Member of the Month: Matthew Ray and Evan Urbania

Matthew Ray, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, ChatterBlast Media

Q&A with Matthew: 
What are you reading right now (or what is a go-to book you would recommend to others)?

Nomadland and its amazing, sad and compelling story. 

What is your favorite spot in Philly to disappear for some alone time?
Schuylkill River Trail

What is your favorite app right now?
Pot stickers. Oh, you mean…. LOL…. TikTok! 

What is your guilty pleasure TV show?
Everyone should be watching “For All Mankind” on Apple TV. 

What is a non-profit that you support? Other than CCBA?
Access Matters: Ensuring all Pennsylvania residents have access to reproductive and sexual health resources. Pennsylvania Prison Society: Striving to ensure our incarcerated brothers and sisters are treated with dignity and compassion. 

What was your first concert?
INXS at the Spectrum, here in Philadelphia. 

If you had an extra hour in the day, what would you do with it?
Yin Yoga. 

Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Matthew Ray drives innovation and originality across the company’s client portfolio, while supporting the creative, strategy, and account teams with trend forecasting and insight analysis. With a focus on marketing and creative campaigns, Ray has delivered results for the Visit Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Auto Show, Wawa Welcome America, DO AC, Broadway On the Boardwalk, and PHL Soccer/FIFA 2026. Prior to co-founding ChatterBlast, Matthew worked as Director of Media Relations for TLA Entertainment Group and Reed Elsevier. He has also taught as an adjunct professor at Temple University and The University of the Arts.

Ray holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from Temple University and a master’s degree in media studies from The New School. He serves as a board member of the Pennsylvania Prison Society and AccessMatters, and as a digital advisory council member for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and now resides in Philadelphia’s famous South Philly neighborhood. 

Evan Urbania, Co-founder and CEO, ChatterBlast Media

Q&A with Evan: 
What is a non-profit that you support? Other than CCBA?
The Philadelphia Foundation: One of the nation’s oldest community foundations. I am proud of their work on the Coalition to Save Lives.

What is your favorite place you have traveled to?
Istanbul, Turkey

What was your first concert?
Pearl Jam!

What was your first job?
I washed windows all summer at my local church.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I almost didn’t go to college to pursue a career in recording and music production.

What is your best networking tip?
Tell a story and ask lots of questions.

Where did you spend December 31, 1999? 
In the West Village in New York City. 

As CEO, Evan leads ChatterBlast by designing service models, building relationships and anticipating the needs of the agency’s clients. Before ChatterBlast, he served as a consultant to high-tech and financial services companies such as Hitachi Data Systems and The New York Stock Exchange. Prior to that, he worked as head of business development for the 105-year old international architecture and planning firm H2L2. 

Evan is a graduate of Drexel University where he studied business administration, marketing, and photography while maintaining membership of the Pennoni Honors College. Civically minded, he was a founding board member and former President of The Independence Business Alliance. He is currently a board member of Team PA Foundation, The Philadelphia Foundation, treasurer of The Roughwood Center for Heritage Seedways, and serves as a commissioner on the Philadelphia Gas Commission. He uses his free time to hike in the Wissahickon, travel abroad and attempt (unsuccessfully) to understand the world of generative AI.

1315 Walnut Street, Suite 800
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-475-5480
chatterblast.com
chat@chatterblast.com
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