Linda Roth Associates, INC
Your Public Relations Concierge

Reagan National Airport
Hangar 11, Room 204
Washington, DC 20001

Phone: (703) 417.2700
Fax: (703) 417.2707

Linda Roth – President:
linda@lindarothpr.com

Anthony Hesselius – Senior Publicist and Manager
anthonyh@lindarothpr.com

For information on current or future internship opportunities please send all inquiries to: anthonyh@lindarothpr.com

There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all
- In My Life, The Beatles

linda@lindarothpr.com

An aficionado of the hospitality public relations industry, Linda Roth Conte, the founder and president of Linda Roth Associates, INC (LRA) is the “go-to” woman when the hospitality industry’s message needs to get out. She has developed marketing and publicity campaigns for independent and chain restaurants, hotels, associations, wine, beer and spirits companies, and non-profit hospitality organizations.

Marketing strategies as well as publicity strategies are critical in guiding national retail, restaurant and hotel groups in their expansion into the Washington, D.C. metro area market. Major hospitality groups such as Palm Management Corp., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Morton’s The Steakhouse, Brinker International, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, Restaurant Associates, Guest Services, Inc., Famous Dave’s of America and Krispy Kreme have sought out LRA to plan and execute their expansion into the D.C. market.

In the international arena, as Director of Marketing for Champions Restaurants and Sports Bars, Linda developed a promotional training program for the company that was implemented by Champions in all of its U.S. and overseas restaurants, including those in Marriott properties.

Linda worked with Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) to position the annual Capital Restaurant & Hospitality Awards (now called the RAMMY Awards) in its early years as the premier restaurant awards event in Washington. She helped bring it to the level of prominence it achieved through publicity and support from celebrity appearances from local media and sports personalities.

Linda firmly believes in donating her time to charitable causes. For nearly 12 years she has helped position The Larry King Cardiac Foundation via galas, publicity, community involvement and web site information. Linda has served on the board of D.C. Central Kitchen (DCCK), a pioneering food service provider and job-training program for Washington, D.C.’s homeless population. She designed and implemented Kitchen Kabaret, a gala dinner featuring a host of notable chefs who not only prepared dinner, but also performed at the event, supported by DCCK students and graduates.

Linda is a regular columnist for FoodService Monthly, a regional trade publication as well as The Georgetowner and The Downtowner newspapers. She is the D.C. Dateline contributor for the James Beard Foundation Calendar & Newsletter.

As a leading area public relations specialist, Linda has been a guest lecturer and panelist for the public relations departments at American University, George Washington University and Marymount University. She serves as a board member of the national capital chapters of both National Association of Women Business Owners and Les Dames d’Escoffier; she is a long-standing board member of Oxford Publishing, which publishes restaurant and bar trade publications. She is an active member of Washington Area Concierge Association, D.C. Central Kitchen, and Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. Linda is a member of the American Marketing Association, James Beard Foundation and Women’s Foodservice Forum.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Linda is a graduate of the University of Maryland, with a B.A. in Communications. Since 1975, she has been a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and an avid Terrapin fan. Linda adores her Norfolk Terrier Bella (i.e. the Tiny Dancer) and is a student of Italian culture and language – to better engage her husband Silvestro Conte’s love of his native country.

I walk the city late at night.
Does everyone here do the same?
I want to be the things I see,
Give every face and place my name.
I cross the street, take a right,
Pick up the pace, pass a fight.
Did I grow up just to stay home?
I`m not immune – I love this tune.
-Five Fathoms, Everything But the Girl

anthonyh@lindarothpr.com

A native of Colorado, Anthony joined the team at LRA in January 2007, after several years in PR working with a variety of restaurant, hotel and hospitality clients. He first moved to Washington to pursue his Masters degree in International Development at American University following 5 years of working and traveling the world. Prior to his work in PR, Anthony led development projects in Madagascar, and assisted on projects in Burundi, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. His career focused in Africa, but also led him to Australia, Europe and beyond before he landed back in D.C.

While taking graduate classes he worked in The Melting Pot as a server, manager and eventually public relations director, becoming more entrenched in the Food & Beverage industry. Eventually he was nominated for ‘Employee of the Year’ by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington in 2005. His account management for Morton’s The Steakhouse earned LRA the PR Firm of the Year Award in 2008. Having made a home in Washington, Anthony is always looking to strengthen his relationships in the community here.

Anthony handles a wide variety of accounts for LRA, directing event planning and execution as well as marketing and brand strategizing. He is also the key support contact for LRA staff. Anthony serves on the board of the Washington Area Concierge Association, co-chairing and promoting the organization’s annual fundraising gala. His insight from years managing restaurant operation for businesses around the world lends itself perfectly to his work today.

