Meet the Junapr Team
Meet our #badassladygang. All jokes aside, while Junapr is comprised entirely of women (and a few dudes) we’re open to all. From 25+ year industry veterans to younger professionals who bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to our business and our clients, Junapr’s teammates are what make us tick.
Nicole Junas (Ravlin)
CEO
With a career spanning over two decades, Nicole is a seasoned expert in guiding companies of all sizes through dynamic communication and marketing strategies. Boasting a rich background that includes both in-house and agency experience, Nicole brings a distinctive perspective to her clients, demonstrating a profound understanding of leveraging communications to drive sales, elevate brand awareness, and attract top-tier talent to their teams.
Nicole has worked with nationally and internationally acclaimed brands, such as Le Gruyère AOP, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Luminis, Bonne Maman, The Republic of Tea, Runamok, Foods and Wines from Spain, The University of Vermont, and many others.
In 2019, Nicole founded Junapr, a full-service communications and event management agency specializing in media relations, crisis communications, and strategic communications planning. Under her guidance, Junapr has rapidly evolved into a dynamic force, boasting an impressive clientele served by a team of 24 highly skilled communication, social and digital media, and event management professionals. Nicole and her team are unwavering in their commitment to delivering tangible results for clients while cultivating both productive and enjoyable relationships.
The accolades speak volumes about Junapr's excellence. Vermont Business Magazine bestowed the prestigious Best of Business (B.O.B.) Award on Junapr, naming it the Best PR Firm in Vermont for both 2021, 2022, and 2023. Recognized as one of the United States Top Women in PR by PR News in 2021 and 2023, Nicole has steered Junapr to further acclaim with four consecutive years as an Agency Elite Top 100 by PR News (2022 - 2025), celebrating the agency as one of the 100 most innovative PR firms in the US each year.
Residing in Shelburne, Vermont, Nicole finds a balance between her professional passion and her personal life. This includes quality time with her two sons, Ethan and Colin, her partner, Chris, and the ever-charming Boggs—the dog.
Antonia Hinge
PRESIDENT
A seasoned event planner with over two decades of experience, Antonia is the driving force behind the events team at Junapr. She is a master of the art of site selection, logistics wrangling, and creating memorable events. Antonia has planned corporate events ranging in size from 50 people, all the way up to large conferences that attract more than 10,000 participants. Her strengths lie in the details, making sure that every event ends with a standing ovation.
Prior to joining Junapr, Antonia owned and operated Standing O, a corporate event planning firm where she built lasting client relationships spanning more than a decade. Antonia started her journey working in the hotel industry as an event planner and catering director for various resorts and conference facilities, and as the director of events for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, where she managed and organized trade shows and other industry seminars and networking events. Antonia resides in Shelburne, Vermont, with her husband and two children, a chatty cat, and Piglet the dog.
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Izabela “Iza” Carr
DIRECTOR
Iza is a seasoned publicist with more than 15 years of experience who has a knack for integrated marketing in the consumer (CPG) and lifestyle categories. Before Junapr, Iza was the Public Relations Account Director for Super Connector Media, where she positioned her clients as experts in their fields. She also managed PR accounts as an independent consultant and worked at NYC PR firms 5W PR and Trent & Co., as an account manager and publicist. Iza is a media relations expert, having earned her clients coverage in hundreds of media outlets including The New York Times, Food & Wine, and NBC’s The TODAY Show. Iza’s clients appreciate her positive attitude and creativity. She’s a graduate of St. Michael’s College with a degree in Journalism & Mass Communication and currently lives in Stratford, CT with her husband, Jon, and pets Bruno + Rooney.
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Jess Cover
DIRECTOR
Jess has worked in communications, media relations, and sales for over 30 years. She is an expert in media relations strategy, press coordination, social media, back-end website administration, paid advertising, and community engagement. Before joining Junapr, she was the marketing and communications director at RunVermont, where she was responsible for the development and execution of all internal and external communication strategies and marketing initiatives. She has a degree in psychology from Northern Vermont University and a certificate in digital marketing from New England College of Business. Jess loves creating lasting relationships with people and finding creative ways to help brands tell their stories. She lives and plays in Richmond, Vermont, with her husband, Chris, and her dog Wilma.
