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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

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.

James Zeleniak

Founder & CEO

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.

Samantha Schultz

Social Media Coordinator

SAMANTHA SCHULTZ

Samantha is Social Media Coordinator by day, party girl by night. During her time at Temple University as a Public Relations major, she got her start at PUNCH Media first as a public relations intern, then PR assistant, before joining full-time as social media coordinator. A hospitality veteran, Samantha is a passionate supporter of the food and booze scene in Philly, and is always on the hunt for the city’s hottest new digs. If lost, she can be found taking photos of dirty martinis and cheese pulls.

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.

Madison Militello

Public Relations Assistant

MADISON MILITELLO

Madison is a born-Philadelphian with four years of service industry experience and a BA in Public Relations from DePaul University. Madison’s passion for connecting with others and love of the city made her a great fit for PUNCH, where she works with Team Triple Threat on a variety of accounts in the hospitality space and beyond. When not in the office, you can find Madison delving into the latest trending novels, searching for Philly’s best chai tea latte, and going on “hot girl” walks with her four-legged bestie Beau.

Eleni Sterious

Public Relations Assistant

ELENI STERIOUS

Eleni loves Philadelphia for its eccentric food and booze scene. As a service industry veteran for many years, she is exceptionally familiar with the PUNCH client list, and the person to ask about finding the best Kettle Dirty in the city. When she is not writing press releases or taking pictures of food, Eleni can be found planning her next vacation, chilling with her cat Tito, or working out at the gym.

Alexander Branco

Public Relations Assistant

ALEXANDER BRANCO

Alex is a veteran in the hospitality and service industries with seven years of experience in serving, bartending, and catering. Raised in the suburbs, Alex moved to the city as soon as he could, graduating from the University of the Arts with a BA in Screenwriting and a minor in Creative Writing. At PUNCH, Alex utilizes his industry experience and writing skills to support his team and clients. Alex is an avid concert goer and spends his free time making art, playing music, gaming, or being disappointed by the Sixers.

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.

Eamonn Sullivan

Public Relations Intern

EAMONN SULLIVAN

Eamonn is a seasoned service industry worker with a passion for media, production, and writing. Originally from Chester County, Eamonn moved to Philadelphia to study public relations, graduating from Temple University with a BA in Strategic Communication while working some of Philadelphia’s finest bars and restaurants. After business hours, you can find Eamonn going for a jog or a bike ride, scouring Facebook Marketplace for guitar deals, or singing songs on his Instagram.

Laney Bishop

Public Relations Intern

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.