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PRESIDENT

Nothing makes Melissa happier than hearing she has solved someone’s problem. Whether it be suggesting the perfect restaurant for a special night, crafting a message that really resonates with the target audience or suggesting a strategic change to a current business model, she enjoys generating positive results for friends and clients. After 25+ years, she’s gotten pretty good at it!

VICE PRESIDENT

After pit stops in Nashville and Charlotte, Tuan joined MLA in 2009 and has worn many hats. Whether it’s event management, social media, strategic planning, administrative work or grassroots marketing, he is up for the task. In his current role as vice president, he utilizes his 10+ years of experience daily.

CLIENT SERVICES DIRECTOR

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a minor in Consumer Food at the University of Georgia, Emily moved to Birmingham, Alabama to work for the editorial department of Oxmoor House, the cookbook publisher for Southern Living. In 2013, Emily joined the client services team for Melissa Libby & Associates and currently serves as the client services director.

CONTENT DIRECTOR

Brandon joined the MLA team in January 2013 as a media relations/social media intern and was quickly promoted to client services manager and then content director in 2019. He is passionate about photography and thrilled to capture engaging moments for clients at MLA.

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Born and raised in Michigan, Michael attended Central Michigan University where he received his BA in Journalism and Advertising prior to moving to Atlanta in 1990. Before joining our team, he spent a decade as the marketing director for one of the Southeast’s largest and most well-known restaurant groups. He recently returned home to be closer to his family and the salt-free waters of the Great Lakes.

NATIONAL MEDIA RELATIONS

Gretchen joined MLA in 2000 as account executive and currently assists with national media relations. She also serves as a public relations consultant to a variety of businesses and events in the Atlanta area and in North Carolina.

CLIENT SERVICES ASSISTANT

Though a west coast girl at heart, Katie has been in Atlanta for nearly 20 years and now thinks of it as home. After studying business at Emory University, Katie dove headfirst into the hospitality industry by working as a corporate event planner, restaurant and venue manager, festival coordinator and more. She loves combining both her creative and logistical sides to support the MLA team and provide amazing experiences for clients.

EDITOR

A freelance writer and editor, Karen Lopez has been working with Melissa Libby & Associates since 2007. Karen is a contributing writer for Atlanta Now magazine, Atlanta Heritage Guide, Peachtree Connects and other publications for the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. She also is a contributing writer for Around the Park, a publication for Atlanta’s Chastain Park neighborhood. A University of Georgia graduate and a former PR and marketing professional in Atlanta’s hospitality and investment management industries, Karen enjoys playing tennis, traveling and spending time with her husband and two sons.

ACCOUNTING

Christine joined the MLA team in November 2006 as our Accountant responsible for client billing, accounts payable and financial statement preparation. She is a licensed CPA in Louisiana. In addition to restaurant PR, Christine has financial accounting experience working in the health insurance, consulting, private equity, real estate and software development industries.

In her free time, Christine enjoys traveling, especially to Europe, reading all kinds of fiction, playing puzzle games such as Suduku, exercising at the gym, and last but not least, eating out and drinking in New Orleans (which is why exercise is a must!)

MEDIA RELATIONS

Growing up, Tamie loved to cook at the knee of her mother. Little did she know, this early love for food would be re-kindled years later in Paris, leading her to the New England Culinary Institute and then to the Food Network show, Good Eats, where she worked as Culinary Director for 11 years. Now, when she’s not working as a personal chef for celebrities such as Robert Downey Jr., Owen Wilson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Anne Hathaway, Nick Jonas, or Zac Efron, she is producing cooking shows, researching, cooking or playing with food. Started in 2013, Tamie Cook Culinary Productions is a much sought-after culinary consulting firm specializing in personal chef services, recipe development, producing, teaching, catering, food styling and myriad other services. Tamie is currently the Culinary Producer for the third season of the Emmy Nominated PBSNC show “The Key Ingredient” starring Sheri Castle. Tamie has also contributed recipe development, testing and food styling to more than 30 cookbooks and is currently working on her own culinary memoir. Whether it’s an intimate dinner for two or a cookbook with 200 recipes, bringing food and people together in ways that transforms them both is always Tamie’s goal.

NEW BUSINESS

Caroline first joined MLA in 2003 after working in the communications department of the High Museum of Art. She left in 2005 to move to upstate New York, and then rejoined the team in early 2012 to handle MLA’s new business proposals and timelines. Originally from Chicago, and with a degree in Spanish and sociology from the University of Wisconsin, Caroline now lives in Wilmington, NC with her husband, two kids, and dog. She enjoys traveling, reading, eating, and living at the beach, though she misses all her favorite Atlanta restaurants.

RELAXATION SPECIALIST

Earl joined MLA (and the world!) in 2019. His primary role is making sure everyone remembers the value of taking a few minutes to play. Additionally, his napping techniques are world-class.

ZOOM MEETING SPECIALIST

Wystan joined the MLA team in 2020 and quickly found his niche as a video conference specialist. In between his frequent appearances on MLA video chats, he enjoys chasing toys around the house and crawling under blankets to take naps.