Talent

Nokee Bucayu, David Domine, Sara Bradley

Talent Overview

Television, festivals, social media — there are so many platforms to share your message and build your personal brand. Chefs, writers, spirits experts, lifestyle influencers, race car drivers and musicians alike turn to Estes Public Relations to promote not just their businesses, but themselves. From positioning you as an expert to negotiating contracts, we’re here to help.

Bryce Applegate | Bryce Applegate Motorsports
Bryce Applegate

Services

  • Bio writing and editing.
  • Pitching and applying for television shows.
  • Application and negotiation for festivals.
  • Contract negotiation for appearances, commercials, etc.
  • Awards and event submissions.
  • Media relations with targeted local, regional, national and trade outlets.
  • Media training for interviews and presentations.
  • Press releases, media alerts and press kits.
  • Social media development and management

Experience

Jamie Estes and her team of PR specialists have experience working with a variety of clients across the country. We’ve helped chefs secure spots on shows like Top Chef, Guy’s Grocery Games, Chopped and others. From Bourbon & Beyond, Kentucky Bourbon Festival to Charleston Food & Wine, we have extensive experience applying for festivals across the U.S. and negotiating contracts. We also work to generate interest that can lead to awards. We’ve worked in the music sector to develop personal brands, secure festival placement, garner media attention and create engaging social media.

Clients Past + Present

Nokee Bucayu
Annie Pettry
Becky Harris
Bobby Benjamin
Clayton Rollison
Dustin Herring
Jackie Joseph

David Dominé
It’s Bourbon Night
James Rigato
Joe Heron
Kwame Onwuachi
Ming Pu
Peggy Noe Stevens

Sara Bradley
Tory Pratt
Rachel Horn
The Bourbon Life
Colby & Megan Garrelts
Bryce Applegate Motorsports
Whiskey Ring Productions

Sara Bradley (she/her) learned to cook from her mother and grandmother, and credits them — and their Appalachian upbringing and Jewish heritage — with heavily influencing her food philosophy. She’s cooked professionally for 20 years including for Michelin-starred chefs in New York and Chicago before returning home to Western Kentucky to open her own restaurant, freight house, in 2015. 

In 2019, Sara competed on Top Chef: Season 16 Kentucky and finished runner-up. Estes Public Relations has worked with Sara to continue growing her brand, draw guests to freight house, and secure additional event and television opportunities for Sara. In 2023, she finished as runner-up on Top Chef: Season 20 World All Stars and a few months later, won Food Network’s Chopped: All-American Showdown, advancing as the South regional champion and winning the grand finale. Following that, she went on to win the Chopped Legends Tournament in October 2024. 

EPR’s multi-pronged approach includes robust media outreach that led to recent placements including a multi-page feature in Southern Living’s holiday issue, The Wall Street Journal’s Slow Food Fast, a New York Times cocktail trends mention, a feature in Plate magazine and numerous other mentions for Sara and her restaurant. Meanwhile, EPR secured the keynote speaker role for Sara at the annual IFEC conference in 2023, plus additional opportunities with Farm Credit America, Louisville Tourism, Murray State University and Bourbon & Beyond

Dustin Herring is a rising singer-songwriter based in Nashville. Known for his traditional vocal style and honest storytelling, Dustin’s classic country sound is authentic and genuine. Hailing from south Alabama, Dustin incorporates his real-life experiences and struggles into every song he creates. He’s no stranger to hard work, spending the early days of his career working on a research farm and saving up for the big move to Nashville. Since arriving in the Music City in 2014, he’s opened for dozens of well-known performers including Jamey Johnson, Ashley McBryde, Mark Chesnutt, Doug Stone and many more. Dustin has released multiple singles and EPs and continues to be hard at work in the studio writing and recording new music.

Estes Public Relations worked with Dustin to define his personal brand, maximize his social media channels, promote shows and events and garner attention for his new music. EPR developed branding recommendations and social media plans as well as strategic plans for album and EP release dates. EPR also created a talent sheet for Dustin to use with promoters, collaborators, partners and potential representation. From 2020-2022, EPR secured more than 50 media mentions for Dustin, with a total UVM of 1.5 billion. Placements included Taste of Country, Wide Open Country, Saving Country Music, Nashville Music Guide, and in Auburn University’s alumni publication.