Bios
CCA has deliberately assembled a marketing team with diverse backgrounds that include expertise in strategic marketing, new media and public relations. We are capable of developing new brands from conception, and refining and refreshing the image of better-established brands. Together, we offer a broad spectrum of experience and professional credentials to serve your organization's immediate and long-term needs.
Kimberly Charles
Founder
The Captain of the ship, Kimberly Charles has worked her PR and marketing mojo all over the world for 30 years. As an employee and an agent, she tackled marketing issues of every size, shape and color, generating buzz & tangible results for wineries, gourmet food producers, nonprofit organizations, museums, hotels, perfume and luxury cars. Her approach is rooted in developing a true understanding of the distinct character of a product. Kimberly’s foremost passion is representing clients with a socially responsible or sustainable business platform. Kimberly has largely focused her efforts on the wine, spirits and food industries, but has also crafted cause marketing and co-branding campaigns in co-operation with luxury brands including BMW, Ritz-Carlton, American Express, the Marriott and Hyatt Hotel chains, the Tony Awards® and others.
She began her work in New York at the premium wine importing company Kobrand Corporation, where she served as Public Relations Director for a portfolio of internationally recognized brands including Taittinger Champagne, Louis Jadot Burgundies, Taylor Fladgate Ports and more. At that time, she oversaw all company media relations, co-marketing partnerships and winemaker media tours, putting her language and travel skills to great use. She was part of the team that launched and nurtured the brand Alizé de France.
She moved to Northern California to become Director of Communications for E. & J. Gallo Winery, directing corporate and internal communications, focusing on the successful re-launch of the Gallo of Sonoma brand. She then accepted a position as Senior Vice President of Magnet Communications in San Francisco, where she built an impressive roster of wine industry clients including Perrier Jouet & G.H. Mumm Champagne brands, St.Supéry Winery & Vineyards, Fetzer Vineyards, Fess Parker Winery and Robert Mondavi Imports among many others.
In the spring of 2003, Kimberly launched her own company, Charles Communications Associates in San Francisco, specializing in strategic branding, corporate social responsibility with a focus on launching, reinvigorating and repositioning of brands.
Kimberly holds a B.A. in History & Government from Georgetown University and also successfully completed the Diploma course for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in London in 1997, one the early group of American candidates to attempt this challenging exam. She is a member of Slow Food and Les Dames d'Escoffier San Francisco. She is also a Trustee of the River Network. She served as Vice President of the Society of Wine Educators (2003-2005) and as board member for five years.
When she has time to breathe, Kimberly loves to travel and live it up. Her travel bug has fueled her interest in classic food and wine, sake, arak and single malt scotch. Her excursions to Russia, Lebanon, Iceland, Japan and Greenland continue to inspire her thirst for exotic locales but in her restored 1900 Victorian home in San Francisco’s Mission District, she has found a home, where she can share her love of cooking and entertaining with a stimulating group of friends and colleagues. She is a devotee of yoga and endeavors to stay centered in an ever-changing world.
Restaurant: Cotogna in San Francisco & Septime in Paris
City to visit: San Sebastien
Place to shop: Le Marche aux Puces, Cligancourt or any funky flea market around the globe
Musician: Killian MacGeraghty
Cuisine: Moroccan
Wine: Chateau Cheval Blanc 1982
Beer: Supporting our local brews in Northern California, Little Sumpin' by Lagunitas - an IPA with a hoppy kick!
Book: Journey of Souls
Film: The Lives of Others
Philosopher: Rumi
She began her work in New York at the premium wine importing company Kobrand Corporation, where she served as Public Relations Director for a portfolio of internationally recognized brands including Taittinger Champagne, Louis Jadot Burgundies, Taylor Fladgate Ports and more. At that time, she oversaw all company media relations, co-marketing partnerships and winemaker media tours, putting her language and travel skills to great use. She was part of the team that launched and nurtured the brand Alizé de France.
