DIONA VAUGHAN MANKOWITZ: founder
ABOUT: Diona originally came to Los Angeles to pursue being a host and on-camera fashion expert. Helping a friend round up a few people for a TV show quickly evolved into a passion for connecting with people and finding that special sparkle that exists within all of us. Ten years later, she is an Emmy nominated producer and Casting Director with a diverse resume of unscripted shows, including commercials and branded digital content. She also has a plethora of network and development credits, which include Netflix’s Love is Blind, HGTV’s House Hunters, and Lifetime’s Married at First Sight just to name a few.
FUN FACTS: A native of Dayton, Ohio, before working in television, Diona spent over a decade living in NYC, working in fashion. By chance, she fell into the dynamic world of entertainment and discovered her love of storytelling and connecting with people. Diona traded the subway for traffic on the ten freeway and lives in Los Angeles with her husband. She is also obsessed with The Golden Girls and Law & Order.
Kelley allen
ABOUT: A Los Angeles native, Kelley got her start in casting over a decade ago. Having heavily cast reality television, she developed a keen eye and love for it! Working on projects like E! Network's hit show Botched, Gordon Ramsay's: 24 Hours to Hell & Back, MTV's Are You the One, OWN's Ready to Love, and Bravo's Married to Medicine, is a small exhibit of Kelley's casting range. Her casting resume also extends to digital content, commercials, and development projects for major production companies and networks.
FUN FACTS: As a child, Kelley worked in front of the camera! You can catch a glimpse of her in movies like Friday, Devil In a Blue Dress, Toys and TV shows like The Steve Harvey Show, Moesha, and The Jamie Foxx Show, just to name a few.
EBONICE ATKINS
ABOUT: Ebonice Atkins is a Daytime Emmy Nominated Producer and Showrunner with over 13+ years of experience. Most recently, she was a Showrunner for comedy series partnered with Facebook Watch & All Def Digital, where she managed activities from initial green light and budgeting, through production and delivery. Some of her earlier work includes Supervising Producer for two seasons of Netflix's Droppin’ Cash. Her experience in the unscripted television space includes reality, daytime talk, court, documentary, and digital content. Ebonice's work has been seen across many platforms such as FOX, BET, Netflix, MTV, COMPLEX, VH1, CBS, and many more.
FUN FACTS: Ebonice also hosts an online course called, Timeout With Dopecameragirl, which teaches creatives how to work in the TV industry, create pitch decks or create your own content. She has over 200 students that have joined her course using one of the largest learning platforms.
CARLOS FUENTES BARGUENO
ABOUT: Carlos emigrated to Los Angeles from Madrid, Spain when he was only 19 years old. His first work experience was helping high profile talent along with their managers and publicists at award shows such as: The Latin Grammys, The Emmys and the MTV Video Music Awards. For the past four and half years he's been working in Casting and Development for several shows including The Amazing Race and Kids Say the Darndest Things. Currently, Carlos is looking to expand his knowledge and jump into Production as a field or story producer.
FUN FACTS: Carlos's guilty pleasure is watching documentaries, and he dreams of producing his own one day. He enjoys traveling around the world and meeting new people. He's passionate about History, Anthropology, and modern languages. He speaks English, Spanish, Italian, and is currently studying French.
ASHLEE BENNETT
ABOUT: Ashlee was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA and now, resides in Atlanta. Ashlee spent four years working with young girls in a behavioral foster youth program and also put herself through film school. After receiving a degree in Video Production & Digital Filmmaking at the Art Institute of Los Angeles, Ashlee found her niche in casting. She enjoys working hands-on with talent and helping people make their dreams become reality.
FUN FACTS: When Ashlee is not spoiling her Godchildren, you can find her dabbling in the stock market, sipping on a glass of Pinot Noir and decorating her home.
shani black
ABOUT: Shani Black is currently an Executive Producer with over ten years of talk, court, lifestyle, reality/docu-series, and casting experience. As a member of the Writers Guild of America West and the Producers Guild of America, Ms. Black has produced unscripted shows for MTV, OWN, Discovery, HGTV, Warner Brothers/Telepictures, NBCUniveral, CBS, FOX, Netflix, and Facebook Watch. Most recently, she was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards, one of which was for her work on Red Table Talk, as well as an NAACP award.
FUN FACTS: Ms. Black is originally from Los Angeles, raised in Houston, and attended college in Chicago. She is also a member of Columbia College Chicago’s alumni board. She loves networking and mentoring the next generation of creatives.
precious-tuesday bell blakeney
ABOUT: A native of Inglewood, CA, Precious grew up in the epicenter of Southern California's Black music and arts scene. She is a passionate creative with over a decade of entertainment industry experience and she is also a certified Make Up Artist. She worked her way up from Location Coordinator to Supervising Producer for the long-running Love & Hip Hop franchise on ViacomCBS. Throughout her career, she has also produced a wide range of series and specials for major networks including VH1, OWN, Bounce TV, and LOGO.
FUN FACTS: Precious was born on a Tuesday and enjoys hosting Taco Tuesday’s regularly at her home in Los Angeles, CA!
Courtney branch
ABOUT: Courtney spent several years in New York, where she jumpstarted her television career with a fellowship with CBS This Morning. After working between the Atlanta and New York markets and being recognized for two Emmy nominations, Courtney relocated to Los Angeles, where she has been working in casting and production for the last five years. She possesses a calm, yet enthusiastic demeanor adapts well to all production environments, and has innate attention for detail, with respect for deadlines.
