The Team Behind 50 Million Podcast Listeners
Hangar Studios didn’t start with permission. It started with a hunch.
In April 2009, before “podcasting” was even the word, we saw the shift coming. Back then they called it audioblogging. We called it the future.
On demand. On the go. Unfiltered. While everyone else was chasing traditional media, Hangar Studios was being built for what was next.
Founder Jennifer Chernicky walked away from a lucrative career in marketing and small-business consulting to take a risk. She launched Hangar Studios out of a cramped back room in Chelsea, Manhattan. No safety net. No roadmap. Just conviction.
That move made Hangar one of the earliest podcast production companies in the world and the first owned and operated by a woman of color.
Since then, we haven’t slowed down. We traded square footage for reach, pivoted early to remote production, and now operate globally from our Manhattan studio.
But scale without innovation is just noise. That’s why we keep pushing, most recently with immersive 3D and binaural audio that changes how stories feel, not just how they sound.
Hangar Studios is also a proud partner of Podcast Taxonomy, helping set the standard for how podcast creators are recognized and credited.
We didn’t just ride the wave. We helped build it.
Jennifer Chernicky,
Founder / CEO
Jennifer doesn’t chase the curve, she gets there first.
After 15+ years in marketing and business consulting, Jennifer jumped into podcasting in 2009 and founded Hangar Studios, becoming the first woman of color to own a podcast production company. What started as early adopter instinct is now a global studio powering bold voices worldwide.
Today, she leads client acquisition, operations, growth, and onboarding turning sharp ideas into scalable shows. She also hosts and produces Big Girl Panties and Stripped, where real conversations come without filters.
Jennifer is an associate member of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences and a Webby Awards judge. Off mic, she advises nonprofits, speaks on leadership and podcasting, coaches people to speak freely, refinishes furniture and proudly holds the title that matters most: mom to five.
Max Solomon,
Production Manager
A seasoned and meticulous audio engineer, Max leads all productions at Hangar. From training and managing our engineers, editors, and producers to guiding new clients through production or post-production, he plays a central role in maintaining quality and consistency across projects. Though based in Paris with his wife and dog, Max keeps Hangar running seamlessly from across the Atlantic.
Rich Cerbini,
Chief Engineer/Editor
Rich is an audio post-production engineer, mixer, and sound designer with over a decade of experience across all media. At Hangar, he ensures every project sounds polished and professionally dialed in. He truly loves what he does, and it shows in every collaboration he is part of.
Outside the studio, Rich is all about spending time with his wife and kiddies, making music, and sneaking in a few video games whenever he can.
Jess Penzetta
Editor/ Engineer
An audiophile at heart, Jess has been a part of the podcasting industry as both a producer and an engineer. She has worked on shows that have been recognized by both The Guardian and Signal Awards. Coming from a musical background, Jess attended Berklee College of Music to study Film Scoring and Electronic Production & Design. She enjoys listening to and making electronic music in her free time, with her original music and remixes hitting the dance floors of nightclubs local and abroad.
Rob Petrillo,
Producer
With more than a decade of professional experience, Rob Petrillo is an accomplished producer with a background in sports, news, podcasting, and live broadcast media. Since 2021, Rob has focused primarily on podcast production, serving as a producer on a wide range of Microsoft backed shows spanning cybersecurity, technology, business, and thought leadership. His work includes end-to-end production responsibilities, from pre-production planning and editorial development to recording, post production, and distribution, helping subject matter experts translate complex topics into compelling, audience focused audio.
Eden Chernicky,
Executive Assistant
Eden Chernicky supports the team administratively. When she’s not working or in school, she spends time exploring new places on one of her many road trips. Eden is fascinated by the world of podcasting and it’s availability as a platform for all to speak freely.
Industry Recognition & Affiliations
Hangar Studios is an associate member of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences and an active Webby Awards judge. Our team has been recognized by The Guardian, the Signal Awards, and industry leaders in podcasting, cybersecurity media, and corporate thought leadership. We are proud partners of Podcast Taxonomy, the initiative standardizing how podcast creators are credited across platforms.
International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences
Associate member status reflecting deep involvement in digital media and creative innovation.
Webby Awards
Active judging participation in one of the most recognized honors in digital excellence.
Signal Awards & Media Recognition
Recognized by respected industry voices, including The Guardian and the Signal Awards.
Podcast Taxonomy
Proud partners supporting the standardization of podcast creator credits across platforms.
Ready to create something extraordinary?
Whether you are a global brand launching a flagship series or an independent voice with a story to tell, our team is here to make it happen.