She moved to Northern California to become Director of Communications for E. & J. Gallo Winery, directing corporate and internal communications, focusing on the successful re-launch of the Gallo of Sonoma brand. She then accepted a position as Senior Vice President of Magnet Communications in San Francisco, where she built an impressive roster of wine industry clients including Perrier Jouet & G.H. Mumm Champagne brands, St.Supéry Winery & Vineyards, Fetzer Vineyards, Fess Parker Winery and Robert Mondavi Imports among many others.
In the spring of 2003, Kimberly launched her own company, Charles Communications Associates in San Francisco, specializing in strategic branding, corporate social responsibility with a focus on launching, reinvigorating and repositioning of brands.
Kimberly holds a B.A. in History & Government from Georgetown University and also successfully completed the Diploma course for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in London in 1997, one the early group of American candidates to attempt this challenging exam. She is a member of Slow Food and Les Dames d'Escoffier San Francisco. She is also a Trustee of the River Network. She served as Vice President of the Society of Wine Educators (2003-2005) and as board member for five years.
When she has time to breathe, Kimberly loves to travel and live it up. Her travel bug has fueled her interest in classic food and wine, sake, arak and single malt scotch. Her excursions to Russia, Lebanon, Iceland, Japan and Greenland continue to inspire her thirst for exotic locales but in her restored 1900 Victorian home in San Francisco’s Mission District, she has found a home, where she can share her love of cooking and entertaining with a stimulating group of friends and colleagues. She is a devotee of yoga and endeavors to stay centered in an ever-changing world.
Restaurant: Cotogna in San Francisco & Septime in Paris
City to visit: San Sebastien
Place to shop: Le Marche aux Puces, Cligancourt or any funky flea market around the globe
Musician: Killian MacGeraghty
Cuisine: Moroccan
Wine: Chateau Cheval Blanc 1982
Beer: Supporting our local brews in Northern California, Little Sumpin' by Lagunitas - an IPA with a hoppy kick!
Book: Journey of Souls
Film: The Lives of Others
Philosopher: Rumi
Zak Redelinghuys
Consultant
Zak holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Stellenbosch University, located in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. It was there that he soon realized his career passions, in fact, lay in the surrounding vineyards.
After completing an MBA in food and wine at one of the select few institutions globally to offer such a program, Zak briefly consulted for an exporter of Italian technology in Bologna, Italy.
With well-rounded experience in PR, marketing, finance and business development, Zak approaches his work with creativity and vigor to drive innovation and commercial value.
Zak’s experiences with brands such as Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Wines of Chile, and Ferrari Trento have given him an innate ability to bring to life the stories of global brands through PR and marketing.
Zak is a native of South Africa who adapts well to the ‘terroir’ of wherever oenology takes him. When he’s not behind his laptop, you’ll find him perusing out in the vineyards, or in the kitchen cooking up a storm with a glass of wine in hand, and Sam Cooke playing in the background. Zak holds a diploma from the Cape Wine Academy and is always testing his palate through the discovery of unique wine regions.
After completing an MBA in food and wine at one of the select few institutions globally to offer such a program, Zak briefly consulted for an exporter of Italian technology in Bologna, Italy.
With well-rounded experience in PR, marketing, finance and business development, Zak approaches his work with creativity and vigor to drive innovation and commercial value.
Zak’s experiences with brands such as Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Wines of Chile, and Ferrari Trento have given him an innate ability to bring to life the stories of global brands through PR and marketing.
Zak is a native of South Africa who adapts well to the ‘terroir’ of wherever oenology takes him. When he’s not behind his laptop, you’ll find him perusing out in the vineyards, or in the kitchen cooking up a storm with a glass of wine in hand, and Sam Cooke playing in the background. Zak holds a diploma from the Cape Wine Academy and is always testing his palate through the discovery of unique wine regions.
Restaurant: Wolfgat in Paternoster, South Africa
City to visit: Tokyo - all the ramen!
Place to shop: A small-town Italian food market
Musician: Right now?! Some Troy Sivan
Cuisine: Japanese and Mainland Chinese
Wine: Chenin from the Swartland or Muller Thurgau and Sylvaner from Northern Italy
Beer: Any local Weiss will do
City to visit: Tokyo - all the ramen!
