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.
Coley Glasgow started her PR career at Patagonia in 2006 and has since remained dedicated to the brand throughout her career. Her passion for agency PR work stems from her enthusiasm for collaborating with like-minded brands across various industries.
In 2011, she co-founded Wilder PR. Now, as the newest member of the Quoted PR Team, Coley brings a wealth of experience and innovative perspectives to the table, focusing on sustainable fashion, outdoor, surf, and lifestyle brands – and the media within these spaces. Ventura is where Coley calls home, alongside her husband and three young boys.
While originally from Los Angeles, she has embraced Ventura for the past two decades, having pursued her college education in San Diego. Beyond her career, she spends much of her free time with her family at the beach, surfing, and exploring skateparks, mountains and soccer fields.
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.
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.