Los Angeles Office

MARY WAGSTAFF

Born and raised in Virginia, Mary is a graduate of New York University and got her start in the hospitality industry working in cookbook publishing and as a freelance writer. These experiences set the stage for her spending several years in the hands-on side of the restaurant business. She entered the field of hospitality public relations in 1990 while living in Chicago. In 1995, she founded ProVisions, a public relations firm with offices in Chicago and Los Angeles, which represented chefs, restaurants, wineries, and specialty food products. After moving to Los Angeles in 1998 to join Murphy O’Brien Public Relations as vice president, Mary once again struck out on her own, opening the doors of Wagstaff Worldwide in 1999. Almost immediately, she found herself at the helm of a thriving public relations and marketing firm that has rapidly evolved to include offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and New York, representing restaurant, hotel, and wine clients around the world. The company’s many notable achievements include representing nine Food & Wine Best New Chefs between 2000 and 2008, as well as six of Esquire magazine’s Best New Restaurants between 2005 and 2008. In addition to its client work, Wagstaff Worldwide is an active supporter of the Westside Food Bank in Los Angeles, as well as the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the San Francisco Food Bank, and Food Bank for New York City—organizations that fight hunger on a local, grassroots level. Mary is a member of the James Beard Foundation, and has spoken at several industry events, including the International Association of Culinary Professionals’ annual conference and the Santé Restaurant Symposium. In addition, Mary sits on the board of trustees at the Hollywood Schoolhouse, where her daughter attends school, and is also a board member for the Angelman Syndrome Foundation.

NADIA AL-AMIR, DIRECTOR

A native Angeleno and graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Journalism, Nadia joined Wagstaff in 2002. Prior to coming to Wagstaff, Nadia worked in public relations, representing clients in a variety of fields, including beauty and health, before discovering her true interest was in the hospitality arena. A self-described oenophile, in 2008 Nadia passed the intermediate level exam administered by the Wine & Spirit Educational Trust, a respected organization in the field of wines and spirits education. Having spent eight months teaching English in Toulouse, France, Nadia also has a keen interest in French culture. Additionally, she has traveled extensively throughout Europe, sampling local cuisines in a number of countries, including Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and Denmark.

TRISHA COLE, VICE PRESIDENT

Prior to joining Wagstaff Worldwide in January 2001, Trisha honed both her writing skills and her epicurean know-how in the editorial department of Bon Appétit magazine. Her excellent communication and writing skills, combined with an impressive familiarity with the culinary and travel world, have made her uniquely qualified to work in hospitality PR. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in English literature, Trisha taught school in the Bay Area before moving to Los Angeles.

MAITé CONWAY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Maité brings to Wagstaff Worldwide an international background and superb language skills. Growing up as the daughter of a United Nations diplomat, she lived in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, attending primary school in Zaire, the United Kingdom, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, and Bangladesh, and secondary school in Jakarta, Indonesia. She is fluent in French and Spanish and proficient in Italian. Prior to joining Wagstaff in 2003, she worked in the Public Relations, Sales and Marketing department of the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, a Four Seasons property. She also worked in Manchester, England, promoting and marketing a group of highly acclaimed restaurants there. Maité received a B.A. in business economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in which she incorporated a 13-month abroad studies program at the University of Toulouse in southern France.

ANDREA JACKSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Andrea's adventures in cooking and travel began when she studied in Parma, Italy, while pursuing an A.B.A. degree in psychology from Occidental College in Los Angeles. After graduating, Andrea worked at Wolfgang Puck Catering and Events before venturing into media, and accepting a position at Los Angeles radio station Star 98.7 FM. While there, Andrea went back to school for a dual master's degree in global media and communications, spending a year each at USC's Annenberg School of Communications and the London School of Economics and Political Science.

VANESSA KANEGAI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A professional and personal interest in the travel and hospitality industries brought Vanessa to the Wagstaff team in 2001, and she has been providing clients with her experience, enthusiasm, and keen eye for newsworthy stories ever since. A graduate of California State University, Northridge, with a B.A. in political science and an emphasis on international relations, Vanessa brings a global perspective and innate feel for the needs of clients and the interests of media contacts to her work.