Place to shop: A small-town Italian food market
Musician: Right now?! Some Troy Sivan
Cuisine: Japanese and Mainland Chinese
Wine: Chenin from the Swartland or Muller Thurgau and Sylvaner from Northern Italy
Beer: Any local Weiss will do
Cocktail: Negroni Sbagliato
Book: Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell
Film: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Philosopher: Socrates
Philosopher: Socrates
Minna Ramos
Client Services Consultant
A native to the Napa Valley, Minna Ramos developed a deep-rooted affinity for the wine industry from a young age. Growing up surrounded by grapevines, her earliest wine memories came from the dinner table at the ripe age of 12, describing what she tasted and smelled in her kid glass of "big Napa Cab."
After graduating from the University of Colorado in 2014 with a double bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology, Minna moved to New York City, pursuing professional roles in business development, sales, and real estate before chasing her interest in a wine-based career. Minna's first role in the wine industry was with a boutique New York-based PR agency on their Food, Wine, and Spirits team. Her passion and career coalesced from there, assisting her clients with their media and marketing-related needs, launching brands, coordinating press trips, and everything in between. To further her wine knowledge, Minna received her WSET Level 2 Award in Wine in 2019 and has continued her education in winemaking and vineyard management.
Recently returning to the Napa Valley, Minna's journey came full circle, now accompanied by her rottweiler "puppy," Cooper - they are both finding themselves right at home in the vineyards, continuing to grow local wineries footprints by bolstering their marketing initiatives.
Restaurant: SingleThread
City to visit: Florence, Italy (or anywhere in Italy, really)
A place to shop: Any farmer’s market will do!
Musician: Bad Bunny
Cuisine: Italian
Wine: Colgin Cellars’ 2016 Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Beer: No thanks, I’ll have a dirty martini
Book: Love In The Time of Cholera
Film: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Philosopher: Mary Wollstonecraft
After graduating from the University of Colorado in 2014 with a double bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology, Minna moved to New York City, pursuing professional roles in business development, sales, and real estate before chasing her interest in a wine-based career. Minna's first role in the wine industry was with a boutique New York-based PR agency on their Food, Wine, and Spirits team. Her passion and career coalesced from there, assisting her clients with their media and marketing-related needs, launching brands, coordinating press trips, and everything in between. To further her wine knowledge, Minna received her WSET Level 2 Award in Wine in 2019 and has continued her education in winemaking and vineyard management.
Recently returning to the Napa Valley, Minna's journey came full circle, now accompanied by her rottweiler "puppy," Cooper - they are both finding themselves right at home in the vineyards, continuing to grow local wineries footprints by bolstering their marketing initiatives.
Restaurant: SingleThread
City to visit: Florence, Italy (or anywhere in Italy, really)
A place to shop: Any farmer’s market will do!
Musician: Bad Bunny
Cuisine: Italian
Wine: Colgin Cellars’ 2016 Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Beer: No thanks, I’ll have a dirty martini
Book: Love In The Time of Cholera
Film: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Philosopher: Mary Wollstonecraft
Nicole Ruiz Hudson
Social Media Consultant
Nicole Ruiz Hudson is CCA’s Social Media guru and a lover of all things food and wine.
These loves started early. She grew up around the hotel industry and has lived all around the U.S. as well as Valencia, Venezuela, where she had free room service for two amazing years in high school. After graduating from Harvard University, she worked in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles until thoughts of food and wine got the better of her. Upon moving to New York City, she made the switch and went to culinary school at the International Culinary Center, following it up with a WSET Diploma and Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. She spent three years in the Tasting Department at Wine Spectator in New York.
After moving to the Bay Area in 2015, she’s worked in the wine industry in many capacities including retail, freelance writing, teaching, in addition to social media and marketing consulting. She also was also one of the four original organizers of Bâtonnage, a day-long forum to stir up the conversation on women in wine in Napa Valley, and also helped organize the Della Donna Wine Festival in Oakland.
