Meet Our Team
Jamie Tobin
Founder & Publicist
Sitting on the counter in her grandma’s kitchen was where Jamie developed an insatiable appetite for the world of hospitality. Like an apron-donned magician, she’d eagerly watch her grandmother mix in a sprinkle of this and a shake of that, turning cooking into a sensory adventure worthy of an audience. Despite studying the steps and knowing the ingredients, she could never hold a candle to Grandma’s meals. At a young age, Jamie learned that it’s not just the finished product that’s important. The passion, the preparation, the people -- those are the elements that make things extraordinary.
Seeking a way to shine a light on innovators, “mixers and shakers” like her grandma, Jamie graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in journalism. Raised to not follow recipes and dream big, Jamie left her midwestern home for the bright city of San Francisco. The daughter of a salesman, it was here she connected her fond memories of family dinners with the savvy she picked up from her father’s sales routes. Where food, wine and marketing meet, Jamie dove head first into PR.
A mélange of her enthusiasm and talent, Jamie has worked in public relations for the past 16+ years. Guided by industry leaders, she experienced skyrise agencies, small firms, and independent contractor life before starting her own agency. Jamie has spearheaded PR efforts for a variety of clients, including food & drink products, wineries, restaurants, industry start-ups, imaginative apps, chef personalities, hotels, upscale travel brands, and national/regional culinary events (including James Beard Foundation’s Taste America and Eat Drink SF.) She has secured coverage in top outlets and print publications across the country.
After meeting the love of her life and saying “yes” to his happily ever after, Jamie moved to Wine Country and founded &co. pr. The Tobin tribe now includes two beloved rescue pups, Maverick and Goose, along with &.co’s growing list of contacts, colleagues and clients. Treating everyone like family, Jamie is more than a business owner, she is an opportunity creator. With palpable zealousness, she still has a lot in common with that youthful Midwestern girl seated on the counter. She treats the brands she represents with a level of admiration and respect, doing whatever it takes to magnify their mission. She genuinely values relationships above all else. She is attentive, inquisitive and appreciates the multi-faceted efforts it takes to create. Now also an aficionado of dirty martinis and perfectly crisp french fries, Jamie is grateful for the finer things in life and has dedicated her life to promoting them.
Samantha Edwardes
Senior Communications Specialist
Samantha Edwardes is a born storyteller. Finding a career in which she could mix her affinity for persuasive writing with her creative marketing-savvy has been a real dream come true. Inspired by the imaginations behind the brands she works with, Samantha loves amplifying the voice of those with tales to tell. More than just a think tank churning out big ideas, Samantha helps clients execute initiatives and attract potential consumers. Crediting her deep understanding of target audiences and effective communication skills to her degrees in Psychology and Sociology, Samantha has worked in the world of PR for over a decade. Having connected with a variety of businesses, from mom-and-pop brands to high-profile start-ups, she has much experience in drafting engaging narratives and maximizing digital marketing efforts. Considered an expert in her field, Samantha's insights have been featured in a handful of industry and trade publications. Originally from New York, graduating with honors from Tulane University in New Orleans, and now calling Northern California home, Samantha is gregarious and passionate about exploring new places. A real “word nerd” who enjoys cooking, crossword puzzles, the thesaurus, and Bon Appétit recipes are a few of her favorite things. A forward-thinker with an eye on the bright side, Samantha currently lives amidst the magical Redwoods of Humboldt County with her loving husband, beautiful rescue dog and sweet baby girl.
Samantha Carpenter
Media Relations Consultant
Samantha has been a communications and public relations specialist for close to two decades. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communications, Samantha cut her teeth in the industry with a formidable early career in personal publicity, representing top talent in the entertainment space - actors, producers, and screenwriters. After completing the Institute of Culinary Education’s NYC program in Culinary Management, Samantha moved into the realm of hospitality, devising and facilitating a wide range of strategic communications campaigns for individual chefs, restaurants, hospitality groups, hotels, and travel destinations, most recently adding entities in the wine and craft beverage space to her repertoire. Samantha has extensive experience placing feature stories in a variety of print, broadcast, and digital outlets. She understands how to break through to both hyper-local journalists as well as key national writers, editors and producers. Samantha relocated to the North Bay in the fall of 2017 after a decade in New York City, and currently lives in Sonoma County, California with her husband and their two dogs.
Madison Scarlata
Digital Marketing Strategist and Photographer
Madison is a published photographer, digital storyteller, social media marketing consultant, and avid foodie. Her experience spans email marketing, social media, photography, website work, and digital advertising, including working with world-renowned wineries such as Cliff Lede Vineyards, Grgich Hills Estate, and Baldacci Family Vineyards. Also, she recently launched a wine label with her boyfriend, Parodi Cellars, celebrating the revival of generations of Napa winemaking. In her free time, she loves to read, watch cooking shows and explore new restaurants.
Tricia Hardy
PR & Social Media
A seasoned professional with more than 15 years of hospitality experience, Tricia has long specialized in the worlds of food & beverage. She has a strong understanding of a reputation’s value and the span of inner workings that go on behind the scenes to maintain it. Starting her path working through high school as a hostess at a mom-and-pop restaurant in San Diego, she rose in the management ranks and spearheaded several wine and spirits programs. Also juggling side professions assisting professional photographers, videographers, and various media productions across the nation, Tricia’s previous careers have been characterized by her ability to network and look beyond what’s through the lens.
You might say her parent’s affinity for road trips throughout her childhood invoked her artful curiosity and wanderlust spirit. This inquisitive eye and love of the land is what eventually led her north to pursue a degree in geography at the University of Alaska Southeast. Appreciating life’s compass and beautiful tangle of journeys, her most recent venture has led her back to her roots in southern California. When the opportunity presented itself, Tricia excitedly jumped at the chance to join the &co.pr team. Here she is able to merge her front of house expertise with her aptitude for analytics, critical-thinking and communication. Public relations pairs her “big picture” mind with her predilection for the little details; an ideal combination for the industry.
Outside of work, you’ll find Tricia, well, outside. Connecting timeless constellations with her young daughter, digging hopeful holes in their garden or building short-lived castles in the sand, Tricia is an enterprising creator who optimistically sees past the present.