The Agency

The Madison Melle Agency is a creative design studio, lifestyle branding and marketing firm, shaping the landscape of invention in hospitality and beyond. With headquarters located on one of Los Angeles’ most iconic Venice streets, Abbot Kinney, The Madison Melle Agency brings creative prowess to developing one-of-a-kind media, hospitality, food & beverage, real estate, wellness and retail brands. Shaping the landscape of invention, inspiration, and creativity across the hospitality industry and beyond, The Madison Melle Agency’s thoughtful contributions are admired by clients across the globe.  With over 25 years of industry expertise in branding & marketing, design, web & app development, business leadership, revenue & scale strategies – The Madison Melle Agency exceeds expectations with every endeavor.

The Agency’s proven track record of success is derived from collaborating with a multitude of the world’s most notable names in their respective industries, including Fast Company, Standard Hotels, Palisociety, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and Proper Hospitality. From Los Angeles to New York City, Europe & The Caribbean, the Agency’s current and past portfolio comprises of an array of highly sought-after, luxury lifestyle companies and market leaders, such as Brookfield Properties, Relais & Châteaux’s Calabash Grenada, Casetta Group, Bridgeton Hospitality, Two Bunch Palms, Marram Montauk, Walker Hotels, Petit Ermitage, Saira Hospitality, Wylder Hotels, Cachet Hotels,  Solay App, and Skypod, as well as a variety of highly acclaimed media, retail, communications, and hospitality ventures.

The Madison Melle Agency is published regularly in national and industry press publications - and are honored to work with a stunning portfolio of clients who have been featured in Forbes, Travel & Leisure’s It List, Business Insider, New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, The Washington Post, Vogue, and more.

The Madison Melle Agency is headquartered in Los Angeles with remote teams across the globe.

The Madison Melle Agency is proud to hold national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the West Certification Committee, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

The WBENC standard of certification is implemented by a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women.

Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation’s leader in women’s business development and the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with more than 17,000 certified Women’s Business Enterprises, 14 national Regional Partner Organizations, and more than 350 Corporate Members. More than 1,000 corporations representing America’s most prestigious brands as well as many states, cities, and other entities accept WBENC Certification. For more information, visit www.wbenc.org.


Surface Magazine

The Madison Melle Agency is proud to be awarded a position on The List, by Surface Magazine. The List is the definitive directory of Surface-approved design firms, brands, and more. The List provides audiences with a place to discover designers and brands committed to quality, craft, and innovation. List members represent major brands at the top of their game and emerging companies changing their industries through design. Every List member is selected by Surface editors, sharing every List member’s story with Surface’s audience through editorial, advertising, social media, and more.

Forbes Business Council

In 2024, Cara Federici was accepted into the Forbes Business Council, an invitation-only community for successful business owners and leaders. Hand-selected by a formal review committee, candidates are evaluated based on their proven history of driving business growth, along with their personal and professional accomplishments and accolades.

Founder & CEO, Cara Federici

A luxury-lifestyle entrepreneur, brand creator and Chief Executive Officer, Cara Federici, and her firm, The Madison Melle Agency, are responsible for bringing to life some of the most exciting, forward-thinking, luxury lifestyle brands & products. With robust creative acumen and extensive design, marketing, technology, and leadership expertise, Federici’s experience is derived from collaborating with some of the most renowned names in their respective industries, including The Kor Group, Proper Hospitality, Palisociety, Standard Hotels, JRK Property Holdings and Cachet Hotel Group, to name a few. Federici’s portfolio of high-profile clientele includes an array of development companies, media & technology brands, retail products, mixed-use real estate developments, management firms and individually owned properties - including highly sought after, world-renown thought leaders and their teams.

Prior to starting The Madison Melle Agency, Federici excelled across several C Level positions in business, from Vice President of Global Brand Management and Vice President of Operations to General Manager and Vice President of Room Sales, Marketing and Revenue. Federici studied at Parsons School of Design and graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. from Tulane University. Federici received the Ashton-Phelps Communications Award by Tulane and also holds a Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investments & Asset Management from Cornell University.

 Be Inspired

 

Executive Leadership

Cara Federici
C.E.O.

Eva Nineuil
C.C.O.

Nina Shahriaree
V.P., Design & Innovation

Danny Benaderet
C.S.O., Business Development

Kate Ginn
V.P., Communications

+ Executive Leadership

Cara Federici - C.E.O.

Gerry Peck - C.O.O.

Danny Benaderet - C.S.O., Business Development

Nina Shahriaree - V.P., Design & Innovation

Kate Ginn - V.P., Communications & PR


Business Development

Mara Lorin
Senior Account Manager

Camden Skoll
Business Development Coordinator

Morgan Crisp
Account Manager

+ Business Development

Sam Law - Senior Account Manager

Camden Skoll - Business Development Coordinator

Morgan Crisp - Account Manager


Branding Design & Marketing

Kevin Langham
Sr. Graphic Designer & Animator

Raymond Santos
Associate, Management & Analytics

Nick Grande
Senior Graphic & Web Design

Brad MacDonald
Copywriter & Storyteller

+ Branding Design & Marketing

Nick Grande - Senior Graphic & Web Designer

Brad MacDonald - Copywriter & Storyteller

Kevin Langham - Senior Graphic Designer & Animator

Raymond Santos - Associate, Management & Analytics


Development

John Frank
Web Developer

Simon Chen
Full-Stack Developer

Jeff Strauss
Technology Advisor

+ Development

Simon Chen - Full-Stack Developer

Jeff Strauss - Technology Advisor

John Frank - Web Developer


Strategy & Analytics

Julie Kakos
Hospitality R&D Associate

Jason Patrick
Senior Revenue Strategist

Lauren Schwartz
Revenue Manager

+ Strategy & Analysis

Jason Patrick - Senior Revenue Strategist

Lauren Schwartz - Revenue Manager

Julie Kakos - Hospitality R&D Associate


Finance

Charlie Stevenson
Accounts Payable & Receivable

Zach Edwards
Financial Analyst

+ Finance

Zach Edwards - Financial Analyst

Charlie Stevenson - Accounts Payable & Receivable


Human Resources

Sandra Morales
Human Resources


+ Human Resources

Sandra Morales - Human Resources