Charlotte Milan, Founder and Principal
San Francisco native Charlotte Milan brings more than twelve years of strategic media and public relations experience to C. Milan Communications. Her proven track record of success includes high profile media placements in a variety of publications including Fortune, New York Times, Architectural Digest, TIME, Business Week, ForbesLife, Saveur, Newsweek, Robb Report, Bon Appetit, Wall Street Journal, Condé Nast Traveler, Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine and Wine Spectator. Milan has represented and launched a variety of wineries and luxury industry projects, including Cliff Lede Vineyards, Poetry Inn, Mayacama Golf and Lodging Club and Dana Estates.
Prior to founding CMC, Milan opened the Northern California office of Wagstaff Worldwide as Executive Director, where she handled media relations for world-renowned restaurants including Masa’s, Tra Vigne and Lark Creek Restaurant Group. Milan also served as Director, Public Relations and Corporate Communications for Clos Du Val Wine Co., Ltd, a global network of wineries. At Clos Du Val, she repositioned the 30-year old brand, spearheaded the winery’s product placement and entertainment marketing campaigns and launched a new wine, Domaine de Nizas, from the Languedoc.
Milan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Georgetown University. While at Georgetown, Milan explored her passion for food by working in the prep kitchen of Roberto Donna’s Galileo. She has lectured on public relations at The Stanford Graduate School of Business, and her work at Clos Du Val has been developed into a marketing case study for University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.
A food and restaurant obsessed San Franciscan, Milan is also an avid hiker and loves to explore the Bay Area’s trails with her dog, Oliver. Her current favorite food finds include Ron Siegel’s amuse of sea urchin panna cotta at The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, steamed spot prawns at R&G Lounge, and Double Doubles at In-N-Out. She’s always on the look-out for old-school, East-Coast-style mozzarella sticks. Thankfully, her annual yoga retreat to Tulum, Mexico is on the horizon, providing a needed respite from her penchant for fried food.
Keely Carollo, Director
Account Director Keely Carollo joined C. Milan Communications in June 2006. An integral part of the CMC team, Carollo focuses her efforts on developing relationships with local and national media and hosting media at client properties. A pitching pro, Carollo has garnered press coverage in Brides, Sunset, Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times. She serves as the account lead for Ladera Vineyards, Pillow Rd., Pedras Wine Company and Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate.
Originally from the Lake Tahoe area, Carollo made a bee-line to the Central Coast wine country for college where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Wine and Viticulture with a concentration in Wine Business at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, making her CMC’s go-to wine expert on everything from the vine to the bottle.
Growing up, Carollo had several family members in the wine industry and developed an interest for wine at an early age. While at Cal Poly, Carollo was able to turn her passion into reality where she assisted in the redevelopment of Robert Talbott Vineyards’ second label, Pumari. Carollo also interned at J.A.M. PR, where she learned the ins and outs of wine public relations, working with Sea Smoke Cellars, Beckmen Vineyards and Duckhorn Wine Company. She also spent a summer studying in Florence, Italy, where she was able to enjoy some of her favorite activities: wine, food and travel.
Carollo spends time exploring the city’s different neighborhoods and emerging herself into the Bay Area’s classic and new restaurants, where she has been wowed by Cyrus’ “Peanut Butter and Jelly” Foie Gras and Zuni Café’s “caramel in a pot.” Carollo can also be found in the kitchen cooking her family’s secret Italian recipes, at the driving range perfecting her golf game and exploring Northern and Central California’s wineries and vineyards.
Jennifer Harding, Account Coordinator
Account Coordinator Jennifer (Jen) Harding joined the C. Milan Communications team in early September 2009.
Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the daughter of a northern California native, Harding grew up listening to her father’s enchanting accounts about what it was like to live the life of a “true Californian.” From the beginning she knew she was destined to live there, someday.
Harding’s life in the “Golden State” began on the sunny beaches of Southern California where she attended the University of San Diego. After graduating in 2008 with a B.A. in Communication Studies and a minor in English, Harding moved to Chicago to begin her marketing and PR career. She has worked for Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, Event Architects, and Newspapers First where she successfully contributed her marketing and event planning talents, promotional and writing abilities and great enthusiasm for learning new things.
While the friendly Midwestern characteristics of Chicago will always hold a special place in Harding’s heart, she realized what her father had known all along—she truly was a California girl, destined to be back on the west coast. With an eagerness to embrace all the wonderful experiences northern California has to offer, Harding moved to San Francisco in early August.
Still new to the area, Harding is extremely eager to explore the unique neighborhoods of San Francisco, discover delicious vegetarian dishes, experience the beauty of Napa Valley and hike the gorgeous trails of the Bay Area. She spends her free time with family and friends, running and playing tennis, watching Top Chef and Project Runway and reigniting her love of photography.
Our Editorial Team
Behind the scenes, CMC works with some of San Francisco’s top writers and editors to craft our messages, develop press materials and write pitch letters and press releases that wow.