Where we came from
We started small
and then we grew.
Sound familiar?
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 25 team members in six 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
Nashville
New York City
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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Anna Mintz
Executive 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. When she’s not in the office, you can find her checking out the newest additions to Atlanta’s bustling restaurant scene or experimenting with a new recipe from her extensive cookbook collection.
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Ashley Zink
Vice President of Culture
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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Ben Rosenthal
Digital Media Director
Passionate about all things digital, and a lover of storytelling and content creation, Ben joined the Sprouthouse New York City team in June 2019, bringing with him years of agency experience focusing on clients in the hospitality, culinary, fashion, and beauty industries. As Digital Media Director, he brings his expertise in digital and social media, influencer relations, community management, and copywriting to the forefront, working to develop and execute forward-thinking strategies for our clients. Originally from the Midwest, Ben moved to the East Coast in 2011 to pursue exciting new chapters – and hasn’t stopped since. When not in the office, he can be found exploring the city, searching for the latest and greatest restaurants and coffee shops, enjoying comedy and theater, and brainstorming plans for his next travel destination. He lives in Brooklyn and plans to adopt a dog at any moment in the near future.
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Charlotte Strode
Account Director
Charlotte is a Louisville, KY native and a graduate of Boston University. She began her post-college career in advertising, working as a Creative Assistant to Chief Creative Officers at Arnold Worldwide and Droga5 before accepting a job at City Harvest, New York City’s largest food rescue organization. There, she learned the nuts and bolts of in-house communications and witnessed firsthand the benefits of strategic partnerships through events with some of the city’s most prominent chefs. Charlotte joined the Sprouthouse NYC team in March 2014 and feels grateful to have learned from some of the best mentors in the business. She cherishes the opportunity to work with a group of like-minded clients and colleagues in the hospitality community and is passionate about helping her clients achieve their goals through connection and thoughtful account leadership. After almost ten wonderful years in NYC, Charlotte recently relocated to our Atlanta office and is enjoying getting to know the many facets of her new city. When she’s not working or trying to keep up with the restaurant scene, Charlotte also loves taking pictures (www.charlottestrode.com), gardening, and traveling.
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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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Diana Barton
Account Director
Growing up in Nashville, TN, Diana fell in love with the craft of writing at a young age. After earning a Communications degree in Journalism & Electronic Media from the University of Tennessee, Diana began her career at Charleston magazine, where she fell in love with food writing and all things hospitality. Drawn to the PR side of the industry, she began working with a local agency before heading home to Music City to join its newly bustling culinary scene at a local hospitality-focused public relations agency. Diana joined the Sprouthouse team in May 2018 and enjoys honing her PR skills working with celebrity and James Beard Award-winning chefs, coordinating restaurant and hotel openings, and working with top-tier national media for clients across the country. When she’s not at her desk, Diana works closely with her local chapter of Slow Food to raise funds for a micro-grant program she co-founded, exploring Nashville’s newest restaurants, or hanging out with her pup, Maddie.
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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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Dulcea Arden
Business Manager
Born and raised near the lakes and woods of Minnesota, Dulcea joined Sprouthouse in September 2017 with a love for travel and hospitality and an extensive background in business management and event planning. As Business Manager, Dulcea brings her organizational acumen to Sprouthouse, playing a key role in supporting this dynamic group of storytellers. When she’s not working, you’ll find her with her nose in a new cookbook, cheering on the Minnesota Vikings, or on an outdoor adventure with her husband and two children.
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Ellie Thomson
Account Coordinator
Born in Nashville, raised in Birmingham, educated at the College of Charleston, and currently living in Atlanta, 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 Washington, 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. When she’s not in the office, you can find her running in Piedmont Park, attending events at The High Museum of Art, or encouraging friends to join her in exploring Atlanta’s diverse restaurant scene.
