ileana international inc

What ileana international inc does

Ileana International is a privately held, single-service public relations and media relations firm headquartered in Redondo Beach, California. Founded in 2005, the firm operates with 1–10 employees and is led by owner Mike Mena, a publicist with over 20 years of industry experience; original founder Ileana now serves as a silent partner. Its core offering combines story development, pitch crafting, and journalist-relationship management to place clients in local, national, and international media outlets spanning broadcast television (KTLA, KNBC, Telemundo, KABC, KCBS, KCAL/CBS, ABC 7, Fox 11), print (LA Times, Daily Bruin), and international outlets (Voice of America, Hawaii News Now).

The firm serves a diversified client base across four primary verticals: non-profits and social-cause organizations (U.S.Vets, ICAN, Conservation Corps of Long Beach and Los Angeles, Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund, Jail Guitar Doors, Project Alive, The SEA Lab), educational institutions (Marymount California University, Rolling Hills Prep School, UCLA B.R.A.I.N. Center, Cinema Libertá), museums and cultural institutions (Grammy Museum, Museum of Latin American Art, Museum of Making Music, Heritage Museum of Orange County), and for-profit enterprises (Kellogg Garden, Simple Green, AsomBroso Tequila, Pallet Shelter, Flyaway Homes, Scorpius Space Launch Company, INVIGORADE, La Bella Beauty). The firm is bootstrapped and founder-owned, with no disclosed external funding, subsidiaries, or parent company.

The business model is sales-led professional services: client acquisition is driven by direct outreach, referrals, and personal networking by Mike Mena and his team, with quote-based pricing not publicly disclosed. No proprietary technology is involved; the value proposition rests on the founder's personal media relationships and tenacious pitching approach. Distribution is exclusively direct client engagement, and the firm markets itself through a website portfolio, social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube), and earned-media testimonials from clients such as Pallet and journalists. Operational status is active, with client placements dated through March 2026.

Name

ileana international inc

Legal name

Ileana International

Website

https://ileanainternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ileana International is a privately held, Los Angeles-area boutique public relations firm that secures media coverage in local, national, and international outlets for non-profits, educational institutions, museums, and for-profit enterprises, led by owner Mike Mena.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182), Public Relations Agencies (541820)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Internal & Employee Communications (BPAFADAD)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Media relations
• Storytelling publicity
• Media outreach
• Press coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Redondo Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Relations Services: Professional PR services including media relations, story development, pitch crafting, and ongoing press coverage for clients across various industries including businesses, non-profits, museums, and educational institutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ileana International provides public relations and media relations services that connect client stories to targeted audiences. Core activities include strategic story development, pitch crafting, journalist outreach, and ongoing press coverage to secure placements across local, national, and international outlets. The firm serves businesses, retail establishments, museums, educational institutions, and non-profits.

Product overview

Ileana International is a single-service PR firm offering public relations services centered on strategic storytelling and media relations. The core offering combines story development, media pitching, and journalist relationship management to secure media coverage for clients across local, national, and international outlets. The company is led by owner Mike Mena and is based in Redondo Beach, California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Billions of dollars of news stories secured for clients through tenacious PR efforts
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• DKC Public Relations: Established independent PR agency offering media relations, public affairs, and crisis communications. Comparable in core service offering and non-profit/consumer client segments, but operates at materially larger scale.
• Havas PR: Global communications network with a meaningful boutique-style PR practice. Comparable in core service offering, but operates with significantly more scale, geographic reach, and enterprise client capabilities.
• PMK*BNC: Large entertainment, consumer, and lifestyle PR agency. Comparable in storytelling and media-relations capabilities, particularly in entertainment and museum verticals, but materially larger in scale.
• Sunshine Sachs: Larger independent PR firm with a strong entertainment, non-profit, and consumer practice. Comparable in core service offering (media relations, storytelling) and non-profit/cause client mix, though materially bigger and broader.

Direct peers

• Cerrell Associates: Los Angeles-based boutique public relations and public affairs firm serving non-profits, government, and corporate clients in the Southern California market. Closely comparable to Ileana in size, geography, and vertical mix, with similar relationship-driven media placement focus.
• 5W Public Relations: Mid-size independent PR agency offering media relations, storytelling, and integrated communications across consumer, corporate, and non-profit verticals. Comparable in core service offering and client mix, though with broader geographic reach.
• The Pollack Group: LA-headquartered full-service PR and marketing firm serving consumer, lifestyle, non-profit, and entertainment clients. Comparable in offering mix and regional focus, though somewhat larger in scale than Ileana.
• JPR Communications: Boutique PR firm specializing in media relations for non-profits, educational institutions, and mission-driven organizations. Closely comparable to Ileana in vertical specialization on cause-based and institutional clients.
• Berglass + Associates: Boutique consumer and lifestyle PR firm with a focus on media placements and brand storytelling. Comparable in founder-led boutique model and media-relations-centric service offering.

Regional players

• Melanie Rudnick PR (or similarly sized LA boutique PR firms): Small LA-area boutique PR practitioners serving similar non-profit, education, and consumer segments through relationship-based media outreach. Directly comparable in scale, geography, and operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Schooldanceandmusic/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/mike.mena.90
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ileana-international-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ileana international inc