Where we came from
We started small
and then we grew.
Sound familiar?
Jones Valley Teaching Farm
Sprouthouse began in 2012 as Polished Pig Media, a localized public relations firm headquartered in Charleston, SC. Over time, we have adapted and expanded both our footprint and our offerings to reflect the shifts in the marketplace. Today, we are a full-service agency of over 20 team members in eight markets, servicing clients not only in those cities, but also in many other communities we know and love. We’ve grown, sure. But like the teams we work with, we’ve remained true to ourselves by staying nimble and connected, offering tailored tactics and strategic services that make the most sense for our clients.
Atlanta
Birmingham
Charleston
Kansas City
Nashville
New York City
Raleigh
Washington, D.C
Today we are a place where businesses grow.
Whether it's through media relations or branding and creative services, we're not afraid to get our hands dirty to tell your story and deliver the results you seek.
The Team
Melany Robinson
Founder
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, Melany 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. Since 2014, she has made her home in Birmingham, AL, where she is involved in the Birmingham Community Foundation and Les Dames d’Escoffier International. A fan of all athletic endeavors, in her free time, you’ll find Melany working up a sweat from land to lake – snow skiing, mountain biking, trail running, and water skiing – or cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide (Roll Tide!) with her husband, Drew, young daughter, Grace, and stepson, Connor.
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Ashley Zink
Managing Director
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. She is excited to be a part of the District’s booming restaurant scene and is proud of Sprouthouse’s growing presence in the Mid-Atlantic. In addition to working with some of D.C.’s most talented chefs, as Vice President of Culture, Ashley works closely with Melany to enhance Sprouthouse’s unique company culture and reinforce its core values. Ashley lives in downtown D.C. with her husband, two boys, and two French Bulldogs. When she’s not working, you can find her running, reading, or scoping out the city’s best playgrounds.
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Anna Mintz
Managing Director
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 in her kitchen experimenting with recipes from her extensive cookbook collection or on a porch swing with a novel in one hand and a glass of wine (or coffee!) in the other.
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Jason Caslow
Managing Director
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 via his schooling and his recent level one Court of Master Sommeliers certification. When he’s not working, Jason’s cooking his way through anything by Melissa Clark in his Hell’s Kitchen apartment.
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Kim Alexander
Managing Digital Director
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.
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Drew Robinson
Business Director
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.
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Craig Evans
Creative Director
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.
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Lauren Ferguson
Account Director
A Birmingham native and graduate of The University of Alabama, it’s no secret that Lauren has a deep love for the South and Crimson Tide football. Following graduation, Lauren accepted a Meredith Corporation fellowship at Southern Living magazine, where she fostered her growing passion for Southern food and culture. During her time there, she assisted with writing both print and online content for the style and special edition departments. In June 2015, Lauren headed east to Charleston, SC, where she joined the Sprouthouse team and entered into the world of hospitality public relations. Over the years, Lauren has honed her PR expertise and developed a true love for sharing the robust stories and experiences of destination and restaurant clients. In her spare time, you can find Lauren adventuring outdoors, dabbling in French cuisine, and enjoying all the historic charm The Holy City has to offer.
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Liz Holloway
Account Director
Born in Atlanta, but raised in Toronto, Liz returned to the South to attend the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. While majoring in public relations and communication, she also began working for a local food tour company. As she connected with chefs and artisans, she identified her passion for storytelling, specifically for entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry. After graduation, Liz moved to Birmingham, where she began her career in the fitness industry, focusing on marketing and operations. In 2019, Liz joined Sloss Real Estate to lead their marketing efforts for the company’s commercial properties in Birmingham, including social media, public relations, creative materials, and events. There, she was able to build a name for the Pepper Place District, the company’s flagship property, and its wide array of tenants, including award-winning chefs, fashion designers, retailers, and entrepreneurs. After a move to Nashville, Liz joined the team at Sprouthouse in April 2021, where she leverages her strategic thinking, creative problem solving, and strong writing skills to effectively tell her clients’ stories. In her spare time, you can find Liz enjoying a workout or exploring Nashville with her husband and their daughter, Brooklyn.
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Katelyn Hudson
Account Director
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 department 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 multi-faceted background to craft creative approaches and synergies for her clients. When she isn’t in the office, Katelyn is daydreaming about her next trip, breaking a sweat at the gym, or spending time at home in Johns Island with her husband and their maltipoo, Cooper.
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Sarah Ruffin
Account Director
Sarah was born and raised in Columbia, SC, graduated from Sewanee: The University of The South in Tennessee, and landed somewhere in between – Atlanta – to start her career in public relations. Passionate about all things food, wine, and travel, Sarah secured a position at an Atlanta-based boutique hospitality PR firm in 2014, where she cut her teeth representing some of the city’s top hotels, chefs, and restaurant groups for five years. In April 2019, she joined the team at Sprouthouse, where she leverages her passion for writing, storytelling, and relationship-building to generate results for clients. In her spare time, you can find Sarah practicing yoga, exploring the North Georgia Mountains, or reading on a porch.
