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Meet the Team

Hello! We’re VegOut—a group of vegans passionate about the plant-based food and lifestyle scene, living in cities across the US. We work to bring you the best vegan content around. Stop by our Instagram accounts, give us a follow, and introduce yourself. We’d love to connect!

Maggie Ortlieb

Maggie Ortlieb

Founder & CEO

she/her

Maggie started VegOut in 2016 to show her veg-curious friends all of the delicious vegan options they could enjoy while dining out. Originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, she now resides in Los Angeles (and is perfectly happy never scraping ice off her windshield ever again). She graduated with a degree in creative advertising from Michigan State University (Go green!) and worked in a variety of industries—including nonprofit, hospitality, staffing, and financial services—before founding VegOut. In her free time, she enjoys traveling (and eating all the vegan food), hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Maggie's Must-Haves

Allie Mitchell

Allie Mitchell

Social Media Director & Staff Writer

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When Allie responded to an Instagram post on @vegoutlosangeles a few years ago, she had no idea she’d join the coolest vegan team on the planet. An Austin native, actress, yogi, and part-time sword fighter (don’t ask!), Allie is on a mission to live her best life and inspire others to do the same. She graduated from Hussian College In Studio with a B.F.A. in Contemporary Musical Theatre + Film and currently acts, writes, and eats her way through Los Angeles.

Allie's Must-Haves

Articles by Allie
Anja Grommons

Anja Grommons

Staff Writer

she/her

During her studies to become a registered dietitian, Anja—a longtime vegetarian—transitioned to a vegan diet. Living in Kalamazoo, Michigan at the time (Go Broncos!), she met Maggie and Tammie through VegOut Kalamazoo (one of VegOut’s first focus cities) and began collaborating with the duo. When she’s not writing about new vegan eats, practicing as a pediatric clinical dietitian, and virtually coaching fellow plant-based eaters, you can find her creating veg-centric recipes, trying new cruelty-free products, and spending time with her partner Addison and cat Kovu.

Anja's Must-Haves

Articles by Anja
Kimberly Tran

Kimberly Tran

Creative Director

she/her

VegOut’s Creative Director, Kimberly, draws inspiration from Brutalist architecture, mid-century furniture, and vintage cars. A self-taught editorial designer, she’s always on the hunt for something new, whether that’s discovering new music, trying new restaurants, or learning handy (and not-so-handy!) skills. And who knew her love of food presentation would lead to a passion for photography? Other passions? Her dog Ralph, coffee shops, and collecting magazines and plants. You can also catch her acting in music videos and commercials!

Kimberly's Must-Haves

Jerry Ng

Jerry Ng

Designer

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Jerry, a self-taught designer, started designing for VegOut as an intern a few years ago after sending a very cold email to founder and CEO Maggie—and she responded! Now, he’s designing for VegOut’s print and digital endeavors. Originally from San Francisco, California, he currently lives in Los Angeles. When not hunched over a screen, you’ll find him experimenting with different vegan protein sources, reading a book on his couch, or drinking some booch on the beach while listening to a podcast.

Jerry's Must-Haves

Laurie Chin Sayres

Brand Partnerships Manager

she/her

Laurie discovered VegOut when she was exploring the vegan food scene in LA and just knew that she had to be a part of it. The fun vibe, informative articles, and scrumptious pictures on the site drew her in! A marathon swimmer and triathlete, Laurie enjoys learning about all the vegan endurance nutrition products on the shelves. She also loves meeting and developing relationships with the multitudes of talented people bringing vegan products and services to market.

Laurie's Must-Haves