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About Punch Media

“Our passions lie in food and beverage, hospitality and various lifestyle sectors. We represent a myriad of fantastic clients who tend to be leaders in their field.”

Punch Media is a full-service boutique agency specializing in public relations, social media management, marketing, events, consulting, and brand development.

Our passions lie in food and beverage, hospitality and various lifestyle sectors. We represent a myriad of fantastic clients who tend to be leaders in their field. PUNCH Media clients include an array of top chefs and cutting edge restaurants, luxury resort hotels, Center City business hotels, and boutique, destination-oriented inns. We also represent some pretty awesome  beverage brands from internationally known liquor icons to ground breaking no-alc spirits. Additionally we work in the retail, fashion and other lifestyle businesses.

We are rooted in Philadelphia, with national and international reach. We operate from our loft office space in Old City Philadelphia. We offer decades of media, public relations, consulting, writing, and TV and print advertising experience in both the corporate arena as well as small- to mid-range business development.

Meet the Team

James Zeleniak

Founder & CEO

JAMES ZELENIAK

James is a seasoned journalist, editor, writer, and consultant who has written extensively on food and beverage, hospitality, real estate, music, lifestyle, and more for a multitude of publications in the Philadelphia region and beyond. As Founder of PUNCH Media, James parlays his years of inside-industry experience into compelling campaigns that achieve desired results for a diverse client base. James spends his free time exploring his love for combat sports, nutrition, cooking, and entertaining for family and friends.

Alicia Crawford-Zeleniak

Director of Operations and Communications Specialist

ALICIA CRAWFORD-ZELENIAK

After various stints in voiceover, video production, and managing advertising and branding of new products at Comcast, Alicia joined James to help launch PUNCH Media. She initially focused on clients’ brand identities while crafting press releases at 3 a.m. Now, she’s mainly behind the curtain, overseeing agency operations, policy, HR, and financials. When not working, she manages four children and the family rescue dog while contemplating a part-time linguistics course for the fun of it.

Kylie Flett

Vice President

KYLIE FLETT

Kylie hails from the shores of Adelaide, Australia and brings over 15 years of hospitality, lifestyle, and luxury brand management experience to PUNCH Media. She has a Masters in Professional and Business Communications from La Salle University, sits on the board of directors for Morris Animal Refuge, and is a retired lacrosse player and coach. Outside the office, Kylie is an enthusiastic at-home cook, mother to two rescued French Bulldogs, and can be found shaking up and sipping on a Last Word.

Emily Marmion

Senior Account Executive

EMILY MARMION

Emily has years of experience managing and developing brand strategies as well as social media and influencer marketing for PUNCH Media clientele. Her professional background is in nonfiction creative writing, with a stint at Pittsburgh Magazine, plus over five years of hospitality experience pouring beers at an award-winning craft brewery. Outside the office, Emily can be found on the couch with her cat, Bug, scouring the nearest thrift store for vintage glassware, or tracking down the best cocktail in a new city.

Nicole Schofield

Account Executive

NICOLE SCHOFIELD

Born and raised in Pennsport, Nicole graduated from Penn State University with a B.A. in Communications with a focus on Print Journalism, and a minor in Sociology. While interning for a Philly-based lifestyle magazine, she found a passion for writing and social media. This plus her years of experience in the hospitality industry and interest in photography made Nicole a great fit at PUNCH. With a gin gimlet in one hand and chopsticks in the other, Nicole spends her free time exploring the city’s diverse restaurant scene.

Kira Cappello

Public Relations Coordinator

KIRA CAPPELLO

Kira is a Public Relations Coordinator with a B.A. in Public Relations, a Delaware County native, and the frontperson of her band Humilitarian. Kira has been with PUNCH Media since 2019 and enjoys continually growing her experience in the beverage, liquor, and retail markets on a national scale. A fan of all things Philly music, Kira moonlights in music PR, band management, booking, and consulting, and music journalism. At any given time, you can find her attending (or freelance promoting) shows at her favorite venues.

