Jim Howard
Vice President 

“Nothing helps scenery like ham and eggs.” – Mark Twain

Jim brings more than 20 years of food industry experience to Andrew Freeman & Co. He has written more than 200 published restaurant reviews, produced a cookbook printed by Chronicle Books and was honored by the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) for corporate marketing. As a food marketer for the past 14 years, he has produced culinary events in prestigious locations around the world including The James Beard House in New York, Gordon Ramsay at Claridges in London, the Saint Cecilia Hotel in Austin and the Gilt Club in Portland, Oregon.

As the former Vice President of the California Table Grape Commission, he managed an annual $5 million marketing and advertising program with television, print, social media and online outreach. Jim also is a Certified Culinary Professional from the IACP, has lectured on food marketing at the Culinary Institute of America and worked with food writers and editors in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and Sydney.

p. 415.781.5700
e. jim@afandco.com

Yasemin Sussman
Account Supervisor, Public Relations 

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” – Virginia Woolf

Yasemin brings her experience over the past six years in the public relations world, combined with her passion for food, wine and travel, to the team at Andrew Freeman & Co.

After graduating from San Diego State University with a B.S. in Business Marketing, Yasemin began her career working in public relations with consumer and technology clients. Most recently, Yasemin was a Senior Client Executive at Voce Communications, a Porter Novelli company, where she worked with an array of high-profile clients such as Yahoo!, Sony PlayStation, Dolby and others to consult on a variety of public relations and social media programs, including press tours, campaigns, media relations, and event planning (including planning her recent wedding in wine country).

Yasemin credits her passion for food and the hospitality world from her experience as an international student in Florence, Italy. In her free time, she maintains a lifestyle blog, Art of Moda, and will never pass up the chance to entertain guests in her San Francisco loft and serve homemade cupcakes, her specialty. Outside of work she can be found attending local art and music shows with her husband, discovering local eateries, and practicing yoga.

p. 415.781.5700
e. yasemin@afandco.com

Sasha Bernstein
SF Chefs Program Director* 

“One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.” ~ Luciano Pavarotti and William

Sasha had a clear passion for food and events as early as her New York elementary school days when she turned her salami sandwiches into bite-sized hors d’oeuvres for everyone at her lunch table. Bringing that devotion to hospitality with her, Sasha moved to California in 2004, working for Esquire, celebrity Chef Cat Cora, and 7×7.

Since joining Andrew Freeman & Co., Sasha has been involved with numerous accounts, both local and national, and has focused on public relations and program developing for restaurants and food and wine events. As a passionate and dedicated member of her team, Sasha is committed to the success of her clients.

p. 415.781.5700
e. sasha@afandco.com

Candace Otto MacDonald
SF Chefs Senior Account Manager/SF Chefs Marketing Supervisor 

“We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.” -Epicurus

Growing up in her Italian Grandmother’s kitchen, Candace developed a passion for food and an appreciation for its ability to bring people together. Like a great restaurant, her childhood home was always filled with people sharing a meal and a few laughs.

Candace has worked with a range of clients including new and established restaurants, boutique hotels and a winery. She also manages marketing for SF Chefs, San Francisco’s premier food, wine & spirits festival.

Candace, a former Miss Pennsylvania, is an avid traveler, visiting over 30 countries. She spends her free time dining out with her husband and toddler and occasionally writing about it on her blog.

p. 415.781.5700
e. candace@afandco.com

Leith Steel
Senior Account Manager, Public Relations 

“A shared meal builds more bonds than a shared language.” ~ Leith

It all began with dessert; a whole slew of them, paraded by each table on a cart at a London restaurant by the name of Leith’s. Years later when Leith was born her father harkened back to that fine meal and suggested her rather unusual name, and so it seems she was destined from the beginning.

A culinary graduate who spent five years cooking professionally Leith decided to take her passion to the next level at Andrew Freeman & Co. Leith is happy to combine her passion for food and restaurants with the creativity that comes with developing new concepts and executing marketing and public relations campaigns. Always hungry for the next adventure, she continues to travel the world and search for inspirational and experiential moments, when food, culture and friendship cross all boundaries.

p. 415.781.5700
e. leith@afandco.com

Sofia Clarke
Senior Account Manager, Public Relations 

“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.” ~Julia Child

Growing up in a small town outside of Seattle, WA, Sofia spent most of her free time working at her father’s restaurant. From the early years as a dishwasher, to taking on bussing, prep-cooking and waitressing– she quickly found that restaurants were an alluring industry that she wanted to be involved in.

Having lived in Sweden, Paris, and Amsterdam, she began her career in London at Luxe PR, working with prestigious London restaurants . In 2009, the West Coast called her back and she left bustling London for the spectacular culinary mecca of San Francisco.

