The story of
ZEST
Three disciplines. One agency. Zero B.S.
We're a senior-led creative agency — no juniors learning on your dime, no committees slowing things down.
Zest was built to solve a modern problem
Brands needed more than a freelancer.
Brands didn’t want a bloated agency.
Brands deserved a right-sized partner with serious expertise, strong structure, and space for creativity to thrive.
So three communications pros came together with a simple vision:
What if advertising, public relations, and marketing moved together — intentionally, intelligently, energetically.
Not in phases. Not in silos. Together.
That spark became ZEST
A senior-led, strategy-forward, creatively disruptive force built for brands that want momentum. Our philosophy keeps us sharp. It’s how we challenge predictable thinking, unlock stronger positioning, and craft storytelling that propels brands into their next era.
Meet our main squeezes
Katelyn Galvin
Executive Director of Marketing
Katelyn builds structured, scalable marketing systems at Zest that unify brand identity, content strategy, and channel execution. With roots in tech and fast-growth environments, she blends data-driven insights with sticky storytelling to transform fragmented marketing into coordinated momentum. Outside of Zest, look for her hanging out with her dog Pickle, tending to her garden, or fearlessly dominating karaoke night.
Ben Franc
Executive Director of Public Relations
Ben leads earned, paid, and influencer strategies across brand, corporate, media, and employee communications. Drawing on his Big 5 PR agency background, he builds long-term reputation frameworks and secures top-tier national coverage for multimillion-dollar brands. Outside of Zest, catch him discovering new restaurants, binge-watching Netflix, or hunting for the next addition to his fridge magnet collection.
Lex Vadnais
Executive Director of Creative
Lex translates complexity into clarity. Her deep experience leading national campaigns helps her shape high-impact creative initiatives. Why? So that brands stand out in saturated markets by balancing artistic craft with business precision. DUH! Outside of Zest, she can be spotted scouting Chicago’s newest restaurants, gardening, fostering dogs, or hanging out with her cats and her service dog, Stanley.
