The Smitten Promise  

✓ Senior Talent Only 

✓ Results-focused 

✓ Honest + Candid Counsel

✓ Partners in your success

Aimee Grove

SMITTEN FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL

Aimee has spent more than 25 years helping to launch and build consumer goods, services and technology brands through creative communications campaigns and strategic media relations. Her client experience includes work with such well-known companies as Orbitz, Best Western International, ARAMARK and the Kimpton Hotel Group, as well as many fast-growing start-ups and consumer tech brands such as 99designs, JustAnswer, Touch of Modern, The Muse, Ava Fertility Tracker, BetterUp and PolicyGenius.

 

Prior to starting Smitten

in 2013, Aimee spent over 10 years as vice president of the consumer practice for Allison+Partners’ San Francisco office. While with the firm, Allison PR grew from 30 employees with three offices to a global agency with more than a dozen offices and 300+ employees. Some of the highlights from her time with Allison include:

  • Introducing the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville, along with managing PR for the Coppola Diamond Collection wines and Coppola Resorts

  • Running the ZipRealty account as the first online real estate brokerage expanded from 12 to 35 national markets and through its successful IPO 

  • Helping bring in major clients for the firm still on the roster, including the Toyota/Lexus business and Kimpton Hotel Group  

  • Assisting CEO Scott Allison in running media training sessions for top executives from companies including WhatsApp, Orbitz and Kimpton Hotel Group, among others  

Journalism Roots 

Earlier in her career, Aimee was a journalist who edited business publications and wrote for such magazines as VIA, Forbes ASAP and San Francisco Magazine. From 1999-2001, she served as the West Coast Bureau Chief for PR Week. A Bay Area native, Aimee graduated from UC Santa Barbara and lives in Lafayette with her husband and teenage son. When she’s not working, she loves to ride her horse “Luc.”

PARTNERS & COLLABORATORS

Smitten is a virtual full-service agency with a network of personally curated, talented professionals with whom we partner on your business as needed.

This gives us the ability to scale to changing needs and priorities. All of these partners are former journalists and/or seasoned PR pros with years of experience delivering proven results. Unlike with the big firms, no junior folks will ever touch your business at Smitten.

  • Andrea Toch

    ASSOCIATE

    With more than 13 years experience in PR, Andrea is a media relations maven with proven expertise securing top placements in broadcast, parenting and consumer personal finance media at the local and national level. Andrea has run PR campaigns for various startups and large-scale companies, including Instacart, MyFitnessPal, Outschool, Mercari, Calm, KiwiCo, ModCloth, Care.com, Gazelle, redbox, Experian, JustAnswer, Rise Gardens and more. A graduate of Arizona State University’s renowned Walter Cronkite school of journalism, Andrea formerly served as Vice President of a boutique PR firm in Phoenix.

  • Kistie Adams

    ASSOCIATE

    With more than 13 years experience in PR, Andrea is a media relations maven with proven expertise securing top placements in broadcast, parenting and consumer personal finance media at the local and national level. Andrea has run PR campaigns for various startups and large-scale companies, including Instacart, MyFitnessPal, Outschool, Mercari, Calm, KiwiCo, ModCloth, Care.com, Gazelle, redbox, Experian, JustAnswer, Rise Gardens and more. A graduate of Arizona State University’s renowned Walter Cronkite school of journalism, Andrea formerly served as Vice President of a boutique PR firm in Phoenix.

  • Kimberly Angell

    ASSOCIATE

    Kimberly brings more than 15 years of experience in consumer tech PR and strategic communications. Before striking out on her own, Kimberly worked for Schwartz MSL, where she built and co-led the consumer PR practice in San Francisco. While there for nine years, she developed strategic communications programs for innovative consumer service and technology companies to build brand awareness, drive traffic and grow adoption.

    Over the course of her career, Kimberly’s focus has been on promoting and bringing new consumer products and services to the market. Some of the brands she has worked with include Townsquared (social network dedicated to connecting neighborhood businesses), Remind101 (free communication platform built for teachers), Lively (smart home sensor and wearable to help seniors remain independent), Rev.com (best place for freelancers to work), Eventbrite (plan, promote, and sell out any event) and ModCloth (indie and vintage fashion). Other clients she’s worked with include Backblaze (online backup), SimplyHired.com (job search engine), RetailMeNot.com (online coupon codes) and Getaround (peer-to-peer car sharing).

Andrea Toch

Associate

  • With more than 13 years experience in PR, Andrea is a media relations maven with proven expertise securing top placements in broadcast, parenting and consumer personal finance media at the local and national level. Andrea has run PR campaigns for various startups and large-scale companies, including Instacart, MyFitnessPal, Outschool, Mercari, Calm, KiwiCo, ModCloth, Care.com, Gazelle, redbox, Experian, JustAnswer, Rise Gardens and more. A graduate of Arizona State University’s renowned Walter Cronkite school of journalism, Andrea formerly served as Vice President of a boutique PR firm in Phoenix.

Kistie Adams

Associate

  • With an expertise in media relations that spans 12+ years, Kistie has a strong background in outreach on the national and regional level. She has achieved results for clients across a variety of industries, including cryptocurrency, retail, biotech, fintech, healthcare, blockchain, personal finance real estate and consumer lifestyle. Born and raised in California’s Mojave Desert, Kistie previously worked in the commercial real estate industry on a national level, garnering media exposure for clients within the built environment including those in architecture, construction, multifamily development, environmental consulting, engineering and real estate law. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University – Idaho, where she studied political science with a minor in public relations.

Lindsay Stevens

Associate

  • With over 13 years of experience in communications with a specific focus on media relations, Lindsay Stevens has a specific passion for women's health and launching cutting-edge technology companies. In 2016, Lindsay, in partnership with Aimee, was instrumental in the launch of the first FDA-approved fertility tracker, Ava. Since then she's worked with women's health companies ranging from organic women's menstrual health products to health and fitness trackers, menopause-focused social communities and sexual wellness apps. Additional clients in the space have included Cybex, Femtec Health, Lover, kegg, Hello Revel, and Dipsea.

    In the broader consumer tech space, Lindsay has also successfully launched multiple e-commerce sites, startups and apps and has handled the execution of numerous funding announcements resulting in top-tier coverage from publications including New York Times, Wired, Business Insider, Fast Company, and the Wall Street Journal.

  • “Aimee is a consummate professional with whom I've worked for years. I highly recommend her talents and her integrity.”

    — Jon Swartz, Senior Tech Reporter, Marketwatch (formerly USA Today)