In addition to eating and drinking, she loves losing herself in a book, binge watching a good series, hiking, and exploring new places with her husband.
She blogs regularly at SommsTable.com and you can find her recipes with wine pairings on WineSpectator.com.
Restaurant: Momofuku Ssäm Bar in NYC
City to visit: Wherever the next adventure leads
Place to shop: Craft markets while on vacation
Musician: Why worry about favorites? Let’s just dance.
Cuisine: Middle Eastern and Mexican cuisines
Wine: Syrah from the Northern Rhône, Riesling from Alsace and Germany, Champagne
Beer: Trappist Rochefort 10
Book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Film: The Princess Bride
Philosopher: Henry David Thoreau
These loves started early. She grew up around the hotel industry and has lived all around the U.S. as well as Valencia, Venezuela, where she had free room service for two amazing years in high school. After graduating from Harvard University, she worked in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles until thoughts of food and wine got the better of her. Upon moving to New York City, she made the switch and went to culinary school at the International Culinary Center, following it up with a WSET Diploma and Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. She spent three years in the Tasting Department at Wine Spectator in New York.
After moving to the Bay Area in 2015, she’s worked in the wine industry in many capacities including retail, freelance writing, teaching, in addition to social media and marketing consulting. She also was also one of the four original organizers of Bâtonnage, a day-long forum to stir up the conversation on women in wine in Napa Valley, and also helped organize the Della Donna Wine Festival in Oakland.
In addition to eating and drinking, she loves losing herself in a book, binge watching a good series, hiking, and exploring new places with her husband.
She blogs regularly at SommsTable.com and you can find her recipes with wine pairings on WineSpectator.com.
Restaurant: Momofuku Ssäm Bar in NYC
City to visit: Wherever the next adventure leads
Place to shop: Craft markets while on vacation
Musician: Why worry about favorites? Let’s just dance.
Cuisine: Middle Eastern and Mexican cuisines
Wine: Syrah from the Northern Rhône, Riesling from Alsace and Germany, Champagne
Beer: Trappist Rochefort 10
Book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Film: The Princess Bride
Philosopher: Henry David Thoreau
Richelle Corbo
Organizational Development & Operations Consultant
Richelle is a Mother, Partner, Daughter, Friend, Mental Health Therapist, LGBTQI Counselor, Social Justice Advocate, Organizational Development & Operations Consultant, Excel Guru, Certified Sommelier, Wine Sales Specialist, Wonder Woman on good days, and Nurse Ratched on bad days. She is Charles Communications secret weapon operationally and motivationally speaking.
Richelle was born into an Italian American family and grew up on the Jersey Shore. She moved to California in 2003 to pursue a career in the wine business. Richelle’s passion for wine sparked when she was a bartender at an Italian restaurant in Philadelphia while going to school to earn her B.A. in Business Marketing from St. Joseph’s University. After graduation, Richelle traveled to Italy in search of inspiration and found it while drinking copious amounts of Italian wine and limocello on a patio overlooking the Tuscan Hills with her brother.
When she returned to the U.S., Richelle moved to the Napa Valley to further her wine education and career. Richelle attended the Greystone Wine Program at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena and earned her Sommelier Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. While living in Napa, Richelle was the Wine Director at The Carneros Inn. Her career eventually led her to move to San Francisco where she began working in marketing and sales for Broadbent Imports. Richelle also spent time working for Indy Wines and American Wine & Spirits where she was a top performer.
After spending 10 years in the wine business, she was ready to pursue another passion, psychology. Richelle went back to school and earned a M.A. degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology from Alliant International University in San Francisco. Today, Richelle works as a Mental Health Clinician in community mental health and provides mental health counseling to children, teens and adults in the LGBTQI community.
Richelle keeps her toes dipped in the wine business by working with Kimberly and her team at Charles Communications Associates. She has been working as their Organizational Development & Operations Consultant since 2012.
