French Bulldog. When she's not working, you can find her reading, running, or on the sidelines of her kids' many sports games.
Born and raised in Birmingham, Camille is a recent graduate of Auburn University, where she studied communication and psychology. Her southern roots influenced her passion for food; she grew up watching her grandmother cook southern-inspired meals every Sunday. Camille's love of storytelling sparked when she took a role as Creative Director for a university organization called Humans of Auburn (inspired by Humans of New York), which showcases the unique stories of Auburn residents and students. Hoping to pursue the joys of storytelling on a larger scale, she dove into the PR world by interning with a New York consumer goods PR firm in 2020, before joining the Sprouthouse team in November 2021. In her spare time, you'll find Camille adding to an already extensive list of restaurants to try, learning her favorite songs on the piano, and kayaking the Cahaba River.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Business Development
Collis Hillebrand grew up in Louisville, KY, and was obsessed with food and restaurant culture from an early age. In high school, she began working at a local French restaurant, developed a signature cookie recipe, and started selling her baked goods at a local grocery store. She attended college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a focus on Public Relations. She also helped found the school's Minor in Entrepreneurship. After college, Collis went to culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris where she received Le Grand Diplome and enjoyed as many Parisian restaurants as possible. From there she moved to Chicago where she began working at Wagstaff, eventually becoming an Executive Director. In 2016, she moved back to her hometown where she worked as the Director of Communications for Chef Edward Lee and The LEE Initiative. In 2022, she joined Sprouthouse as a Managing Director with her sights set on expanding the team's reach in Kentucky and the Midwest. In her free time, Collis is usually perusing cookbooks and trying out new recipes with her husband and their two young daughters.
Craig joined Sprouthouse as Creative Director in June 2019 to bring his branding and marketing expertise to our clients and their brands. For a decade he served as a designer, writer, and then Creative Director on national branding and marketing campaigns for clients like Nike, Volkswagen, Delta, and MasterCard while working at design and advertising agencies in New York City and Los Angeles. His work has garnered many awards - including an Emmy - as well as his mom's approval. A Charlotte native, Craig recently returned back "home" to the South when he, his wife, and their purebred mutt named Hawk moved to Nashville. When he's not working (and admittedly, sometimes when he is) he is scheming his next snowboarding expedition, which to him is "always the best day of his life," except for the day he was married, of course.
Danielle grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, cheering on the Chicago Cubs from an early age. Growing up, she developed a love for Italian cuisine after spending time in the kitchen at her grandparents' house. Eventually, she traded in her heavy winter coat for a pair of cowboy boots to attend Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. While attending Lipscomb, she was a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America and ran the program as President her senior year before graduating with a degree in public relations and marketing. She joined Sprouthouse's Nashville team in 2024 and has enjoyed immersing herself in the city's eclectic food scene, trying as many new restaurants as she can. In her spare time, Danielle finds comfort in the kitchen, experimenting with new recipes using creative twists, and cooking for her friends. When she is not wearing her apron, you can find her training for half marathons around Music City.
Drew Robinson is a native of Birmingham, AL and a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. After earning his degree, he moved to Mendocino, CA, where he expanded his knowledge of classic techniques and ingredient-focused food in restaurants along the Northern California coast. In 2000, he returned to his hometown to work with Frank Stitt at the acclaimed Highlands Bar and Grill, where he rose through the brigade to become Chef de Cuisine. In 2003, Drew decided to direct his focus toward traditional Southern foods and began working with Birmingham-based Jim ‘N Nick's Bar-B-Q. For 16 years, he served the company as Executive Chef and, later, as Vice President of Culinary and Purchasing. After years of fostering a vision of opening a business of his own, Drew launched Third Car Consulting in April 2018 to help culinary entrepreneurs refine their ideas and grow their businesses. In April 2019, he took over business operations management for Sprouthouse, in addition to maintaining his work as a culinary consultant. In his free time, Drew serves on the advisory board of the Southern Foodways Alliance, where he has been a member for over 15 years, and also volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America. Drew lives in Birmingham, AL with his wife, Melany, and two children, Connor and Grace.