MIKEL WADEWITZ, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR / SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

Mikel came to Wagstaff Worldwide after spending several years as a writer and editor in both the consumer magazine and book publishing fields. Before transitioning into his current position, Mikel worked in Wagstaff’s Travel Division as an account supervisor. Raised in Portland, OR, he moved to Vermont to attend Bennington College, where he received a B.A. in American literature and creative writing. He worked as an acquisitions editor for St. Martin's Press in New York City before moving to Los Angeles, where he took a position as an editor for Frontiers magazine. He has written extensively about travel, current events, and the arts for a variety of publications, and has also worked as a freelance copy editor, proofreader, and editorial consultant. Always willing to try something new, Mikel has had a presence online for a number of years, maintaining a blog, as well as multiple accounts with a few passwords he can't remember, for various Web sites, including everything from Facebook to Twitter. He now sometimes speaks in 140-character snippets as a result.

KELSEY BENIASCH, ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR

Kelsey has a multifaceted background in the public relations arena that includes work with a wide range of clients, such as the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as stints in fashion, beauty, and hospitality PR. A Seattle native, Kelsey moved to California to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu where she earned a B.A. in public relations with an emphasis in business. During that time, Kelsey took the opportunity to spend eight months studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and traveled across Europe, as well as Africa, taking in the culture and lifestyle of each new destination. A desire to diversify and broaden her scope into the culinary world is what brought her to Wagstaff Worldwide.

ASHLEY RODGERS, ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR

After spending the early half of 2006 traveling through New Zealand and Australia, Ashley settled in at Wagstaff where her penchant for wine, food, and adventure travel would serve in developing national PR campaigns for a number of top California vintners associations, travel destinations, and hotels, as well as international and boutique wine and spirit producers. Ashley brings to Wagstaff an extensive background in the hospitality industry, having worked with such major brands as Sheraton, Princess Cruises, and Ritz-Carlton, from which she gained invaluable knowledge about everything from catering to operations and finance. Ashley is a native of Dallas and holds a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from Texas Tech University. She continues to travel to far-flung destinations whenever possible, with recent trips to Thailand, England, and Spain, among other locales. At home in Los Angeles, she enjoys sampling international cuisine at some of the city’s lesser known establishments, in addition to honing her palate at local wine shops. She is also a volunteer at Dress for Success in Hollywood, where she mentors and offers career counseling to women who are rejoining the workforce.

TY BENTSEN, ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Ty ventured to Los Angeles to obtain a B.A. in psychology with a minor in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she also did an independent study in Communications. Before coming to Wagstaff, Ty led public relations campaigns for national beauty, health/wellness, and fashion clients. Ty is excited to be blending her strong public relations background with a natural fascination for travel, food, and wine at Wagstaff.

MEGHAN PATKE, ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR

Meghan joined the Wagstaff Worldwide team in January 2007, bringing a fresh international approach and firsthand knowledge of Southeast Asia culture and cuisine. A graduate of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California with a B.A. in public relations and global communications, Meghan has lived most of her life in Singapore and India, and has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Asia. Prior to Wagstaff Worldwide, Meghan helped launch and re-energize several beauty, nonprofit, travel, and luxury brands and products for leading lifestyle public relations firms in Los Angeles.

JOHN DAW, Business Development Analyst, SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOURISM COMMISSION

A native of South Australia, John moved to Los Angeles in 2007 with a passion to promote his home state in the world's largest economy. After graduating from the University of Adelaide, where he majored in marketing and management, John worked around Australia as a project manager for a leading market research agency, during which time he honed his consultative skills with some of the country's largest commercial, government, and nonprofit organizations. With a desire to work abroad, John established a U.S.-based marketing company with three fellow South Australians to promote study, work, and travel to Australia. After pursuing this business, he took the position as marketing manager for the Americas, representing the South Australian Tourism Commission. He is particularly excited to blend his interests in marketing, communications, and tourism in his role at Wagstaff.

