Charlie Connell has gone from a designer/photographer to the Principal of Punch.
Punch specializes in brand development along with print and digital design with the goal of connecting their clients to their consumers. Charlie was even awarded Ad Person of the Year in 2011 and his creative team has numerous Cannonball Awards – the area’s most prestigious advertising award.
Tell our community how you came to be involved with Goochland Pet Lovers?
We were introduced to your organization through a personal connection with Diana Barden, the Executive Director at the time. She wanted to update the Goochland Pet Lovers brand and with the initiatives that you were undertaking, the timing was perfect.
We scheduled a meeting with the Board and were extremely impressed with their passion for the cause and their plans for the future of the organization. From there our creative team, Anna Eidelman and Boris Tchourachev, developed a visual identity package that would align with the organization’s vision.
Share with us how you volunteer and are involved in the Richmond community?
Our vision for Punch has always centered around our commitment to making a positive impact for our clients and the community. Our team members are very passionate about the causes they support so we provide opportunities for them to volunteer with their favorites.
Because our ideal clients are those that have a positive impact on the community, we are naturally drawn to non-profit organizations and donate as much time to them as possible. Below are some of the organizations that we have had the privilege to support over the years.
- Connor’s Heroes Foundation
- ART 180
- Furs
- Richmond Animal League
- Special Olympics
- Challenge Discovery Projects
- Comfort Zone Camp
If you were not in your current job, what would you secretly love to do?
If I were not in my current job, I would love to do anything that would allow me to express myself creatively and be able to spend time with my family. Painting, composing music, writing, sculpting, surfing, and lawn care would all be great options – most of which I am not qualified for though. I also love the beautiful game. If I could somehow be connected to the sport of soccer, that would be very fulfilling. My playing days are numbered though as I am even aging out of the veterans league.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
In this day of social media and the transparency that it creates, it is difficult to surprise anyone with facts about oneself. Tough question, but if I had to answer – I love to dance to relatively obscure music while doing yard work. My neighbors are the only ones who know.
What advice do you treasure?
I now treasure every bit of advice my Dad gave me from the time I was 16 until the day he passed.
Fill in the blank. You’ll never see me without my:
Optimism. I firmly believe that if you look hard enough you can find good in everything and everyone.
Where can we find you hanging out around town?
My hangouts have certainly changed throughout the years. Currently, you are most likely to find me at a pool, watching my son swim, or at a soccer field watching my daughter play. Our deck chairs remain in the back of the car year-round and we love watching our children do what they love to do.
Favorite thing to do in Richmond?
My favorite thing to do in Richmond is to attend outdoor events where you are able to see current friends and others you have not seen in years.
Tell us some of your favorite local restaurants.
Sidewalk Café – the sponsors of our club team
Stella’s – where Renee and I had our rehearsal dinner
El Paso – our family’s number one pick for family dining
What are three of your favorite things right now (besides God, family and friends)?
- Time – our unique situation has provided quality time with family that our busy schedules would never have permitted before.
- Huck and Finn – for their constant companionship and the exercise opportunity that their walks provide me with every day.
- Birdwell Tactical Shorts – they kept me from loosing a leg in a chainsaw incident last weekend.