A native of Durham, NC, Emily followed her love of the beach and southern cuisine to the Holy City, where she studied business administration, communications, and marketing at the College of Charleston. After graduating, Emily made the move to Washington, D.C. and worked in-house for two years at a popular Italian restaurant in Georgetown, where she managed public relations, sales, marketing, and events. Eager to hone in on her passion for public relations, Emily joined the Sprouthouse team in April 2019. She enjoys working alongside her colleagues to learn, understand, and effectively share the unique story behind each one of her clients. In 2023, Emily made her way back to life on the coast and relocated to Wilmington, NC. In her free time, you can find Emily reading, going to concerts, or spending time at the beach.
Emma was born and raised in Annapolis, MD but was pulled to the South for college and has stayed ever since. She graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Mass Communications specializing in Broadcast Journalism. After college, she headed to Charleston, SC to work for CBS affiliate WCSC-TV, then moved to Atlanta, GA where she spent several years as a producer at the city's FOX affiliate, WAGA-TV. Wanting to sharpen her skillset and share more stories from the hospitality world, Emma made the jump into public relations to join Sprouthouse in 2023. When she's not at work, you can find Emma conquering her growing reading list, escaping to the beach, or cheering on the Crimson Tide.
Erik brings over a decade of New York City hospitality public relations experience to his role at Sprouthouse. From hotels and restaurants to bars and booze, his extensive career journey has included working with hotels, restaurants, and artistic institutions globally, including opening properties in Paris, Rome, Asia, and Africa, and representing luxury brands like Barrière and Six Senses. These highlights are complemented by representing diverse destinations and tourism boards, including Richmond, VA, and Queensland, Australia. Erik joined Sprouthouse's Portland, ME, team in November 2023 where he spearheads initiatives in their newest market, leading with a hometown spirit and international sophistication. With a personalized armchair travel style, Erik thrives shaping narratives for lifestyle media through his client partnerships. Erik has a playlist for every occasion, taking advantage of any opportunity to tell a story. If he's away from his desk he's usually at a concert, trying a new cocktail bar, or thrifting for old coffee table books.
Born and raised in Arlington, VA, just five minutes from our nation's capital, Gabrielle has always had a deep passion for food. Her Mediterranean roots heavily influenced her love for cooking, and she was encouraged by her parents at an early age to take cooking classes at L'academie de la Cuisine. Gabrielle graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Tech, where she studied public relations, professional and technical writing, and marketing, before joining Sprouthouse in June 2021. Always looking for a new challenge, the fast-paced agency lifestyle, combined with her lifelong love for food and hospitality, has landed her in an industry where she truly thrives. Currently based in Richmond, VA, Gabrielle can be found testing new recipes from her favorite cookbooks, training for a race, and exploring the best coffee shops in her neighborhood when she's not at work.
Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, Grace developed an appreciation for a good meal at a young age, drawing inspiration from her Southern roots and her grandfather's Cajun cooking. Grace graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a degree in communication studies and a concentration in public relations. During her time at UAB, she discovered a knack for creative storytelling and thoughtful communications; she was excited to combine these passions with her love for great food when she moved to Tennessee to join Sprouthouse's Nashville office in 2022. In her free time, you can find Grace hiking, rock climbing, shopping, or grabbing a meal with friends at one of Nashville's delicious restaurants.
Jason grew up on a tomato farm in Ohio and followed his early interests in hospitality to The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. There, he earned degrees in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management with highlights along the way including an apprenticeship with a Certified Master Chef and a stint studying food cultures in Italy. After graduation, his winding career path included stops as a vegan pastry chef, wine educator, and chocolatier. Jason has drawn from his varied experiences to inform his public relations career over the past 10+ years, remaining focused on the industry he loves most: hospitality. Since joining the Sprouthouse NYC team in June 2015, Jason has brought a unique viewpoint, with knowledge of both sides of the restaurant industry, and prides himself on speaking the sometimes bewildering language of "chef." When he's not working, Jason's often found at the theater or feeding his hunger for travel.