SABRINA CRAME, ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Sabrina joined Wagstaff Worldwide in January 2008 with a background in restaurant, entertainment, and real estate PR. Upon earning a B.A. in communication with a minor in psychology from the University of Oklahoma, Sabrina returned to Las Vegas and joined a local public relations agency. During her time there, she led campaigns for a variety of clients, including Strip headliners and a midnight celebration for the release of Beaujolais Nouveau that included lighting the Paris Las Vegas replica of the Eiffel Tower red for the occasion. Since joining Wagstaff Worldwide, Sabrina has honed her hospitality PR skills by spearheading campaigns around high-profile restaurant openings and anniversary events in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and the Bay Area, generating buzz by working with everyone from television news crews to local food bloggers. In addition, she has worked with clients to build their social media presence and collaborate with them on ways to engage their customers. Outside of the office, Sabrina loves to dance, and returns to Las Vegas several times each year to volunteer as a guest choreographer for a junior high cheerleading squad.

ROSEMARY ROWEN, ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

A native of Buffalo, NY, Rosemary was enticed to move to California after college for the warmer weather and a rich, diverse culinary scene. Having graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration with a concentration in corporate marketing, Rosemary started her career with Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco as an assistant food and beverage manager. She later moved into the sales department, where she learned the ins and outs of the hotel industry. Prior to joining Wagstaff, she worked as a hotel analyst for PKF Capital. In her spare time, Rosemary loves checking out new restaurants, continuing to explore Los Angeles, and spending time with her Labradoodle puppy.

CATHERINE BANTON, ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

A self-professed foodie and outdoor enthusiast, Catherine moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to attend the University of Southern California, graduating from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a double degree in public relations and French. After exploring the Los Angeles dining scene on her own, she interned at Wagstaff’s Los Angeles office during her last year of school, further cultivating her love for both the culinary world and hospitality public relations. Catherine began her public relations career at a national firm in Los Angeles, where she worked with travel and food product clients to capture national media attention and execute large-scale consumer events. Outside of work, she can likely be found somewhere in Los Angeles chasing food trucks, browsing farmers’ markets, and exploring hiking trails.

JULIANA PESAVENTO, ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

Juliana’s interest in the hospitality industry was piqued at a young age by a family full of adventurous diners and travelers. A Chicago native, she made the move from the Midwest to the West Coast to attend the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Journalism, from which she earned a B.A. in public relations. Prior to graduating, Juliana kept busy with internships at Frontiers magazine, BWR Public Relations, and the event planning and marketing department of SUSHISAMBA restaurant group. A former intern for Wagstaff’s Los Angeles and Chicago offices, Juliana joined the Los Angeles team full-time in July 2010. In her spare time, she volunteers at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market, attempts to make her own way in the kitchen with inspiration from her professionally trained chef mother, and is constantly scheming to find a way to land a contestant spot on her favorite television game show, “Wheel of Fortune.”

 

Chicago Office

JANET ISABELLI, VICE PRESIDENT

Janet joined Wagstaff Worldwide in 2002 with several years of public relations, branding, and event-planning experience at renowned institutions such as the University of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Languages, cooking, and international travel have always played important roles in her life, so her affinity for the hospitality industry is second nature and adds a distinctive flair to the company. She has spearheaded the local and national publicity initiatives for widely recognized names in the hospitality field and has helped lead the growth of the Chicago office. In addition to her work at Wagstaff, Janet’s interest in the community spans a number of charitable causes, including volunteer work with the Lookingglass Theatre, Chicago Gateway Green, CASA of Cook County, and others. In 2007, Crain’s Chicago Business named her one of the city’s “40 Under 40” emerging professionals to watch. An alumna of the University of Chicago, Janet graduated with a dual concentration in Spanish language and literature and an interdisciplinary program titled Law, Letters, and Society.

BETH FLINTOFT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Beth joined Wagstaff Worldwide in 2003 with a strong background in publishing, as well as the restaurants and hospitality arenas. After managing the public relations for two top-selling cookbooks at a book publishing company, Beth moved to Chicago in 2001 and led the public relations initiatives for a number of Chicago's high-profile restaurants and nightclubs. With a voracious appetite for literature and current events, her knowledge and keen sense for industry trends add a dynamic component to the company. Beth graduated from Albion College with a B.A. in English and history.

