Our senior team has more than 30 years of experience working with some of the most celebrated food & beverage products, chefs, restaurants, and cookbook authors in the industry (as well as the rising stars).
Melissa Welles has served as a specialist in food, beverage, and hospitality public relations for over 25 years, working with noteworthy culinary brands and restaurants like Aidells Sausage, Odwalla, and Gott’s Roadside. During her 12 years with The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, she oversaw opening and ongoing media relations for The French Laundry, Bouchon, Bouchon Bakery (Yountville and Las Vegas), and Per Se, as well as media launches for The French Laundry and Bouchon cookbooks. Her knack for cultivating strong relationships with local, regional, and national press across all mediums and high-profile food event space platforms, and making meaningful connections within, has played a key role in her success.
Growing up in the Los Angeles area with parents who worked in the food industry, Melissa developed an appreciation and passion for all things culinary at a young age. She moved to Northern California to attend UC Berkeley, and today lives in Marin County.
Tara Blazona kicked off her PR career in 2008 at San Francisco’s Rivera Public Relations where she worked with some of the city’s most talked-about restaurants. From there, she joined Kristen Green PR, a consultancy focused on winery and hospitality clients, where, in addition to working with many wineries in the Constellations brand portfolio, she branched out into book publicity. In 2011, she joined Postcard Communications, where she worked with emerging artisanal food and spirit companies, cookbooks, and over 30 restaurants – from the Bay Area to New York and beyond. In early 2015, she took a short break from PR to launch a furniture startup, BenchMade Modern, with her husband, Edgar. But just a year later, feeling the pull back to her true passion — food — Tara began working with Melissa Welles. In 2017, they launched Quoted PR with a keen focus on mission-driven brands, especially those dedicated to finding solutions to the climate crisis.
A true Southerner at heart (raised in Jackson, Mississippi) she has a deep appreciation for food history and culture and a passion for exploring regional and global cuisines. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication where she earned a degree in Public Relations.
Alexis Fraser is a social media marketing expert with a passion for strategic communications and digital marketing. Her passion for inspiring others via creative storytelling led her from a role as a media manager for Xbox’s social channels, to later joining the team at Quoted PR, where she helps lead public relations and social media campaigns, and spearheads IRL activations for a wide range of clients in the food + beverage industry. Born and raised in Sonoma County, Alexis has a special passion for the food and wine scene she’s been surrounded by. She is a graduate from University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication where she earned a degree in Advertising and Public Relations, and today lives in Santa Monica.
Mindy Fox is a food and communications specialist whose work has encompassed editorial, branded content and public relations. From cooking professionally—working with James Beard Award nominee, Chef Stan Frankenthaler and others—to over two decades as a food writer, editor, and cookbook author in New York, and later a shift to public relations and communications, she has built her career on dual passions for the culinary and media worlds. As a multifaceted storyteller and creative strategist in the food publishing sector with an extensive network of editorial relationships, Mindy’s work in public relations and communications has helped clients craft strategic messaging and land stories in top tier outlets.
The daughter of an artisan mustard maker and Mad Men-era advertising executive, Mindy grew up in the Northeast. Long involved in sustainability efforts, she has a special interest in place-based foods and regenerative farming practices. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned a degree in Communication Arts / Film Studies, she lives in Portland, Maine.
Stephanie Amberg is a social media marketing expert and food writer from Marin County. A passionate storyteller, she brings an array of culinary experiences to her digital media approach, including an apprenticeship at Tomales Farmstead Creamery and work as a writer for Edible Marin & Wine Country. After graduating valedictorian from the American University of Paris with a Master's degree in Global Communications, she was named social media content lead for Procter & Gamble beauty brands at BBDO Proximity Paris, where she gained agency experience before deciding to strike out on her own. Since moving back to the States in 2016 Stephanie has worked with a variety of clients in the food, wine, and spirits industries, and currently manages content creation, strategy, and social media marketing for Quoted PR’s clients.
Kara O'Connor is a web designer and creative with a passion for digital marketing. Her clients have included Sons & Daughters and Madcap restaurants, along with many architects and musicians, and she worked in operations for Benefit Cosmetics prior to joining Quoted PR. With a degree in architecture and design from the University of California,Berkeley, she brings a unique perspective and creative approach to both user experience and graphic design.
An avid runner, swimmer, surfer, and sailor, with a special passion for the Bay Area’s food scene, Kara grew up in Hawaii, Texas, and Missouri. She moved to California to attend UC Berkeley, where she still resides.