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Emily Wile
Account Coordinator
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 made the move to Washington, D.C. and worked in-house for two years at a small restaurant 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 to help cultivate a personalized and successful plan to achieve their greatest goals. When not working for her clients, you can find Emily attending concerts with friends, reading, or eating her favorite food: ice cream.
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Emma Anzelone
Account Manager
A Jersey girl by birth and a resident of Washington, D.C. since 2012, Emma has enjoyed watching the city evolve over the years to become the exciting dining destination it is today. After graduating from The George Washington University, Emma started her career as an Assistant Account Executive at FleishmanHillard. She later worked as the in-house Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator for a local D.C. restaurant group. After getting a taste for the fast-paced and creative nature of the industry at her previous position, she wanted to expand her scope of work and be able to connect with media on a national level, thus leading her to join the Sprouthouse team in August 2018. Emma combines her knowledge of the evolved D.C. restaurant scene with an eagerness to connect with those in the industry and applies it to her daily work at Sprouthouse. When not in the office or scoping out new dining spots, Emma can be found planning her next girls’ trip or binging a true crime docu-series or Bravo’s Real Housewives.
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Evan Prince
Account Coordinator
Born and raised in South Jersey, just minutes from Philadelphia, Evan spent the first 19 years of his life searching for the perfect cheesesteak. He has since traveled around the world to try what others have called the “best of the best.” After graduating from Rutgers University with a degree in Journalism, he joined Sprouthouse’s New York City office in June 2019. Before coming on board, Evan honed his writing skills at WWD, where he covered restaurant openings and gallery unveilings. A lifelong foodie, talented writer, and people person, Evan has found his home at Sprouthouse, where he thrives on crafting pitches that extol the dishes of the chefs he is so passionate about. When he is not in the office, Evan can be found reading a stack of newspapers or the latest Robert Caro book.
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Halle Lipov
Account Coordinator
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 prior to 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 creative marketing agency 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 in the office or exploring all that New York has to offer, you can find her on a Netflix binge or planning her next exciting vacation destination.
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Hunter Smith
Account Manager
Hunter is a native South Carolinian who was born with an innate sense of wonder and wander. Upon graduating from the College of Charleston, where she studied communication and political science, she joined the Peace Corps and set off for 27 months in the Philippines. Back stateside, she spent a year working alongside world-renowned chefs in Los Angeles, before returning to South Carolina to join Sprouthouse’s Charleston office in October 2016. Her experiences and travels taught her that a love for food and hospitality can bind people from even the furthest corners of the world. A social butterfly and enneagram seven, she enjoys navigating the ever-changing PR landscape, but above all else, values relationship-building and considers both the Sprouthouse team and her clients a family. Hunter feels fortunate to call Charleston home, and when she’s not in the office, you can find her dining at the newest restaurant (or an old favorite), reading at the beach, out for a run, singing along to live music, or planning her next adventure.
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Jasmine Pierce
Account Director
A native of the Washington, D.C. suburbs, Jasmine’s love for food and restaurant culture began at a young age, fostered by her family of talented home cooks. She studied journalism at Northeastern University and later graduated from The New School University in New York City with a degree in Culture and Media. After eight years in New York City working for lifestyle PR firms representing luxury hotels, restaurants, celebrity chefs, and wine brands, Jasmine returned to her hometown to join the Sprouthouse team in May 2017. With a finger constantly on the pulse of what’s new and exciting in the industry, Jasmine enjoys creating strategic partnerships for her clients as well as planning and executing events that increase their visibility. In her spare time, she can be found searching for D.C.’s best seafood, delving into a novel, testing a new recipe, or hopping on a plane for her next travel experience. Jasmine currently lives in the Capitol Hill District with her dog, Bambi.
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Jason Caslow
Executive Director of Media Relations & New Business
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 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, entertaining in his Hell’s Kitchen apartment, or feeding his hunger for travel.
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Katelyn Hudson
Senior Account Manager
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 Crossfit gym, or spending time at home in Johns Island with her husband and their maltipoo, Cooper.