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Sarah Daniel
Senior Account Manager
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 through various internships, Sarah found her niche in hospitality PR. Immediately following graduation from UGA, Sarah relocated to the Lowcountry to join Sprouthouse’s Charleston office in June 2016. Since joining the Sprouthouse team, Sarah has focused on restaurant PR, consuming as much food & beverage news as possible, making her way through stacks of food magazines, and trying all the newest spots in town. When she’s not working, you can find Sarah with headphones in listening to her favorite podcasts (often while running along the Charleston Peninsula) or enjoying the South Carolina coast.
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Maddy Plaster
Senior Account Manager
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.
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Abby Bamburg
Account Manager
Originally from Kansas, Abby discovered her passion for journalistic writing 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. 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 timely responses and effective ways to grow their businesses. On the weekends, you can find Abby at the Nashville Comedy Club with friends, hiking with her dog Nala, or baking delicious desserts.
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Ellie Davis
Account Manager
Born in Nashville, raised in Birmingham, educated at College of Charleston, and currently living in Durham, Ellie feels fortunate to be at home across the Southeast. She joined Sprouthouse’s Atlanta office in June 2018 after discovering her passion for the world of public relations through interning at PR agencies in Charleston, New York City, and D.C. She was ultimately drawn to Sprouthouse after discovering so many of her favorite restaurants on the client list and loves knowing her work plays a key role in making wonderful restaurants and talented people more visible. Eager to flex her skills in a different industry and a new city, Ellie moved to D.C. in 2020 to work at kglobal, where she worked on the firm’s largest account, Amazon Operations. After nearly a year of working with Amazon and various military, e-commerce, and energy start-ups, Ellie returned to Sprouthouse in March 2021 to open the Durham office. When she’s not working, you can find her in a yoga class, on a long walk, or encouraging friends to join her in exploring new restaurants and bars.
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Anne Catherine Hairell
Digital Account Manager
Growing up in Alabama with a mother who tested recipes for a living and a grandfather who crafted spirits, Anne Catherine’s passion for Southern food and culture is undeniably a part of who she is. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in public relations and Spanish, she spent nearly four years teaching English in Madrid and Seville, Spain. Hospitality was continuously redefined for her as she traveled throughout Europe and experienced other cultures’ definitions of what it meant to be welcomed as a guest. Once she returned to Alabama in 2018, she began developing her skills in the emerging world of social media advertising while working on campaigns for General Motors. Looking to combine her personal passions with her professional skillset, Anne Catherine joined the digital team at Sprouthouse in July 2021. Anne Catherine lives in Birmingham with her husband, Preston, and Tibetan Terrier, Bo, and enjoys taking trips to the lake in the Shoals area of North Alabama, hosting dinner parties for friends, and spending time with her family every Sunday evening.
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Halle Lipov
Account Manager
A seventh-generation Charlestonian and graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans, Halle joined the NYC Sprouthouse team in January 2019. Halle’s family was in the Anheuser-Busch business for 147 years before owning a brewery, and growing up she admired the effort it took to keep business afloat in an ever-changing industry. Although her roots are firmly planted in the South, she left her hometown in search of change; a summer internship with a branded merchandise studio in New York City solidified her affinity for the hustle and bustle of the big city. At Sprouthouse, Halle is excited to play a key role in making talented chefs, award-winning restaurants, and beautiful destinations recognized nationwide. When she is not at work, you can find her testing out new dinner and dessert recipes, taking neighborhood strolls, or daydreaming about her next vacation destination.
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Emily Wile
Account Manager
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 graduation, Emily moved to Washington, D.C., and worked in-house for two years at TK Restaurant Management Group, where she managed public relations, sales, marketing, and events for a popular Italian restaurant in Georgetown. Eager to hone in on her passion for public relations, Emily joined the Sprouthouse team in April 2019. She loves building and maintaining relationships with clients, and cultivating a personalized plan to help achieve their greatest goals. When not at work, you can find Emily spending time with friends, reading, or eating her favorite foods.
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JJ Duggan
Account Coordinator
Born and bred in Birmingham, JJ is a graduate of Washington & Lee University, where she studied business administration and photography. She fell in love with the hospitality industry while spending her summers during college working at A Bar A Ranch in Wyoming and subsequently at the Wauwinet in Nantucket following graduation. JJ joined the Sprouthouse team in April 2021; she enjoys working with clients in the industries that she loves and helping them share their unique stories. When she’s not at work, you can find JJ exploring her new hometown of Charleston and stopping every five minutes to take a photograph of something that catches her eye.
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Gabrielle Economos
Account Coordinator
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’s Washington, D.C. office in June 2021. As an Enneagram Type 3, the fast-paced agency lifestyle, combined with her lifelong love for food and hospitality, has landed her in an industry where she truly thrives. When she’s not at work, you can find Gabrielle testing new recipes from her favorite cookbooks, going on runs around the D.C. metro area, and constantly sipping on iced coffee.
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Luz Ovalle
Account Coordinator
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, Melfi’s, planning her next adventure, or simply enjoying the city with her friends.
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Alison Rourk
Digital Account Coordinator
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 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.
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