Lex Nemchenko

Public Relations Coordinator

LEX NEMCHENKO

A Brooklyn native and major live music enthusiast, Lex has made his home in Philadelphia after frequent visits to see his favorite bands on tour, all while nurturing a crush on the city. His approach to public relations is fortified by a professional background steeped in business development, campaign writing, copywriting, editing, digital marketing, and strategy. A hopeful romantic and avid supporter of the arts, Lex is also a photographer with four seasons of NY Fashion Week under his belt.

Eleni Sterious

Public Relations Coordinator

ELENI STERIOUS

Eleni, a Temple University alumna, has a deep appreciation for Philadelphia’s eccentric food and booze scene. Her journey at PUNCH began first as a PR intern, then PR assistant, before joining full-time as a PR coordinator. Beyond her duties of writing press releases and capturing Instagram-able food moments, Eleni is known as the go-to person for discovering the finest Dirty Martini in the city, and can be found planning her next vacations, spending quality time with her cat Tito, or staying active in the gym.

Tristan Kim

Public Relations Assistant

TRISTAN KIM

Tristan is a Philly native with a passion for media, food, and travel, having explored no less than ten countries outside the US. After spending eight months in Bangkok, Thailand, Tristan returned to the US due to the pandemic. He developed an interest in PR working as a MarCom specialist for his alma mater, Germantown Friends School, following which he leapt at the opportunity to work with PUNCH. When not working or abroad, Tristan can be found playing games, watching movies, hiking the Wissahickon, or “writing” his novel.

Hannah Church

Public Relations Assistant

HANNAH CHURCH

Hannah grew up in Kennett Square, PA, the “Mushroom Capital of the World”. She is interested in environmental protection and eco-conscious retail; with experience working for a sustainable fashion label in Rome, Italy. She discovered a passion for writing and social media at Temple University. After interning at PUNCH and graduating with a B.A. in Communication Studies, she now brings her skill to agency food and beverage clients. Outside work, Hannah enjoys thrifting, trying new vegan food, and seeing concerts with her dad.

Laney Bishop

Public Relations Assistant

LANEY BISHOP

Laney moved to Philadelphia in 2021 and has since fallen in love with the city. Born in North Carolina, she earned a degree in International Studies at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington before following her career to Philly. A service industry veteran, Laney’s first job ever was a restaurant that was featured in both Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill. When not in the office, you can find Laney trying a new happy hour spot, binging a reality TV show, or reading on the couch with her cat, Stitch. 

Alana Shapiro

Public Relations & Social Media Assistant

ALANA SHAPIRO

Alana is a recent graduate from James Madison University, where she studied Media Arts & Design with a concentration in Creative Advertising. A Bucks County native, she moved back north to Philadelphia for the city’s diverse food scene and unmatched sports fanbase. At PUNCH Media, Alana is able to harness her creative energy, love for social media, design, and brand development. Outside of the office she can be found planning her next outfit, driving to a new city, or searching for the best iced latte the city has to offer. 

Thayne Rivera

Graphic Designer

THAYNE RIVERA

Thayne is a junior graphic designer born and raised in Philadelphia. He holds a BFA from Temple University and previously studied at the Tyler School of Art. Thayne has a great interest in illustration, typography, and anything related to design; his body of work includes social media ad campaigns, web/UX-UI design, branding identity, illustration, and packaging design. Whether working digitally or with pen and paper, Thayne uses his creativity to develop original, stand-out designs for PUNCH Media and its clients.

Katherine "KB" Burns

Public Relations Intern

Katherine "KB" Burns

KB is a Philly native and service industry veteran with a passion for the city’s community and culture. Having worked alongside some of Philadelphia’s top chefs, KB puts her practical knowledge and skills to work uplifting voices from her beloved community as a Public Relations Intern for PUNCH Media, all while exploring and expanding its borders. KB is currently in her last semester at Temple University, working on a B.A. in Linguistic Anthropology. KB is a fan of standup comedy, Philly sports teams, and perfecting recipes.