Maggie Zeman is known for building strategic PR and marketing programs that tell the clients’ unique stories, ultimately differentiating them from their competitors, while connecting consumers with their products.
With more than 20 years of public relations experience, the first part of Maggie’s career was dedicated to creating and maintaining positive public profiles during periods of transition and in competitive and politically charged environments in both government and technology sectors including the State Department, Netscape and America Online.

In 2001 Maggie left technology to realize her dream of turning a favorite past time – wine, food and entertaining – into a career with Treasury Wine Estates. For five years Maggie implemented effective media relations programs for well-known wine brands including Beringer Vineyards, Cellar No. 8, Sbragia Family Vineyards, Souverain, and St. Clement Vineyards.

In 2006 Maggie founded The Barn Group, a public relations and marketing firm located in Healdsburg, California, Sonoma’s heart of wine country. Today The Barn Group is a Double Forte company continuing to help artisan clients discover and communicate their individual voices through unique stories behind each food product, wine, winemaker and vineyard.

Maggie holds a BA in Humanities from Washington State University. When she isn’t promoting distinguished wine and food products, Maggie enjoys entertaining with her husband in the Barn at their Alexander Valley home.

Nicole has been practicing public relations for more than 20 years and has an extensive background representing consumer brands in the food and beverage, travel and tourism, healthcare and lifestyle sectors.

Having worked with numerous companies including Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Tapeña, Vinfolio, Chiquita, Gardein, Glad, Brita, Hidden Valley Ranch, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Safe Harbor Seafood and the California Milk Advisory Board, she has a solid background in developing comprehensive marketing and communications programs that build awareness and drive trial for a variety of products.

Over the course of her career, Nicole has worked with several celebrity chefs and cookbook authors including Julia Child, Jacques Pepin and Todd English. She has also collaborated and developed food and wine related programs with COPIA, the California Culinary Academy and the American Institute of Wine and Food.

Prior to joining Double Forte, Nicole held senior-level positions with Context Marketing, Weber Shandwick, Ruder Finn and Publicis where she directed account activities and large teams. In Addition to her agency experience, she has also worked on the corporate side and has run her own consulting practice.

Nicole began her career in Washington, D.C. working in the museum world. During her tenure in Washington, she managed and marketed educational programs and food and wine tours for the Smithsonian Institution.

Nicole attended the Universite de Paris, Sorbonne and Guilford College and received her B.A. in French and Journalism.

Laura Shear moved from her hometown of Boston out to San Francisco in 1996 to pursue a career in food and wine marketing. She joined Zuckerman Fernandes & Partners as an Account Executive, managing public relations for the National Honey Board, Pacific Northwest Pear Commission, Dahlia’s Gourmet Spice Rubs, Jeremiah’s Pick Coffee and several wine brands owned by Allied Domecq.

Two years later, she enrolled in San Francisco’s renowned cooking school, Tante Marie’s. Following graduation and a six-month stint as grill cook for Tavolino restaurant in North Beach, Laura was Executive Chef for a special events site in the city, specializing in weddings and large corporate events. In 2000, she hung up her apron and joined Torani Italian Syrups as Communications Manager.

Laura transitioned to the world of wine in 2003, going to work for Balzac Communications & Marketing in Napa. As PR Manager working on brands within the Constellation Wines US portfolio, Laura blended her writing and culinary skills to create unique press events and compelling pitches. From 2006-2007 Laura worked as a freelance writer and consultant for Diageo Chateau and Estate Wines. Prior to joining The Barn Group team at Double Forte in 2011, Laura worked with Folsom & Associates, a boutique San Francisco PR firm specializing in wine. On board as Vice President for Folsom for three years, Laura supervised accounts for Constellation Wines US as well as several small Sonoma wineries.

Laura majored in English at Princeton University. She lives in Albany with her husband and two young children.