Anthony’s favorite thing to do is eat, and he has worked with some of the world’s finest chefs, so ‘work’ tends to be pleasure for him. Spare time is often spent cooking, learning more about wine and spirits, and traveling anytime it is possible.

“Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Reeds drifting on by you know how I feel
Its a new dawn
Its a new day
Its a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good”
- Feeling Good, Nina Simone

martha@lindarothpr.com

A graduate of James Madison University with a B.A. in Corporate Communications from the School of Media Arts & Design, Martha Miller began her career in Washington, D.C. writing and editing publications for The Ocean Conservancy. Seeking a career closer to her passion for restaurants and cooking, Martha became the Food Donations Coordinator at D.C. Central Kitchen and worked with area restaurants, chefs and foodservice providers in support of the Kitchen’s programs. Prior to joining LRA, Martha was a consulting Publicist for Hisaoka PR where she worked with D.C. area hotels and restaurants on openings, special events and promotions.

During college Martha lived abroad in Florence, Italy and has traveled throughout Europe. After college she spent time working in the restaurant industry as a pastry apprentice at Washington, D.C.’s 1789 Restaurant and as a bread baker in an organic bakery. Her knowledge of the culinary arts has been further developed through courses at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, CA and L’Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, MD.

Originally from Princeton, WV, Martha grew up in Richmond, VA. A current resident of Alexandria, VA, Martha enjoys cooking for her friends and family, going to the farmer’s market, and shamefully watching reality television with her husband, Zach, and dog, Frank.

“You’re sick of hangin’ around and you’d like to travel;
Get tired of travelin’ and you want to settle down.
I guess they can’t revoke your soul for tryin’,
Get out of the door and light out and look all around.
Sometimes the light’s all shinin’ on me;
Other times I can barely see.
Lately it occurs to me What a long, strange trip it’s been.”
- ‘Truckin,’ Grateful Dead

jessica@lindarothpr.com

An appreciator of all things public relations, Jessica brings experience in social media, media relations, digital project management, and event planning to her position at Linda Roth Associates.

Jessica has worked with a wide range of clients in her career, including clients in the healthcare, education, travel and tourism, and non-profit industries. As a public relations specialist, Jessica has garnered valuable media coverage on the local, regional, and national levels. She’s also assisted in retail grand openings, coordinated multiple media desk-side visits, and has experience conducting trend research.

A graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, Jessica holds a B.A. in Advertising/public relations. Before joining Linda Roth Associates, Jessica worked in the public relations department for Mullen, a full service advertising agency headquartered in Boston. Jessica is a native of Somerset, Pennsylvania and in her spare time enjoys making jewelry, uncovering interesting recipes, learning about other cultures, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

“I’ve heard people say, too much of anything is not good for you, baby, but I don’t know about that.” – Barry White

christina@lindarothpr.com

A nomad of sorts, Christina has called places from Texas to Kuwait home, but now she rests her head in Washington, D.C. A graduate from Vanderbilt University, she started her career in sports communications focusing on multicultural outreach and initiatives. Christina has always had a supersized appetite for life, traveling, and all things food!

She woke in the morning.
She knew that her life had passed her by
She called out a warning.
Don’t ever let life pass you by.

- Warning, Incubus

katelyn@lindarothpr.com

Katelyn joined the LRA team in March, 2010. As a 2008 graduate of Radford University, she received her BS in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations.

She began her career at Shirley & Banister Public Affairs where she gained experience working with the media to arrange interviews, creating press materials, as well as book tour promotion and event coordination. Katelyn also had the opportunity to work with New York Times best-selling authors.

The majority of her free time is spent running and enjoying most forms of physical fitness, cooking and entertaining  friends and checking out all the best places to eat and sights to see in DC.

After graduating with honors from Northwestern University, Larisa Wanserski has developed a distinctive career as a communications specialist for a wide range of corporate and non-profit organizations. Since joining LRA she has applied her writing and public relations skills to such accounts as Anton Enterprises, Inc., The Larry King Cardiac Foundation and Morton’s of Chicago.

Larisa has consulted for a diverse client list including Sitel Corporation/SWW Worldwide, Seeds of Peace, The Corporation for Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest and the historic Chautauqua Conferences on US-Soviet Relations. She was the first Senior Account Executive for Peabody Communications and was instrumental in developing the agency’s first national accounts, including the Law School Admission Council, the Association of Governing Boards and Mount Vernon.

Larisa served as public relations director for such national cultural institutions as the Wolf Trap Foundation, Ford’s Theatre and Very Special Arts. She was invited to be the first Communications and Marketing Director for the landmark Institute of the Arts at George Mason University.

Larisa has taught seminars and semester-long courses on public relations and writing. She was a founding Board member of The Washington Theatre Awards Society/The Helen Hayes Awards and served on the Board of Washington Independent Writers. Larisa managed and was lead vocalist for her own blues band, Lady Ice & The Titanics.