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Krista Martin
DIRECTOR
Krista has nearly 15 years of experience working with clients in the corporate, government, and non-profit sectors. Prior to Junapr, she worked at global agencies Hill+Knowlton, Golin/Harris, and Ruder Finn and on her own as a consultant. Recently, Krista has devoted her time and expertise to local and regional initiatives, including providing media outreach and communications strategy for her town’s school district, building visibility for a non-profit focused on equine-assisted therapy, creating content for a local Humane Society, and providing launch support and publicity for a consumer products franchise. When she’s not sharing her clients’ stories, Krista serves on the board of Lifting Spirits Miniature Therapy Horses and enjoys family time with her husband, three children, and two rescue pups in Andover, MA.
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Mark Mast
DIRECTOR
Mark is Director of Business Development for Junapr and has over 25 years of marketing, business operations, and business ownership experience. He has worked in hospitality, the private business sector, and the financial industry in several VP-level positions for Vermont-based and family-owned businesses. In these roles, he managed and promoted brand, community involvement, sponsorships, partnerships, external consumer events and supported sales teams. Highlights have included implementing partnerships with the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, and Vermont Lake Monsters. He attended Northeastern University, earning a BS degree in Business Administration, concentrating in Marketing. Mark resides in Shelburne, Vermont, with his wife, Debbie. They have two children; one lives locally in Vermont, and their son is a junior at Merrimack College. Mark enjoys being active outdoors, hiking, golfing, hunting, and being on the lake.
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Dana Freeman
DIRECTOR
Dana is the Director of Events at Junapr, where she leads the events team. Her role encompasses everything from nurturing client relationships to crafting strategic event plans, and expertly handling project management. With her wealth of experience, Dana ensures that every Junapr event is nothing short of extraordinary.
Dana brings extensive special events and travel industry knowledge with her to Junapr. She began her career managing trade shows and executive events within the computer industry, where she worked for companies like Dell and Sun Microsystems. In her most recent role, Dana spent the past decade as a highly successful freelance writer, specializing in luxury travel. She has had the privilege of experiencing the finest in both land and sea travel from five-star hotels, resorts, and private villas to luxurious cruise ships and yachts. Dana holds a BA in International Relations with a minor in French from the University of Delaware. She currently resides in Westford, Vermont, with her husband Andrew. When she's not orchestrating events, she's busy mapping out her next global adventure.
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Stephani Kononan
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Stephani has worked in marketing, communications, and community outreach for over twenty years. She is a skilled professional in strategic messaging, brand development, and media relations, with experience across various sectors, including nonprofits, retail, food and beverage, tourism, technology, and healthcare. Before joining Junapr, Stephani spent nearly a decade leading communication, marketing, and outreach initiatives at Hunger Mountain Co-op, a natural food cooperative with over $29 million in annual sales. She holds a degree in Public Relations & Media Communications from Champlain College and excels at building authentic connections and fostering community through compelling storytelling and innovative communication strategies. Stephani lives in Central Vermont with her partner, her 15-year-old son, and their high-energy but super cuddly rescue dog.
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Charlotte Lyman
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Charlotte has more than a decade of experience in public relations and marketing spanning across clients in tech, lifestyle, food, non-profit, and hospitality. Prior to joining Junapr, she was the Director of PR and Marketing at Page Street Publishing, an independent publisher with a focus on cookbooks, hobby and crafting books, and lifestyle non-fiction. She is passionate about telling stories that generate meaningful placements for her clients and loves to find new ways to reach their target audiences. Charlotte graduated from the University of Vermont with a BS in Public Communication. She lives in East Dorset, Vermont, with her husband and their adorable yet totally out-of-control rescue pup, Murphy. When she isn’t shouting, “Oh, Murphy!” you’ll likely find her with a book in hand as she works to complete her yearly reading goal of finishing at least 52 books.
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Diane Nelson
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Diane Nelson brings two decades of experience in public relations and internal communication to Junapr. Previously, she held leadership positions at agencies such as MWW and SHIFT Communications, representing various clients across luxury goods, technology, education, and wine & spirits sectors. Diane has demonstrated expertise in corporate messaging, branding campaigns, and crisis communications throughout her career. Her media relations prowess has garnered placements in The Wall Street Journal, Vogue and Town & Country, showcasing her ability to elevate client narratives. Diane's strategic acumen and experience managing E. & J. Gallo Winery’s internal crisis communication during COVID-19, provides her with valuable insights and a fresh perspective to drive client success. In her off hours, Diane enjoys the beauty of Lake Champlain and South Burlington, Vermont with her husband, Josh, their three children, and beloved cats and golden retriever.
