Ellen Langas
President and Founder
With more than 30 years of experience in the marketing communications industry, Ellen has successfully developed and managed public relations, advertising, media training, sales and marketing campaigns for national and regional clients.
Prior to founding NouSoma in 1995, Ellen was on the executive leadership team of billion-dollar QVC, Inc. where she originated the Public Relations Department and gained national visibility as a popular on-air host and consumer spokesperson.
Ellen received her MBA from the Katz School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh and her Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Robert Morris University, summa cum laude.
Ellen was named one of Philadelphia’s Women of Distinction and a Freedom Valley Girl Scout Council Women of Achievement honoree. She also received an Excellence Award from Working Woman magazine, and was named one of Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business. She has instructed marketing at the Wharton Small Business Development Center at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Active in her community, Ellen volunteers and provides pro bono work for organizations including Enactus and the Alzheimer’s Association of the Delaware Valley. She is the creator and author of the Girls Know How book series. She resides in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband and has two grown daughters and two stepsons.
Kristen Stewart
Vice President of Communications
As NouSoma’s key account manager, Kristen interacts daily with clients to create dynamic communications campaigns, specializing in targeted message development, engaging presentation on all marketing platforms and high-impact media appearances. Kristen also manages brand roll outs from start to finish, using her efficient – yet motivating – project management skills to coordinate clients seamlessly with design, website development, video and social media specialists. All while remaining on time and on budget.
In addition, with 15 years of experience at the biggest names in the broadcast industry, including CNN, CBS, NBC and its parent company Comcast, Kristen’s insight, experience and trusted network of media contacts result in compelling media pitches, enduring media relationships and creative content that engages consumers.
An honors scholar at James Madison University, Kristen graduated magna cum laude in 1998. She lives on Philadelphia’s Main Line with her husband.
Dede Crough
Senior Director of Marketing
Dede joined NouSoma Communications in January 1996. Her public relations, marketing and communications experience encompasses a wide variety of businesses, including a national repertory theatre company, an equine gifts and custom promotional products company, and QVC, Inc.
Clients benefit from her expertise in unique idea generation, writing with flair, desktop publishing, editing and proofreading. A skilled account manager, she develops and maintains comfortable and productive working relationships with clients, designers, vendors and members of the media. She is also NouSoma’s key liaison between vendor clients and multichannel/e-commerce retailers.
While at QVC, Dede was part of the publicity team that partnered with Columbia Pictures to promote the hit movie A League of Their Own and sell licensed merchandise from the film. With the promotional products company, she worked a year later on the production side when QVC partnered with Warner Bros. Inc. on Free Willy. She also wrote the copy for a t-shirt that was picked up by a major national catalogue and became the company’s best-selling design.
Dede graduated cum laude from Middlebury College with a B.A. in English, and lives in rural Chester County, PA, with three border collies and a Shetland sheepdog who enjoy competing in a variety of sports. She has held volunteer positions with City Theater Company of Wilmington, DE, Reins of Life therapeutic horseback riding, and has served on the Board of Directors of Y2K9s Dog Sports Club.
Jessica Reilley
Website Developer
An accomplished web developer with more than 13 years of WordPress experience, Jess develops, secures and maintains websites for businesses that want to grow or improve their digital presence.
With a degree in computer engineering from Penn State University, Jess is a former software engineer for Unisys and brings a deep understanding of the technology behind the websites she builds. Our clients also benefit from her ability to artistically code for clean, fast and beautiful user experiences.
Jess began working with NouSoma in 2015, and in that time she has worked with clients in the finance, healthcare, legal, food, corporate, non-profit, technology and small business industries.
A resident of Bucks County, she has volunteered her website design services to organizations including HomeAID for Africa, Women’s Resource Center and Project Left Behind.
Alex Murtha
Digital Communications Coordinator
Specializing in copywriting, digital marketing, paid searches and social media management, Alex brings a diverse set of skills to help organizations of all sizes reach their unique audiences and achieve their communications goals.
A native of Bucks County, Alex earned his Bachelor of Science degree concentrating in Journalism from West Virginia University and his Master of Arts degree concentrating in Integrated Media from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is a fitness enthusiast and fan of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Paula Leckey
Graphic Artist
With more than 20 years of experience as a graphic artist, Paula injects new energy into the imagery of a brand while remaining true to its core values. Known for her ability to create memorable logos, marketing brochures, website design concepts and advertising artwork, Paula remains responsive to clients’ design tweaks even while delivering on quick deadlines.
Prior to joining NouSoma in 2016, Paula spent a decade as art director for Palmera, a screen print and ad specialty company in Scottsdale, Arizona. She earned an associate degree in Graphic Design from Al Collins Graphic Design School in Tempe, Arizona.
NouSoma has been a great fit and find for us. Under the team’s strategic guidance, we have increased brand awareness for our organization and for a number of our initiatives, including gender diversity in the executive suite. We value their team’s attention to detail, follow-up and positive energy.