JIM LEE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jim came to Wagstaff Worldwide in 2006 with nearly six years of destination marketing and public relations experience. While working at New York-based Development Counsellors International, he represented numerous high-profile travel and tourism clients, including the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and Singita Private Game Reserve. Jim has a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Illinois and previously worked as a television reporter in South Florida. He serves as a volunteer for World Vision, a global organization dedicated to aiding needy communities.

CHRISSY COX, ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR

Chrissy's keen interest in the travel and hospitality industry led her to Wagstaff Worldwide, where she utilizes her past experience with marketing experience at Chicago-based Restaurant Development Group, and CookTek, a high-tech kitchen equipment manufacturer. Chrissy received her B.A. from Loyola University, Chicago, where she majored in visual communications with a minor in marketing. Forever indebted to the experience, Chrissy serves as a board member for Loyola University's Rome Center campus, where she spent a semester abroad. A true Chicagoan at heart, Chrissy lives for everything the Windy City offers, including great music, art, fashion, and a vibrant nightlife scene enjoyed with friends.

EMILIE ZANGER, ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR

Emilie’s love of food, travel and writing brought her to Wagstaff Worldwide Chicago in 2006, with editorial experience honed in the magazine and book publishing world. Her journalism background includes two years at Venus Zine, a stint as Chicago editor of Citysearch.com, and freelance work for a number of local food and lifestyle publications. Her insatiable curiosity, close relationships with local media and a B.A. in English from Northwestern University have served her well in her work with prominent Chicago chefs, restaurants, hotels, and spas. An avid home cook, Emilie is currently completing an evening culinary school program at Kendall College. In her free time, she enjoys running, biking, and exploring the nooks and crannies of the vibrant city she has called home for nearly 10 years.

AMBER HOLST, ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR / SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

Amber joined the Wagstaff Worldwide Chicago team in 2007 with a strong background in journalism and editorial management, including heading up a Chicago visitor publication, time spent as an editor at Chicago magazine and a stint at The Wall Street Journal. A Chicago native, Amber has been immersed in digital marketing over the past few years, assisting clients with a wide array of online marketing programs, initiatives, and campaigns. Additionally, Amber is fluent in German, holds a B.A. in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, and currently serves as a special advisor to the National Concierge Association.

JAIME TUNGE, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

A Michigan native, Jaime moved to Chicago after graduating from Michigan State University with a B.A. in communication, ready to expand her horizons and take in everything the Windy City has to offer. Her multifaceted background in the hospitality industry has made her knowledgeable about everything from front-of-house positions to event planning and promoting. She gained valuable experience working for Wagstaff Worldwide as an intern and came onboard as an account coordinator in April 2008. An early obsession with the Travel Channel (especially Anthony Bourdain) and love of keeping up with the food world via any number of blogs continue to serve her well in her work with Wagstaff clients.

KAREN JOHNSON, ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

After attending Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ, where she received her bachelor’s degree in business and communications, Karen got her start in hospitality PR at Margo Media Public Relations in Phoenix. There, she had the opportunity to work with James Beard Award-winning chefs and several other accounts, including the Scottsdale Culinary Festival, Sushi Roku, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Mastro’s Restaurants, and Old Town Restaurant Group. Returning to her hometown of Chicago in early 2010, Karen wanted to continue working in the hospitality public relations field and came aboard at Wagstaff. She looks forward to weaving her background into her current work and exploring what’s new in Chicago’s restaurant and entertainment scene.

LAUREN LARSON, ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

Lauren joins Wagstaff Worldwide after having varied experience in the hospitality and entertainment industries. A Minneapolis native, Lauren came to Chicago in 2003 to attend DePaul University, where she earned her B.A. in journalism/public relations. After graduation, she joined the team at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, where she worked directly on all the public relations and marketing endeavors for the property, including their award-winning restaurant, lounge, and spa. In 2009, she packed her bags and moved to Park City, UT, where she worked as a publicist for the Sundance Film Festival, specifically helping to publicize short features by over 70 different filmmakers. Outside of work, Lauren’s interests still skew to the hospitality industry, as she is an avid traveler and reader of food and wine blogs. In addition, she is currently volunteering at the Inspiration Café in Chicago, which serves meals to the homeless and provides additional services, such as housing assistance and a restaurant skills training program.