Sofia joined the team at Andrew Freeman & Co. in March 2010, and loves working with the restaurant clients she represents. Never one to say no to drink or food – Sofia immensely enjoys creating stories of success for her clients as well as indulging in all the delicious tastings involved.

p. 415-781-5700
e. sofia@afandco.com

Julia Marino
Account Manager, Marketing 

“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” – Federico Fellini

Some people eat to live…others live to eat! Learning how to make marinara before sentences, Julia’s childhood revolved around the kitchen and dining table of her food and wine-obsessed family. She spent seven years working the ins-and-outs of the restaurant scene in both the Northwest and Bay Area, while graduating top of her class from Santa Clara University.

From studying food writing in Tuscany, to shelling coconuts in Costa Rica, to planning weekly foodie-adventures for friends in the San Francisco, the next meal is always top of mind. Spending nearly four years at Bon Appétit, she led large Silicon Valley accounts to success as a corporate event planner and marketing coordinator. Most recently, she pulled out all the stops in helping launch the San Francisco market for Celebrated Chefs, a full-throttle startup business. Responsible for spearheading their marketing program, she was in deep with the cities hottest chefs and restaurants while raising money for local charities.

Outside of work she can be found pursuing local happy hours, eating antipasti picnics in the park, exploring urban hikes and going to local art shows.

p. 415-781-5700
e. julia@afandco.com

Kate Michels
Account Manager, Marketing 

“Health food may be good for the conscience but Oreos taste a hell of a lot better.” – Robert Redford

Food is always an adventure worth exploring. There was no dish Kate wouldn’t try as a child, from frog legs to escargot to alligator. Her love for food was shaped at a young age with parents that exhibited very different talents in the kitchen. Experiencing new restaurants was a time honored tradition with her mother.

After graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara, Kate began her career in the financial services industry working in client service. Building strong client relationships in San Francisco, it was time to follow her passion and came aboard to do the same with our clients here are Andrew Freeman & Co. She is not only dedicated to client success, but has a proven track record to prove it. When she isn’t trying out a new spot on her “must eat” list she is planning her next vacation.

p. 415-781-5700
e. kate@afandco.com

Claire Bentley
Account Manager, Public Relations 

“Sleep ‘til you’re hungry, eat ‘til you’re sleepy” – Author Unknown

Born and raised in Colorado, Claire studied and completed several internships in San Francisco, working in the Division of Communication Studies at USF and in various restaurant and hospitality positions. Finally, she was introduced to Andrew Freeman & Co when she accepted an internship position just before completing her studies at USF. Claire knew immediately that AF&Co. was the place to begin her Public Relations career in the hospitality industry.

Bringing her outgoing personality, enthusiasm, energy, and love of representing her restaurant and hotel clients, she enjoys being part of the incredible AF&Co. team.

p. 415-781-5700
e. claire@afandco.com

Shawna Sund
Account Manager, Marketing 

“There is no sincerer love than the love of food.” – George Bernard Shaw

Shawna’s passion for food started when she found herself working in a small restaurant in college. She quickly realized that her love for hospitality and the joy of working with beautiful food was something she could not live without. After finishing her degree at Arizona State University, she moved back to San Francisco and continued to work in a variety of high-end restaurants. Wanting to incorporate her love for the industry and her passion for marketing, Shawna started at AF & Co. in October 2010 and assisted with the SF Chefs Food and Wine festival. She brings a strong knowledge and passion for the restaurant and hospitality industry.

p. 415-781-5700
e. shawna@afandco.com

Drew Bailey Scott
Account Coordinator, Marketing 

Life is your restaurant, and I’m your maitre d’. -The Genie

While food has always been one of the many loves of Drew’s life, she realized it was her real passion during undergrad at The University of Oregon (GO DUCKS!), where she worked as an intern to a local chef. After the awakening of her passion for all things culinary, Drew went on to receive her Masters of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy from Boston University.

After completing this program, she spent several years working in restaurants and specialty food companies, working in marketing and operations, but quickly found that the fast paced and challenging life of a marketing agency is where she belonged. Andrew Freeman & Co. has proven to be an excellent fit for her love of both marketing, and the restaurant world.

Having lived in many places, Drew has finally found ‘home’ in San Francisco. Loving the vibrant and unparalleled food and cocktail scene of The City, she doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon. In her free time Drew can be found cooking, hiking, eating, watching old westerns, drinking or traveling to Paso Robles, Manhattan Beach, and her hometown of Sun Valley, Idaho.

p. 415.781.5700
e. drew@afandco.com

Farryn Lewis
Executive Assistant 

“One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.” – Luciano Pavarotti

Farryn Lewis’s love of food could be described as basic, but don’t count her out just yet; in her case, you can teach an old dog new tricks. Farryn joins the AFCO staff with a newfound appreciation of food and a keen enthusiasm for devouring all the finer things the San Francisco dining world has to offer.

After graduating from San Francisco State with a degree in Communications, the Bay Area native spent four years working simultaneously as the Executive Assistant at US Marketing Services – a small marketing and consulting firm, and as Sports Information Coordinator at the Academy of Art University, the nation’s only four year art institution in the NCAA.

Farryn is really excited to be working with such a fun and dedicated staff, and is glad to be a part of the team!

p. 415.781.5700
e. farryn@afandco.com