As a vice president in Coyne PR’s food and beverage practice, Melissa McAllister Wieler brings nearly two decades of experience in strategic planning, nutrition education campaigns, media relations, cultivating and managing alliances and partnerships and special events managements within the food/beverage and consumer products arenas. Melissa currently manages the beverage brands of PepsiCo (AMP Energy and Mountain Dew) in addition to Cascadian Farm and ShopRite.

Prior to joining Coyne PR, Melissa was a senior vice president at Pollock Communications where she was part of the team that pioneered the functional foods category. Her work included building a U.S. market for green tea, creating the platform for dark chocolate as a heart healthy snack and helping to turn the tide for U.S.-grown rice on the heels of the anti-carb phenomenon.

Melissa also orchestrated three International Scientific Symposia for the Tea Council of the USA with partnership support from key research and governmental organizations as well as successful new product launches and re-stages for such beloved brands as Häagen-Dazs, Progresso and Tropicana. She also has been involved in issues management for Monsanto and the tea industry.

Melissa’s passion for food and all things culinary are evident in the diverse array of foods and beverages she has promoted throughout her public relations career, from catfish, rice, microwavable omelets and ice cream to Prosciutto di Parma, Roquefort cheese, olive oil and champagne – with focuses ranging from health and nutrition to taste and indulgence.

A cum laude graduate of the State University of New York, College at New Paltz, Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing with a minor in Communications.