Originally from Massachusetts, Jayne said goodbye to cold winters and made her way down to Charleston, SC to attend the College of Charleston, where she studied communications and studio art. Her passion for writing and storytelling led her to pursue a public relations internship at a local agency during college, but, having fallen in love with the city's bustling hospitality scene, she found the perfect home with Sprouthouse and joined the Charleston office in 2023. When Jayne isn't working, you can find her planning out her next art project, catching some sun on Sullivan's Island, or trying out new restaurants with friends.
An experienced entertainment executive, producer, and business operator, Jesse joined the Sprouthouse team as Chief Operating Officer in 2024, bringing with him deep experience from a rich career in creative, content, media, marketing, and live event production. Most recently, he served as the Chief of Staff at tvg hospitality, focusing on strategy, systems management, marketing, production, and brand partnerships instrumental in aligning the company's mission to operate top concert venues worldwide with exceptional food and beverage service. Jesse began his career in programming and digital with positions at CBS Digital Media, Yahoo! Originals + Studios, and HBO Original Programming. He later went on to serve as Chief Strategic Officer at Dayglo Ventures, managing marketing, creative, digital, and partnerships for projects like Brooklyn Bowl and The Capitol Theatre, and as COO of The Bowery Presents, where he led the company's expansion and operations across various venues in the U.S. In his position as Senior VP at AC Entertainment, a Live Nation company, he oversaw operations and strategy for 1,500 concerts and several festivals, including Bonnaroo, High Water, and Railbird, annually. Jesse, a Bucknell University graduate, enjoys family time, scuba diving, and skiing. He resides in Nashville with his wife and two children.
Born and raised in Columbia, SC, Katelyn is a graduate of College of Charleston's Department of Communication. After dining her way across the Lowcountry during college, she began her career at several Charleston-based PR agencies, including Rawle Murdy and The Becket Agency. There, she solidified her burgeoning passion for the food and beverage industry, spending three years growing media and social media presences for some of the city's top bars and restaurants. In 2016, Katelyn joined the growing tech sector of The Silicon Harbor to lead the marketing efforts for ENGAGE, one of the fastest growing startups in the South. She quickly realized her heart remained in the hospitality industry and joined the Sprouthouse team in February 2017. A strong writer with a big-picture mentality, Katelyn utilizes her 9+ years of experience to create strategic opportunities and synergies for her clients. When she isn't in the office, Katelyn is planning her next trip, breaking a sweat at the gym, or spending time at home in Johns Island with her husband and their maltipoo, Cooper.
Born and raised outside of San Francisco California, Katie has always had a deep love for food and being creative. She headed to the University of Arizona where she studied Communications and Public Relations. After graduating, Katie moved to New York City to pursue her interests in public relations, landing at a large-sized agency working with international consumer packaged food brands, where she learned the ins and outs of working on global campaigns. She then pivoted to a boutique agency, navigating across an array of lifestyle clients. With the love of food and hospitality still on her mind, Katie found Sprouthouse. Joining the Sprouthouse team in New York City, she brings her expertise in media relations, influencer public relations, and paid social media advertising to her work. Her driving passion is to help brands authentically communicate their stories, connect with their audiences, and achieve their goals. In her free time, Katie loves trying new restaurants in the city, walking with friends, and traveling to new places across the globe.
Kiara was born in Fort Lauderdale, FL and grew up north of Pittsburgh, PA. With Peruvian and Panamanian parents, food and travel have had a large influence in her life, making Sprouthouse the perfect place to start her career. She joined the Sprouthouse team in March 2023 after attending the University of Rochester, graduating with a bachelor's in Political Science and English: Language, Media, and Communications. During undergrad, Kiara played on the women's volleyball team, participating both on and off the court by managing the team's social media platforms and helping with fundraising. From here, her interest in social media and PR grew tremendously, leading her to earn a Social Media Marketing Certification from Cornell after graduation. She enjoys working on new restaurant openings along with her team and seeing the direct impact Sprouthouse can have on businesses through pitching and strategy building. During her free time, Kiara enjoys going to the beach, traveling to new cities, cooking for friends and family, and exploring all that Charleston has to offer.