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Kelsey Schisler
Digital Media Manager
An Annapolis, MD native and lifelong creative, Kelsey fell in love with writing at a young age. Also a fan of warm weather, she headed south to attend Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC, where she earned her degree in communications. After college, Kelsey began her career in nonprofit event management in Washington, D.C. before returning to her hometown to work at a multidisciplinary art center, planning fundraisers and managing marketing campaigns. It was there that she found her true passion and talent for digital marketing and analytics. After getting married in 2018, Kelsey and her husband were ready to leave the hustle and bustle of the D.C. area and decided to head back to the Lowcountry to make their home in Charleston, SC. Eager to work with a variety of clients and further immerse herself in the world of digital marketing, Kelsey joined the Sprouthouse team in May 2019. When she is not working or checking Instagram, you can find Kelsey sharpening her photography skills, bouncing around to different restaurants in Charleston, or relaxing at the beach.
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Kori Titzer
Account Manager
A native of Indiana and a graduate of Indiana University, Kori quickly discovered a passion for public relations after moving to New York City for an internship after college. Over the next two years in New York, she honed her PR skills working for several leading fashion and lifestyle agencies. Ready to leave the hustle and bustle of the city, Kori moved to Nashville and joined a local communications agency to work with a range of local and national beauty and fashion brands, along with some of Nashville’s newest hotels and restaurants. This introduction to the hospitality industry opened Kori’s eyes to Nashville’s rapidly growing restaurant scene. With her newfound food & beverage passion and an excitement to utilize her national and local retail and lifestyle experience, she joined Sprouthouse’s Nashville office in June 2019. When she’s not working, you can find her trying out new fitness studios, walking around her 12 South neighborhood, and scoping out new coffee shops in town.
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Lauren Ferguson
Senior Account Manager
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 accepted a position with Sprouthouse and entered into the world of hospitality public relations. Since joining the team, Lauren has honed her PR skills and developed a true love for sharing the robust stories and experiences of destination and restaurant clients with media. When she’s not at the office, you can find Lauren planning her next adventure—be it food or travel-based, dabbling in French cuisine, and enjoying all the historic charm The Holy City has to offer.
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Sarah Hawksley
Account Manager
An official part of the New York City Sprouthouse team since February 2017, Sarah accepted a full-time position after a period as an intern with the company in late 2016. Born in southern Vermont, Sarah always found solace in warmer climates; this, and the fashion merchandising track, led her to Savannah, GA, where she attended Savannah College of Art and Design for her freshman year. Though the school wasn’t the right fit, she fell head over heels for the ubiquitous hospitality of the South. A move to the University of Vermont brought Sarah a degree in Public Communications and time well-spent abroad in Italy, scouring the country for the next perfect bite or glass of wine. A die-hard creative at heart, Sarah finds joy in crafting verbiage for her Sprouthouse clients to personify their true passions and skills so others can genuinely appreciate their story. When she’s not spending time with her NYC colleagues, you can find Sarah exploring the good eats of the city, baking a new twist on a healthy dessert, or testing out the latest and greatest skincare product.
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Sarah Horton
Senior Account Manager
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, relationship building, and storytelling to generate results for her clients. In her spare time, you can find Sarah taking a yoga class, exploring the North Georgia Mountains, or eating her way through Atlanta’s restaurant scene.
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Sarah Sporn
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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Zoey Rowley
Account Manager
Born in London, England, and raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., Zoey graduated from Clemson University with degrees in Communication and Sociology. After cementing her passion for working with the talented people of the restaurant industry through an internship with Greenville, SC’s euphoria Food and Wine Festival, she joined Sprouthouse’s D.C. office in October 2016. Passionate about food, hospitality, and the narratives that drive them, Zoey enjoys having an outlet to channel her creativity at Sprouthouse. She relishes the opportunity to tell the stories of talented, distinctive, and creative restaurant teams through her public relations career. When she’s not working, you can find Zoey at a local concert, testing new recipes with her friends, or making her way through the District in search of the next best coffee shop.
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