Born in Laguna Beach and raised in Newport Beach, California, Marissa moved to London after graduating from Middlebury College in Vermont to start a public relations career. After jump starting her profession, Marissa moved to New York to work for fashion luxury powerhouse Nadine Johnson and later Syndicate Media Group and helped Ian Schrager launch a number of fashion, luxury restaurants and nightclub brands. While in New York, Marissa reconnected with London nightclub owner and restaurateur Matt Hermer and moved back to London in 2008. They married shortly after and now have three children together. Marissa has used her public relations expertise to help grow the family business, the Ignite Group, a UK based international food, beverage and entertainment corporation and went on to start her first solo restaurant, Top Dog, in 2015. She just finished her first cookbook “An American Girl in London,” which will launch Spring 2017 with Rodale.