CAROLINE MICHAUD, ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

Caroline comes to Wagstaff Worldwide with a solid background in luxury travel public relations and social media marketing. After graduating from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism, she spent more than three years working for a hospitality PR firm in New York City, where she had the opportunity to manage a variety of national media events, including the launch of Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria and subsequent retirement of the famed Queen Elizabeth 2. She also designed and executed social media campaigns for major hotel companies, including the Loews Hotels and Affinia Hotels brands. In her out-of-office time, Caroline enjoys reading volumes of food literature, exploring Chicago’s culinary offerings, and quelling her insatiable appetite for travel by visiting at least one major metropolis abroad each year.

LAUREN LOZANO, OFFICE MANAGER / CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Lauren hails from Michigan, and moved to Chicago to pursue a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in writing from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Shortly after graduation, Lauren joined the administrative team at Wagstaff’s Chicago office. A personal interest in graphic arts led Lauren to begin studying digital multimedia design, including layout, typography, and photography. Bringing these personal passions to her work as creative director at Wagstaff, Lauren provides the company’s clients with a fast, economical graphic-design option, customized to fit their style and creative goals. She is currently enrolled in a digital photography course and hopes to add this specialty to her professional capabilities within the next year. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys reading and running. Having completed her first marathon in 2009, she is currently training for additional races.

San Francisco Office

KEELIN CZELLECZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A New England native and graduate of Boston’s Emerson College with a degree in marketing, advertising, and public relations, Keelin ventured to Los Angeles after graduation, and worked at a boutique public relations agency specializing in fashion. After several years of exploring the world of fashion and design, Keelin decided to follow her true calling and took a position as an account executive at Burditch Marketing Communications in Los Angeles, where she managed a number of luxury travel, hospitality, and restaurant accounts. Keelin relocated to the Bay Area in the fall of 2007 and joined the team at Wagstaff Worldwide.

CARISSA REMITZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A Sacramento native, Carissa grew up enjoying some of the country’s freshest produce and cooking with it in her family’s kitchen alongside her mother and grandmother. While studying film at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and then working in the film industry in Los Angeles, she continued to be captivated by all things food-related—avidly reading magazines and collecting cookbooks, testing out recipes on her lucky friends and family. Carissa’s lifelong interest steered her career path in 2005, when she moved to San Francisco to pursue her love of food and attend the California Culinary Academy. An internship and freelance work post-graduation followed with the San Francisco Chronicle's Food and Wine sections and this put her in touch with Wagstaff Worldwide, which she joined in 2006. She has worked with a diverse roster of clients—from celebrated, Michelin-starred restaurants to theatre and music festivals.  Her interests outside of work are just as varied, and include running, painting, and traveling, whether abroad or staying close to home and exploring all the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer. She is also a member of the Young Professional Advisory Council for the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation.

SARAH LOGAN, ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR / SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

Sarah joined Wagstaff Worldwide in 2007 after four years with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, both in Sarasota, FL, and Half Moon Bay, CA, where she managed sales, guest relations, and promotional efforts for their Mobil four-star spa. While at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarah worked closely with the food and beverage and culinary departments, which fueled her interest in food, wine, and travel. To Wagstaff, Sarah has brought not only her interest in the hospitality industry, but also the ways in which it is being impacted by social media. She has maintained a presence on social networking Web sites for years and is excited by the opportunities this quickly evolving arena is presenting to her clients. Sarah graduated with a degree in marketing from the University of Southern Mississippi.

CORINA CHAPMAN, ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

A Bay Area native, Corina joined the Wagstaff team in 2009, bringing with her a variety of experiences in the public relations field. Prior to Wagstaff, Corina worked at a boutique PR agency specializing in luxury hospitality, food, and wine clients, including the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. Engaging her passion for travel, Corina also spent a year in Maui working at a local resort and restaurant, immersing herself in the world of tropical food and all things hospitality. Corina’s background also encompasses public relations in technology, which has provided her with a solid foundation in social media and other emerging forms of communication. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon and holds a B.A. in journalism and communications, with an emphasis in public relations.

