Samantha was born and raised in Westchester, New York (which is not upstate). She received her B.S. in Film and Television from Boston University and worked in script development, casting and production before joining Gotham in 2012. At Gotham she puts all of these skills to use to make sure client and talent needs are met, always going the extra proverbial (and sometimes actual) mile for them. She lives in a constant state of happy chaos with her husband, sons, and two Shiba Inu dogs.

Alec was raised in Brooklyn, NY, long before it became cool (the 1980s). He is a graduate of Stuyvesant High School, the University of Maryland and New York Law School (and might also be an ordained minister via the internet). He is a member of the NY State Bar and is also a notary for some reason. He loves to ride his bike to work (and everywhere). He lives in Leonia, NJ with his wife, son and daughter. He'd like to add a dog to the mix but has been outvoted 3-1.

Born and raised in Bethesda, Maryland, Mike attended The Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire before venturing to New York where he received a B.A. from Hofstra University. During college, Mike became intrigued with the entertainment industry and interned at the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C., MTV Networks, and Sony BMG. After graduating, Mike moved to New York City and began pursuing his passion. He has worked for The Agency Group, Central Entertainment Group, Scott Rudin Productions, and Paradigm Talent Agency. Mike's interests include music, film, sports, politics, and travel. He currently resides in Washington D.C.

Ben was born at a very young age in Newport Beach, California. Heading east for college, he double-majored in English and Music at Tufts University while also discovering that wearing sandals in the snow is a bad idea. Days after graduation, Ben moved to Brooklyn to pursue his passion for music and fell backwards into a career booking keynote speakers and entertainers– the happiest accident of his life.

Laurie Barnett was born in NYC. She is a veteran talent agent, manager and event producer with deep roots in the performing arts and the food and restaurant business. She became a lecture agent with the Royce Carlton Agency in 2001, and in 2011 she created a unique collaborative talent division with Zero Point Zero Production, Inc. Laurie is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and resides in Harlem.

Kate is a Washington, DC transplant (Statehood Now!), originally from Seattle, and finally gets why they call her home state the "Other" Washington. While her addiction to black coffee and all things grunge (the music! the clothes!) are her birthright, it turns out she's an East Coast soul who was mistakenly born out West. An extreme extrovert who loves people and building relationships, she fittingly has a master's in counseling psychology from Arizona State University (and lived through nine summers in the Phoenix hellscape). Because she loves to read and write personal essays, she chose English lit for her bachelor's from University of Washington (Go Dawgs!). On weekends you can find her catching up on back issues of the New Yorker, going to rock shows, or taking long walks around the District with her husband while their cat Lucky waits patiently at home for their return to the couch.

Jim grew up in sunny Virginia Beach, VA and graduated in 2008 from James Madison University with a degree in History and Philosophy. He moved to New York in 2010 to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, landing a job in the mailroom at WME in 2012 and subsequently joining the WME lectures division - where he first got to know the Gotham Artists team. Jim then moved to Innovative Artists where for two years he helped build out Innovative’s personal appearance division in New York.

Born and raised in Arkansas, Dustin got his itch for the entertainment industry working at Missouri State University advising the student programming board. And then in 2000, he packed up his life, moved to DC, and enjoyed an amazing 22-year career with Keppler Speakers and ICM Speakers before joining Gotham in late 2022. When he's not connecting you with world-renowned artists, business leaders, content creators, broadcasters, authors, journalists, and artisans, you will find him working with his family in their newly opened doggie ice cream bar and bakery - Salty Paws Chic's Beach!

Max was born and raised in Long Island, New York. He received his B.S. in Music Industry Studies and Business Administration from Loyola University in New Orleans. While studying in New Orleans, Max was a professional musician and played all across the city of New Orleans. He brought his talents back to the city of Manhattan and gigs regularly with his band, Smilen. Max loves going to see live music whenever possible.

Liz grew up a valley girl in Los Angeles, a music, movie and cat lover! She headed down the 405 to the 101 to the 5 to sunny San Diego where she got her bachelors in psychology at UCSD along with a love of beaches. As her adventurous side kicked in while studying abroad in London, city life was calling her name. After college she packed up and moved to New York, home to her career in several industries including entertainment, comedy and client services. She is excited to bring her many years of experience, positive energy and love of bringing people together to Gotham Artists. And she still beaches it any chance she gets.

Born and raised in the small town of Dowagiac MI Danielle has her B.A. in theatre production and history from Saint Mary's College of Notre Dame. Danielle joined the Gotham team in May of 2020. Since, she has put her theatre passions to work here at Gotham and is loving it. After work if Danielle is not in the theatre you can find her on the farm working with her draft horses.

Lizzie grew up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts and graduated in 2021 from New York University with a degree in Film Studies and Creative Writing. Before joining Gotham, she did freelance writing and worked in hospitality. Lizzie recently moved to Harlem and in her free time, she likes to think about getting a cat. She is excited to bring her experience to Gotham!

