My name is Zach, and I’m the founder of Reel Hype Media.
I’m originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, where I lived most of my life. In 2018, during the spring semester of my senior year of high school, I enlisted in the Indiana Army National Guard as an infantryman (11 Bravo). While serving, I earned my associate’s degree from Indiana University Indianapolis, studying business, marketing, and communications. I was also a brother in the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), where I served as Graduate Relations Chair one semester and Recruitment Chair another.
The ArmyIn 2020, I was activated by Governor Eric Holcomb under state active duty, spending over a year supporting the National Guard’s COVID-19 pandemic response. In 2022, I transferred from my home unit to Charlie Company 2-134 INF (ABN) to deploy overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Horn of Africa. My time with “Coyote Company” was a pivotal moment in my life. I was surrounded by exceptional soldiers, selfless and knowledgeable leaders, and above all, role models who molded me into the man I am today.
All The Way.
Over six years in the Army, from April 2018 to July 2024, I was awarded the Army Achievement Medal on two separate occasions. I will forever cherish the lessons the Army taught me, and I carry its standard of continuous self improvement into everything I do.
Naples, and Sonny’sAs my Army career came to an end, I moved to Naples, Florida in May of 2024 to pursue new opportunities in the Sunshine State. In August of 2025, I started serving at Sonny’s Pizzeria and Sports Bar. My father and grandparents are from Chicago, so working at the best place to watch the Chicago Bears in Naples was a natural fit for a diehard Bears and White Sox fan. During the 2025 to 2026 NFL season, I started making content at Sonny’s for fun. The energy on game days is electric, and I’ve always had an eye for what makes a great edit. I had no formal experience, but the videos I made were posted on Sonny’s Instagram and actually drove traffic into the restaurant on Bears game days. That’s when I realized I was onto something.
Reel Hype Media is bornFrom those Sonny’s videos, a good friend of mine, the head coach of the St. John Neumann Catholic High School wrestling program in Naples, reached out and asked if I could make highlight reels for athletes. I didn’t know how at the time, but I told him I’d figure it out. That’s when Reel Hype Media was born. My highlight reels covering St. John Neumann wrestling gained tremendous traction fast. I went on to cover the team through districts, regionals, and semi-state, sold highlight reel packages to athletes across the state as brand visibility grew, and was ultimately invited to the FHSAA Wrestling Tournament as an official videographer.
Since then, I’ve shifted Reel Hype Media’s focus to what I do best: helping small businesses grow. Today we offer customized website design, social media management, and organic content generation for local businesses.
TodayI’m currently finishing my bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship at Florida Gulf Coast University. During my first semester, I participated in the Veterans Runway program, a semester long cohort that ended with pitching Reel Hype Media to a board of judges for startup grant funding. I walked away with a $2,500 award from that pitch.
The hype is real. Let’s build yours.