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Neon Diamante
DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST
Neon is Junapr’s Digital and Social Media Strategist and brings more than fifteen years of marketing experience, emphasizing brand management, content development, and social media strategy. Her strong sense of solutions-oriented success comes from working with clients in various industries and capacities, including food & beverage, consumer goods, non-profit organizations, and hospitality. As a well-seasoned marketing professional, her ability to successfully launch integrated marketing campaigns has aided businesses, non-profits, and start-ups to make an impact through comprehensive and dynamic marketing solutions.
Neon holds a degree in Communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder and has a passion for content creation, which gives her a unique perspective on brand storytelling and defining the best mix of marketing tactics to connect brands to their target markets.
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Sydney Boardman
MANAGER
Sydney supports positive client relationships by facilitating meaningful media coverage, strategic social media development, and ensuring engagement results. She has an eye for creativity and a passion for helping clients tell their stories to the right audiences. Sydney is a graduate of Clark University with a degree in Global Environmental Studies and Digital Management. Before joining Junapr, she coordinated campaigns and market research with organizations rooted in social and environmental change. She recently moved to Vermont, spending her free time exploring the area, teaching pilates, and hanging out with her cat Ollie and partner Noah.
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Ashley Brunelle
MANAGER
With a wealth of experience in hospitality and event planning spanning over 15 years, Ashley has a passion for curating unique, seamless, and unforgettable guest experiences. Ashley comes from a background in restaurants and catering that brings a warm and welcoming touch to each event along with a strong knowledge of how food and beverage can bring an event to life. She is a meticulous planner that delights in the details and a problem solving pro who can navigate any challenge with calm, grace, and professionalism. She loves working in a collaborative team environment and is passionate about building strong, lasting relationships with clients and vendors alike.
After attending Franklin & Marshall college where she studied business and government, Ashley moved to Vermont from upstate New York “for the summer” 11 years ago - and fell so in love with the community and the beauty of the state that she forgot to leave. In her free time, she can be found exploring this great state with a random hike, a long drive, or an adventure to try a new brewery or restaurant.
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Adam Dolge
MANAGER
Adam has two decades of experience working in journalism and communications. Before joining Junapr, he was a food writer and editor for one of the nation’s largest media companies. His extensive journalism career has included writing for small newspapers, trade publications, niche magazines, non-profit organizations, blogs and large lifestyle magazines. He studied mass communications at the State University of New York, College at Oneonta and later graduated top of his class at The Culinary Institute of America. His journalism career has spanned many topics, including local government, federal education policy, music, video games, politics, crime and agriculture. He prides himself on finding the human element in everything he writes about and is excited to work with clients to help tell their stories. He is thrilled to join the team at Junapr and transition from journalism to public relations. He grew up in central New York and has been fortunate to live in many states and regions of the country. He and his wife now call Shelburne, Vermont home. They have two young daughters and a sweet elderly dog named Maize.
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Jessie Forand
MANAGER
Jessie has worked as a professional writer for 15 years, as a newspaper reporter, editor, and nonprofit communications manager. She loves storytelling and still gets butterflies when clients are mentioned in the media. She studied Journalism and Anthropology/Sociology at St. Michael’s College and Johnson State, has worked for a number of Vermont publications, and is beyond excited to have made the transition to public relations, joining the incredible team at Junapr. She works with clients to ensure their news is shared with audiences near and far, and brings her experience with the written word and graphic design to help further missions and visions. A native Vermonter, Jessie calls Essex Junction home and spends her off time with her partner, Tyson, and their two rambunctious rabbits, Teddie and Cleo.
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Debbie Mast
MANAGER
Debbie is our marketing & operations manager. Debbie began her journey in communications by working for her Vermont family-owned business, Bond Auto Parts, as their Marketing Assistant. After a break from the workforce and raising her two kids, she opened a specialty food bakery out of her home kitchen. Debbie ran that successfully for 12 years shipping specialty baked goods all over the continental US. She successfully pitched her business to numerous media outlets, landing a feature on the TODAY Show and providing sweet treats to Ellen DeGeneres and her team for the show's holiday party. She attended the University of New Hampshire, graduating with a BA in communications and a minor in film studies. She recently moved to Shelburne, Vermont, where she lives with her husband, Mark. They have two children; their daughter lives locally in Vermont, and their son is a junior at Merrimack College. Debbie can be found riding her Peloton, hiking with her dog, or out on their boat on Lake Champlain.