Kim officially joined the Sprouthouse team's Charleston office in June 2021 after working as a consultant for the company for over a year. Prior to her time at Sprouthouse, Kim spent more than fifteen years in the magazine publishing world in Birmingham, AL, New York, NY, and, most recently, in Charleston, SC at Garden & Gun magazine. Raised on the Gulf Coast of Florida and a graduate of Florida State University, she began her career in Atlanta, GA working in digital advertising and still has a passion for helping extend brands' presence online with social strategies, website redesigns, podcast development, and video production. She first moved to Charleston for graduate school and now lives nearby on Folly Beach with her husband and twin daughters. She loves eating out and is a strong advocate for sitting at the bar for dinner, researching the menu/wine list before you arrive, and when in a group, always electing a menu captain to order for the table.
As a Birmingham, AL native and graduate of The University of Alabama, Lauren's Southern roots shine through in both her love of hospitality and passion for storytelling. Prior to joining Sprouthouse, Lauren worked as an editorial fellow at Southern Living magazine, where she assisted with creating both print and online content for the style and special edition departments. In 2015, Lauren headed east to Charleston, SC where she joined the Sprouthouse team and dove headfirst into the world of public relations. Over the years Lauren honed her PR expertise, working with some of the most revered restaurants, hotels, and destinations across the Southeast, and developed a true love for sharing her clients' narratives far and wide. Always up for a challenge, Lauren enjoys crafting thoughtful and strategic communications campaigns that deliver impactful results. When she's not working, you can find Lauren planning her next adventure-be it food or travel-based, dabbling in French cuisine, and enjoying the historic charm of the Holy City with her husband and miniature schnauzer.
Born in Chile and raised in Atlanta, Luz developed her love of hospitality and cultivating personal connections with others at a young age. While attending College of Charleston, she developed a real love for the city and knew it would be the place she'd call home after graduation. After earning her degree in Arts Management, Luz worked for an entertainment agency in Charleston and before joining the sales team at Resy, where she worked directly with restaurants to implement and employ effective reservation systems and practices. Looking for change and a new career path into public relations, Luz joined the Sprouthouse team's Charleston office in April 2021. When not at work, you can find Luz at her favorite spot in town, Jackrabbit Filly, planning her next adventure, or simply enjoying the city with her friends.
A Chicago girl born and bred, Maddy has always been passionate about good food and helping others. After countless years obsessing over the Food Network and hosting her own "cooking shows" from her family's kitchen counter, Maddy headed to Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism to study Strategic Communications and later founded her campus' chapter of Spoon University, a national foodie publication made for and by college students. With a variety of PR internships under her belt, Maddy moved to New York City after college for a position at a luxury real estate and hospitality PR firm. Working with clients like the World's 50 Best Restaurants and supporting their awards ceremony in Bilbao, Spain, Maddy's dreams of working in the restaurant world continued to grow. With this passion in mind, Maddy joined the team at a NYC-based lifestyle agency, where she spent two years spearheading hotel and restaurant openings, F&B product launches, and cross-promotional partnerships for her clients. She later took her beverage expertise to a wine & spirits-focused agency, where she worked with several award-winning alcohol brands, before making the move to Nashville in August 2021 to join the Sprouthouse team. When she is not working, you can find her binging reality TV (Real Housewives fans, where you at?!), planning her next travel adventure, or exploring the neighborhoods of Music City.
Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, Mary-Frances finds joy - both personal and professional - in sharing the stories and experiences of the South. A graduate of Auburn University, Mary-Frances has incorporated her marketing, graphic design, and German education into her professional experiences at a digital advertising agency and from there, at a public relations agency in Charleston working with local, regional, national, and international brands within the travel and hospitality spaces. She joined the Sprouthouse Charleston office in 2024; with her multifaceted skill set, Mary-Frances brings dynamic, creative expertise to her work each day. When she's not in the office, you can find her being active outside, taking in live music, traveling, or on the hunt for the best cup of coffee in town.