And last, but certainly not least, Richelle has three imaginative and fun-loving children who light up her life and remind her each day that playing is just as important as work.
Restaurant: Acquerello in San Francisco
City to visit: Florence, Italy
Places to shop: Online
Musician: Mariah Carey (You can judge a little…)
Cuisine: Italian
Wine: Altesino Brunello di Montalcino, Chateau Musar
Beer: The Rare Barrel (Berkeley, CA)
Cocktail: Tommy’s Margarita (handmade in San Francisco)
Book: Goodnight Moon (with my son)
Film: The Wizard of Oz
Philosopher: Sarah Margaret Fuller
Richelle was born into an Italian American family and grew up on the Jersey Shore. She moved to California in 2003 to pursue a career in the wine business. Richelle’s passion for wine sparked when she was a bartender at an Italian restaurant in Philadelphia while going to school to earn her B.A. in Business Marketing from St. Joseph’s University. After graduation, Richelle traveled to Italy in search of inspiration and found it while drinking copious amounts of Italian wine and limocello on a patio overlooking the Tuscan Hills with her brother.
When she returned to the U.S., Richelle moved to the Napa Valley to further her wine education and career. Richelle attended the Greystone Wine Program at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena and earned her Sommelier Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. While living in Napa, Richelle was the Wine Director at The Carneros Inn. Her career eventually led her to move to San Francisco where she began working in marketing and sales for Broadbent Imports. Richelle also spent time working for Indy Wines and American Wine & Spirits where she was a top performer.
After spending 10 years in the wine business, she was ready to pursue another passion, psychology. Richelle went back to school and earned a M.A. degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology from Alliant International University in San Francisco. Today, Richelle works as a Mental Health Clinician in community mental health and provides mental health counseling to children, teens and adults in the LGBTQI community.
Richelle keeps her toes dipped in the wine business by working with Kimberly and her team at Charles Communications Associates. She has been working as their Organizational Development & Operations Consultant since 2012.
And last, but certainly not least, Richelle has three imaginative and fun-loving children who light up her life and remind her each day that playing is just as important as work.
Restaurant: Acquerello in San Francisco
City to visit: Florence, Italy
Places to shop: Online
Musician: Mariah Carey (You can judge a little…)
Cuisine: Italian
Wine: Altesino Brunello di Montalcino, Chateau Musar
Beer: The Rare Barrel (Berkeley, CA)
Cocktail: Tommy’s Margarita (handmade in San Francisco)
Book: Goodnight Moon (with my son)
Film: The Wizard of Oz
Philosopher: Sarah Margaret Fuller
Annalee Lanier
Graphic Designer
Born in San Francisco and educated in and around New York City, Annalee Lanier has been working as an artist and a designer in various capacities for 15 years. Trained in fine art at New York’s Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam, Annalee’s experience includes mural painting, billboard design, illustration, portraiture, custom wallpaper design, print design and fine art photography. Annalee is currently working as a graphic designer at Paper City magazine in Houston, Texas, though she plans to return to the Bay Area before too long. In her free time, you will find her singing, dancing and misbehaving. A lifelong lover of language and culture, Annalee travels as far and wide as time permits.
Working with CCA, whether it's for collateral, web, logos, you name it, she has an uncanny way of imagining a look and design even better than could be imagined. We like to call her the Wizard of Ahhhs.
Restaurant: Fang, SF and Coco's Cantina, Auckland
City to Visit: Havana!
Place to Shop: Pilpeled.com
Musician: Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou
Cuisine: Gourmet Ramen
Wine: Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Beer: Saison
Book: Grendel (John Gardner)
Film: Deerhunter
Philosopher: Louis C.K.
CCA Extended Family
CCA works with an extended network of writers, publicists, graphic designers, award-winning videographers and photographers who represent the best in their field. For special focus or for additional team support, we call upon a veteran team of professionals to help us at any stage of a client project to supplement our work with additional brainpower and energy. Our flexibility as a firm allows contractor talent to pursue several projects and lend to CCA a level of experience and wisdom that is priceless.