ALEX CAVE, ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

Hailing from New York City, Alex comes to Wagstaff Worldwide with a multifaceted background in public relations, publishing, and the hospitality industry. After graduating from Boston University with a B.S. in communications, she entered the public relations field while living in Manhattan, where she grew enthralled by the city’s foodie culture. She next joined the promotion team at Food & Wine magazine, assisting with the publication’s annual events such as the Aspen Food & Wine Classic, American Wine Awards, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, and the New York City Wine & Food Festival. Before relocating to San Francisco, Alex worked as a wedding and event planner for a luxury beachside resort in the Hamptons. She looks forward to merging her professional background into her current role with Wagstaff while enjoying the city’s diverse cultural attractions and restaurant scene.

New York Office

JESSICA RODRIGUEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A native of Santa Fe, NM, Jessica was immersed area’s art scene early on by her grandparents—nationally recognized masters and revivers of the lost Spanish colonial art of straw appliqué. Inspired by the heritage and tradition of the arts, Jessica honed her skills as a straw appliqué artist as a teenager while simultaneously working in the catering department at La Posada de Santa Fe. It was during the events held at the resort that Jessica discovered her passion for the hospitality industry. She left Santa Fe to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA, where she majored in public relations and an emphasis in business and marketing. Prior to joining the Wagstaff team in 2005, Jessica worked in public relations for several leading beauty and health companies, helping bring the brands to the forefront of an intensely competitive industry through media relations. She worked in Wagstaff’s Los Angeles office for over four years before relocating to New York and has executed grand-opening events and spearheaded successful public relations campaigns for a number of different clients—from nationally acclaimed restaurants to luxury resorts, spas, as well as golf courses and programs. Always enamored of travel, food, and new experiences and challenges, Jessica oversees the growth and operations of the company’s newest office, including managing clients in New York City, Boston, and other areas.

MELANY MULLENS, ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR

Melany joined Wagstaff Worldwide after spending several years working in various positions in marketing and health care. After living in Chicago, Melany moved to Salt Lake City, where she spent four seasons at the Sundance Film Festival, managing celebrity guests of the festival. Her event-management background also includes working for the 2002 Winter Olympics and the CineVegas Film Festival. Melany and her husband eventually relocated to Charleston, SC, where she discovered an ever-growing appreciation for fine Southern cuisine and hospitality, ultimately leading her to a public-relations career and Wagstaff Worldwide. Melany's enthusiasm and love of interesting people and places makes her a perfect addition to Wagstaff.

HEATHER BARBOD, ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR

Exhibiting a taste for adventure, Heather has lived in New Zealand, backpacked through Europe, and, thanks to her love of skiing, traveled extensively throughout North America. A graduate of Boston University with a B.S. in communication and public relations, Heather has worked in the Public Relations Travel & Tourism department at the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, as a freelance consultant for international travel accounts at Robertson Solutions, and as a freelance event planner at EURO RSCG PR. In 2005, Heather joined the Wagstaff Worldwide team in Los Angeles. Now, as part of the company's New York office, she continues to utilize her professional and personal experiences to create the most effective and creative PR campaigns for her clients.

TYLER TEASS, ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

A native of Roanoke, VA, Tyler entered into the hospitality industry during college at the University of Virginia, where he worked at several restaurants in the Charlottesville area while gaining degrees in American studies and music. Enjoying restaurant life much more than the idea of going to law school, he moved to Lexington, VA, to help open the farm-to-table restaurant, the Red Hen, where he became sous chef. After stages at Town House in Chilhowie, VA, and Alinea in Chicago, he transitioned out of the kitchen and moved to New York to intern at Bullfrog & Baum prior to joining the Wagstaff team. In his spare time, Tyler enjoys reading cookbooks, coaching ice hockey, and searching the country for the perfect cheeseburger.