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Josie Gingold
SPECIALIST
Josie started at Junapr as a summer intern and now works as a Communications Coordinator. Her role at Junapr includes focusing on client relation support and social media management, and content creation for clients. Prior to Junapr she interned with the PR agency kglobal, and brings experience supporting clients in the travel and consumer lifestyle industries. Josie is a graduate of the University of Vermont, where she studied Public Communications and Sports Management. Josie was raised in Vermont but recently moved from Chicago to Boston.
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Laura Martin
SPECIALIST
Laura is a recent graduate from the University of Vermont, specializing in Public Communications with a minor in International Relations. With an ever-growing love for traveling, Laura has been to 24 countries spanning four continents. She brings her skills and experiences acquired through years of exploring. Laura is brainstorming for her next big adventure when she is not globetrotting! Based in Burlington, she loves skiing, socializing, and being outdoors.
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Tiffany Saltis
SPECIALIST
As a Communications Specialist, Tiffany has over seven years of experience in building relationships and crafting compelling content for companies both locally and across the country. After earning a degree in Media & Communication from Castleton University, she became Senator Bernie Sanders’ first digital media producer in Vermont and later led a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing a downtown business community in Vermont. Throughout her career, Tiffany has also volunteered her skills to support meaningful initiatives in her community. Outside of work, she enjoys adventuring in the great outdoors with her dogs. While Tiffany is a proud native Vermonter, she does indulge in traveling, scuba diving, and seeking out new culinary and life experiences whenever the opportunity arises.
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Lexi Lepold
CONTENT COORDINATOR
Lexi is excited to bring her experience in creative branding and content creation to Junapr. She is a recent graduate from the University of Vermont with a degree in Public Communications, specializing in Applied Design and Community Media & Journalism. Much of her background stems from her experience as the co-founder of female health and education based non-profit, WISSP. With this organization, she has harnessed her skills in storytelling-driven media, social media marketing, and partnerships. A seasoned international traveler, Lexi’s passions lie in learning about new cultures and documenting her trips through visual media. As a Jersey girl living in Vermont, she enjoys snowboarding, dips in Lake Champlain, and pilates.
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Quinn Mlynarick
COORDINATOR
Quinn recently graduated from Champlain College, specializing in Communications and Media Production. With a strong foundation in public relations and marketing, he is excited to bring his expertise to Junapr as a Communications Coordinator. Throughout his academic journey, Quinn gained valuable experience working with clients across various industries. In the fitness sector, he helped increase social media presence and demographics. His work in the television industry involved spreading awareness about important events and tracking audience insights, contributing to impactful programming. Additionally, Quinn’s experience with e-commerce clients centered on optimizing digital strategies and improving user experiences to boost market presence and customer satisfaction. This broad industry exposure has honed his ability to meet the specific needs of various sectors. Quinn enjoys golfing, live music, and fishing outside of his professional life.
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Riley Schroeder
COORDINATOR
Riley is excited to bring her background in journalism and trendspotting to her role as a Communications Coordinator at Junapr. While earning her B.A. in Journalism at Columbia College Chicago, Riley had the opportunity to study abroad in Prague, where she honed skills in multimedia marketing and public relations. After graduating in December 2023, she interned at a Denver-based digital magazine, where she developed a passion for sharing local cuisines and restaurants. Growing up in a northern suburb of Chicago, Riley is eager to explore Vermont’s wide range of outdoor activities. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking and discovering local coffee shops.
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Amanda Tran
COORDINATOR
Prior to joining the Junapr team, Amanda worked for a local nonprofit in Burlington, VT, where she managed multi-channel fundraising campaigns, donor portfolios, and community outreach. She is dedicated to effective storytelling and amplifying diverse voices in her communications work. Amanda holds a B.S. in Community and International Development from the University of Vermont. As a native Vermonter, Amanda calls Burlington her home. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, attending HIIT classes at her local fitness studio, and cooking with her partner Henry.
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Ally Wheeler
COORDINATOR
After starting as an intern at Junapr, Ally is excited to join the team as a Communications Coordinator. She recently graduated from the University of Vermont, where she specialized in Nutrition and Public Communications. Ally has a strong background in social media marketing and creative design from her experience as a content creator in the health and wellness space and is passionate about using an authentic, creative voice to share a brand’s mission. Ally grew up in New Hampshire and loves to spend her free time enjoying the outdoors, cooking up her favorite recipes, and traveling to new places.
