The Brooks Group
Founded in 1995 by Rebecca Brooks, The Brooks Group is an award winning NYC-based communications agency. Recognized for its diverse lifestyle client roster and fresh, personalized approach to the business, The Brooks Group has partnered with and developed some of the country’s most well-known personalities, lifestyle brands and organizations. Working with our partners, The Brooks Group offers customized multimedia strategies for a range of purpose-driven lifestyle brands and personalities across hospitality, travel, design, business, beauty, CPG and related fields. Our approach combines smart, incisive strategies, creative storytelling capabilities, strong relationships with media and influencers, and an in-depth understanding of the businesses and industries we represent. The Brooks Group pioneered the lifestyle category of celebrity chefs, helping to launch key talent including Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri by strategically expanding their careers beyond food and simultaneously ushering in the era of celebrity chefs. The company is known for working with industry trailblazers including entrepreneur and social media giant Gary Vaynerchuk, chef and cultural explorer Andrew Zimmern, Shark Tank entrepreneur and inventor Lori Greiner and an 8-year partnership with bareMinerals. Our team is composed of inventive and versatile lifestyle experts whose backgrounds and interests are as diverse as our client list. In a continually evolving media world, we are vigilant about staying ahead of trends and monitoring the digital landscape in order to create relevant and sophisticated campaigns that resonate with media and consumers. While the agency fields countless calls regarding new business, we only partner with brands whose missions and stories we are genuinely passionate about and those who share our passion.
Rebecca Brooks
President
Rebecca is an entrepreneur and trailblazer who, at the age of 25, founded The Brooks Group in the heart of NYC. Her exceptional ability to recognize and nurture raw talent earned her recognition as a dynamic force in the industry. With an unwavering commitment to crafting thoughtful, highly effective, and strategic communications campaigns, Rebecca and her team have become synonymous with the promotion and development of today’s most successful lifestyle personalities.
For more than 25 years Rebecca’s career has been marked by representing a host of visionary entrepreneurs, elevating their stories and achievements to inspire audiences across the nation. Her transformative collaboration years ago with the emerging talent Rachael Ray expanded the agency’s focus from beauty and fitness to a broader lifestyle roster, including hospitality, food and travel. With a unique ability to form enduring bonds with her clients, Rebecca has cultivated longstanding relationships with an impressive lineup of incredible personalities, including Guy Fieri, Andrew Zimmern, Jacques Torres, Samantha Brown, Adam Richman, Robert Irvine, Buddy Valastro, Karen Akunowicz, Ingrid Hoffmann and social media guru Gary Vaynerchuk, among others.
Rebecca is a certified Women’s Leadership Coach, a Reiki Master and an avid student of mindfulness. Away from the office, she can be found cheering from the stands at soccer matches across the globe, Icelandic strongman training, practicing yoga, meditation, hiking, traveling and exploring diverse cuisines with friends and family.
Willie Norkin
Executive Vice President
Willie is a highly accomplished food, travel and restaurant industry expert who brings a record of leading successful communications programs for TV personalities, culinary, wine and spirits, travel, and premium consumer brands. She joined The Brooks Group in 2019, and during this time worked with clients including Guy Fieri, Alex Guarnaschelli, Scott Conant and Amanda Freitag, and today serves as account lead for a range of clients including Andrew Zimmern, Adam Richman, Jacques Torres, Samantha Brown, chefs Joe Isidori and Karen Akunowicz.
Throughout her career, Willie has represented prominent figures and brands in the culinary world, including The James Beard Foundation Awards, The Michelin Guides and world-class chefs Alain Ducasse, Mario Batali, and François Payard. She has also worked with numerous
restaurants and restaurant groups such as Eataly; The Oak Room; The Plaza Food Hall; The Maccioni Group (Le Cirque NYC and LV); Sirio (NYC and LV) and Circo; and the restaurants and shops of Grand Central Terminal and Chelsea Market.
In travel and hospitality Willie has represented a diverse array of brands including The Plaza, The Bedford Post Inn, Solage Hotels & Resorts and the food and beverage outlets at Wynn Las Vegas. Willie’s experience in the home category includes work with brands such as Cravings by Chrissy Teigen, Hampton Forge, Gourmet Settings, Riedel Crystal of America, Nachtmann Crystal and Spiegelau Glass.
Prior to joining The Brooks Group, Willie held senior level positions providing leadership, counsel and long-term strategic direction for several agencies. Willie resides in Marble Hill, NY where she enjoys exploring the city’s restaurants, museums and Broadway shows with family and friends.