Where we came from
We started small
and then we grew.
Sound familiar?
Our story began in 2012, when our founder, Melany Robinson, first opened Polished Pig Media in Charleston, South Carolina. Over the past decade, we've changed names and have expanded our team, our geographic footprint, and our offerings to reflect the shifts and growth in the marketplace. Today, we are Sprouthouse, a full-service communications agency of 25+ team members based in eleven markets, servicing clients not only in those cities but also in many others we know and love across the country (and beyond).
Atlanta, GA
Birmingham, AL
Charleston, SC
Louisville, KY
Kansas City, KS
Nashville, TN
New England
New York, NY
Durham, NC
Richmond, VA
Washington, D.C.
Sprouthouse is a partner that can help your business grow.
We pride ourselves on creating successful communication strategies for each client and their unique needs. Our team ranges in experience and works together to help you reach your goals.
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, trail running, and playing tennis – and spending time outdoors 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. 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.
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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 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.
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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, 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.
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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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Collis Hillebrand
Managing Director
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.
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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 Alligood
Account Director
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.
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Sarah Daniel
Account Director
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.
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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 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 7+ 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.
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Maddy Plaster
Account Director
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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Ellie Davis
Senior 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
Senior 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 and their 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 on Sunday evenings.
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Gabrielle Economos
Account Manager
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.
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Halle Lipov
Account Manager
A seventh generation Charlestonian and graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans, Halle joined the Sprouthouse’s NYC team in January 2019. Halle’s family was in the beverage distribution business for over a century, 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 creative marketing agency in New York City solidified her affinity for the hustle and bustle of the big city. At Sprouthouse, Halle enjoys playing a key role in making talented chefs, award-winning restaurants, and beautiful destinations recognized nationwide. When she is not in the office or exploring all that New York has to offer, you can find her planning her next exciting vacation destination.
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Abby Underwood
Account Manager
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.
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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 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 her free time, you can find Emily reading, going to concerts, or exploring the D.C. food scene with friends.
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Mimi Bauer
Account Coordinator
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.
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Grace Cortez
Account Coordinator
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.
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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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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, Jackrabbit Filly, 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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Camille Shepherd
Account Coordinator
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.
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