Introducing Jade Amethyst, the newest member of the dynamic Gotham team. With over six years of diverse work experience and over a decade in the vibrant Hampton Roads community, Jade brings a wealth of expertise and a keen eye for detail to her role. Committed to supporting her team's success, she excels in problem-solving and providing reliable assistance. Outside of the office, Jade finds solace and joy in the serenity of the beach, where she can often be found basking in the sun or enjoying a long walk. An avid foodie and ambivert, Jade enjoys whipping up culinary masterpieces at home and making lasting memories with friends.

In West Philadelphia, born and raised, on the Playground is where she spent most of her days... OK, she is not actually the Fresh Prince, but Sam Van could be considered the Queen of Contracts. After 13 years of denying bands their bowl of green M&Ms working at a music festival in Milwaukee, she made the epic move to Brooklyn to become the New Yorker that had always been in her heart, and found her way to the Gotham Artists family in March of 2019. After work you can usually find her catching a film at a local theater, sipping a craft beer at a brewery or shooting pool at a dive bar

Katie was born and raised in the small town of Bolton, Connecticut. She received her B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism from Central CT State University and worked in Sales and Event Management for Marriott Hotels for the last 16 years. Her passion for detailing and executing events is what brought her to the Gotham Team! While most of her free time is devoted to her family (most notably her energetic 2 ½ year old Son), she also enjoys cooking and traveling abroad.

Conner Krizancic, a visionary in the realm of marketing and brand building, stands out as a leading figure in the speakers/speaking industry. As the founder of SpeakrBrand and the Fractional Chief Marketing Officer at Gotham Artists, he excels in raising the stature of executives, speakers, and authors, steering them towards becoming recognized thought leaders.

At Gotham Artists, Conner uses his extensive knowledge to assist speakers in leveraging their personal narratives and professional insights to make a significant impact on their audiences. His strategy goes beyond mere visibility, focusing on creating meaningful and sustained interactions that prepare clients to excel in the dynamic environment of public speaking.

Up Close and Personal

Outside of his professional life, Conner is a former Division 1 football player and a consistent competitor in Spartan Races, embodying discipline, resilience, and teamwork.

Favorite Speaker: Conner admires Robert Herjavec for his ability to blend insightful business acumen with engaging storytelling, which resonates deeply with his own approach to brand building and thought leadership.

Favorite Speaker Quote:   "The only way to find limits is by pushing past them." —Alex Honnold

At Gotham Artists, Austin leverages his expertise in writing, content creation, and digital marketing & business development to help speakers maximize their potential. He assists them in communication and strategic content placement to elevate their professional presence.

This dedication to the speaking sector is driven by his belief in the transformative power of articulate and compelling communication, which can inspire change and foster connections on a global scale.

Up Close and Personal

Austin continues to balance his ambitious professional goals with his roles as a dedicated husband and father, cherishing time spent with his family and enjoying basketball and tennis.

Favorite Speaker: Austin counts Daymond John as his favorite speaker, valuing his unique ability to turn entrepreneurial lessons into powerful, personal motivators.

Favorite Speaker Quote: "Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare." —Patrick Lencioni

Neva Paule is an accomplished writer and editor with almost two decades of experience in developing captivating and educational content. At Gotham Artists, Neva brings her extensive experience and her passion for transformative communication to support speakers in making a lasting impact on their audiences.

Neva's journey into the world of public speaking and thought leadership was sparked by her early involvement in debate clubs and public speaking competitions during her school years. This foundation ignited a lifelong passion for the power of words and the impact they can have on an audience. Throughout her career, Neva has dedicated herself to helping speakers craft their messages to not only inform but also inspire their listeners.

Up Close and Personal

An avid traveler and amateur photographer, Neva often explores remote corners of the world with her family, gathering stories and capturing moments that reflect the diverse human experience. As a devoted wife and mother, she weaves her love for storytelling into bedtime tales for her little boy, often featuring whimsical characters inspired by their day-to-day family life.

Favorite Speaker: Neva's favorite speaker, Mel Robbins, influences her with the 5-second rule, a strategy that fuels her commitment to decisive action.

Favorite Speaker Quote:  “Confidence is overrated. It’s when we’re uncomfortable and looking for answers that we learn and grow the most.” —Barbara Corcoran

The Gotham Content Editorial Team is a group of dedicated professionals with over 60 years of combined experience in the speaker bureau industry. Our team is committed to quality assurance and content review, ensuring that we deliver top-notch, accurate, and engaging content. We’re passionate about the speaking industry and maintain the highest standards in all our publications. Sometimes, we even argue over content for hours, but it’s all in the name of quality!

Meet our team:

• Alec Melman
• Jim Oliver
• Dustin Jones
• Max Smilen
• Liz Cooke
• Lizzie Brill

Gotham Team Tips

To provide our readers with the best experience possible, our editorial team adds insights in a "team tip" style within our articles. This approach leverages our extensive, real-world experience, offering unique and valuable content that you can't find anywhere else.

Commitment to Quality

We understand that there are many options for content about keynote speakers. What sets us apart is our commitment to enriching our content with individual expertise, ensuring our readers receive information that is both insightful and exclusive.

We believe that blending expertise with a touch of humor and humanity makes for the most engaging and informative content. So, while we take our work seriously, we don’t always take ourselves too seriously!