Melany's career path took a series of twists and turns before she found her niche in the world of public relations. A native of Southwest Virginia, she received a degree in Biomedical Photography from Rochester Institute of Technology and worked at several hospitals in Chicago as both an inter-operative surgery photographer and a healthcare marketer before relocating to Park City, UT in 1999. There, she successfully merged two of her biggest passions - film and sports - into a new career, managing celebrity guests and executing events for the Sundance Film Festival, the 2002 Winter Olympics, and the CineVegas Film Festival. Her next stop was a move to Charleston, SC, where she cut her teeth in the hospitality business at Pearlstine Distributors, an Anheuser-Busch distributor. In 2005, she joined the team at Wagstaff Worldwide, where she found her true calling for telling clients' stories in meaningful ways. In March 2012, she left Wagstaff to form Polished Pig Media (now known as Sprouthouse) and has never looked back. Calling upon her technical background, Melany approaches her public relations career like a science; she smartly blends detailed logistics with a thoughtful approach to connect likeminded people with common goals and ultimately create strategic and fruitful partnerships. After almost ten years in Birmingham, AL, Melany and her family transitioned to a new home just outside of Portland, ME to expand the business. A fan of all athletic endeavors, in her free time, you'll find Melany working up a sweat trail running, skiing, playing tennis, and enjoying the abundance of outdoor recreation in her new home state with her husband, Drew, daughter, Grace, and stepson, Connor.
Mimi was born and raised in San Antonio, TX and attended the University of Texas at Austin, from which she graduated with dual degrees in Applied Movement Science and Human Dimensions of Organization, with a focus on creativity and innovation. After spending her college summers interning in NYC and frequently returning to visit her older sister, Mimi knew she'd one day make the city her home. She joined the Sprouthouse New York City team in July 2022, bringing with her experience in marketing, organizational behavior, and communication strategy in fields like event planning, fashion, real estate and more. Mimi loves meeting new people, especially when traveling the globe, and in her free time, you can find her trying out the newest restaurant, coffee shop, or natural wine bar in her East Village neighborhood.
Although a Texas girl at heart, Peyton fell in love with the food, football, and entertainment scenes of the Southeast as a Georgia Bulldog. She grew up in Austin, TX loving to write, but it wasn't until college that she discovered her passion for the hospitality industry. At Sprouthouse, her brief, yet rewarding restaurant job experiences now inform her current role, in which she enjoys helping clients tell their own stories reminiscent of her time spent in the front of house. Peyton has a deep appreciation for the creators and leaders in the service industry and accredits those beloved side hustles as some of the most foundational components of her education. After earning a degree in public relations from the University of Georgia in 2023, Peyton joined the Sprouthouse team in Nashville, TN, chasing the music scene that reminds her of home. Other than saying "yes" to every concert possible, Peyton enjoys her time off exploring local neighborhoods and cooking with loved ones.
Born and raised in Durham, NC, fall football and the pursuit of a degree in public relations drew Sarah further south to attend the University of Georgia. While studying abroad in Australia and New Zealand, Sarah uncovered her passion for writing about the people, places, and, most importantly, the food that she encountered. After dabbling in several facets of public relations, Sarah found her niche in hospitality PR when she joined Sprouthouse's Charleston office in June 2016. During her time at Sprouthouse, Sarah has focused on restaurant PR, helping both soon-to-open and existing spots share their story through thoughtful communication strategies. Staying on top of all the industry happenings, Sarah consumes as much food & beverage news as possible, making her way through her desk's stack of food magazines, and trying all the newest places in town. When she's not working, you can find Sarah with headphones in listening to her favorite podcasts, tackling a house project, or enjoying Charleston with her husband and son.
Sophia Capriotti grew up in Ashburn, VA, just outside of Washington, D.C. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and coffee connoisseur with a passion for cooking and creating latte art. Sophia worked as a barista for many years and even attended classes in Washington, D.C. to improve her skills. Also within the hospitality industry, she worked as a barista for a café in Northern Virginia that offered an extensive food menu with craft beer and wine. The experience allowed her to expand on her passions and build connections with the restaurant's regular customers (her favorite part of the job). Sophia graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Tech in 2023 with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Sociology. She also earned a concentration in Marketing through a semester-long study abroad program in Lugano, Switzerland. She joined Sprouthouse in June 2023 and enjoys expanding her passion for writing and forming meaningful relationships with clients. In her free time, Sophia can be found doing Pilates, building her at-home coffee station, planning her next travel adventure, and cuddling with her dogs, Hazel and Kona.