FUN FACTS: Courtney is the co-founder of The Micheaux Film Festival in downtown Los Angeles, where her love for content and event planning merge every year. She is an advocate for building generational wealth and listens to way too many podcasts about money. She loves music, watching tv, and hanging with friends, preferably mask-free.
Chantay e. brown
ABOUT: With over 14 years experience in television production, five-time Daytime Emmy Nominated Producer, Chantay E. Brown, is an accomplished Supervising Producer, Field Producer, and development Casting Producer with a long list of credits ranging from CBS to Food Network, to HGTV, Comedy Central, and a variety of networks in between.
FUN FACTS: Chantay is a newly engaged and splits her time between Los Angeles and Dallas, TX, with her fiancé. As an author of children’s books, novels, and self-development books, Chantay has taken her skills and knowledge in writing and production and operates a story/book coaching business servicing writers who need guidance in developing their manuscripts. She would also love to open a bookstore that will showcase diverse works from a variety of authors and artists.
ERIKA BROWN
ABOUT: Erika is a seasoned producer and director who is passionate about story-telling. With over ten years of experience in television, she throws herself into every project adapting to any environment. As a member of the Television Academy and Producers Guild, she has producer for networks such as HBO, VH1, FOX, Bravo, E!, MTV, WeTV, and TLC, to name a few. Erika is currently further exploring her passion for storytelling by expanding her career into developing original content. Before producing, Erika was a production manager honing her skills in all aspects of production by overseeing entire shows from start to finish for companies including Viacom, STX, 44 Blue, World of Wonder, Bunim/Murray, EOne, and Truly Original.
FUN FACTS: When she’s not working, you can catch Erika enjoying a good museum. Erika also has an entrepreneurial spirit. She is currently working on an e-commerce company relating to travel.
Richard Calhoun
ABOUT: Richard Calhoun II is a seasoned, Emmy nominated producer who has gained expertise in producing and developing unscripted content. He has a diverse background, including the digital content, commercials, and documentaries. Working as a Casting Director for 12+ years, he has cast and produced projects for ABC, NBC UNIVERSAL, NETFLIX, and CBS amongst many others. Most recently Richard served as a Senior Producer for the first season of The Masked Dancer and season 4 of The Masked Singer. He also worked with AMAZON PRIME on their newest reality competition show THE PACK.
FUN FACTS: Richard is originally from Cleveland, OH, and left a career in banking to pursue the crazy world of production in Los Angeles. Richard has sat on a panel for the Producers Guild of America as a producer to watch out for. When he’s not on set, Richard spends his time traveling and catching up with family and friends.
MARCIA CAMPBELL
ABOUT: Marcia is an Emmy-Nominated Producer who has worked as a Showrunner/Co-Executive Producer for over 10 years. She has leant her hand to a variety of non-scripted projects: reality, comedy, competition, magazine, design-based, a show supported by viewer created content submissions and an independent film. Her hard work paid off when BET asked her to come in house and work on the well known standup comedy show, Comic View. Most recently, she Co-Executive produced a reality show starring Laila Ali, entitled “Maternity Calls”. She has also spent several seasons on the long running hit Big Brother on CBS as well as being the Supervising Producer on the indie Film She’s Got A Plan.
FUN FACTS: Marcia started her career with the popular magazine based show, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and Star Search. She landed a position at ABC where she met Larina Adamson (The Simpsons) who later became her mentor. From that point on, Marcia began working with Hollywood heavyweights and was amongst royalty learning it all.
sylvetta christmas
ABOUT: Sylvetta Christmas was born and raised in Chicago. Extensive hands-on experience in film, television, and live events has allowed her to work domestically and abroad. Beginning as an intern, she worked her way through the ranks of production assistant, coordinator, associate producer, manager, line-producer, and now executive producer. She has led and managed commercials for international brands and production for some of the top-rated cable network programs on VH1, MTV, Oxygen, Bravo, Lifetime, CNBC, REVOLT, OWN, and others. She also lends her broad range of skills to live events such as Complex Con, multinational, advertising and public relations company, Havas, and award-winning Kartemquin.
FUN FACTS: Sylvetta’s last name is Christmas yet she was born on Thanksgiving Day!
AMARI COLLINS
ABOUT: Amari is an accomplished development producer, casting director, and overall talent wiz. With a plethora of host casting and development experience under her belt, this Brooklyn-based talent scout can find a story in the most random places. Her life's goal is to produce stories with intention, giving voices to those otherwise overlooked. She prides herself on telling the stories from people of color and the LGBTQ+ community amping them up with positivity and helping them reach their best selves.
FUN FACTS: Amari is passionate about people, but her second love is wine. As the daughter of one of the first black Sommeliers in California, Amari grew up loving the experience of gathering, swapping stories and sharing experiences, all over a glass. She teaches wine classes and likes to collaborate with like-minds through her IG @FizznFunk, where she combines her love of people with New York's natural wine scene.
naim cooper
ABOUT: Naim is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, and currently resides in Charlotte. Naim has discovered a passion for production and writing across various platforms in entertainment. After receiving a degree in Communications and Journalism, Naim got his start behind the camera in news. He worked as a writer on NBC’s national desk and as a producer at Spectrum News. It was there Naim crafted his love for character-driven storytelling. Naim aims to provide relatable content, especially for an African American audience.
FUN FACTS: Naim’s writing extends beyond journalistic content. He also has a pen for poetry and songwriting. In his free time, he’s most likely writing something that rhymes or binge-watching the latest hit TV shows.
Sybil curry
ABOUT: Sybil Curry is a four-time Daytime Emmy Award-nominated Producer and a veteran in the industry. As a member of the Producers Guild and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, she has produced and cast Married at First Sight, Love is Blind, and House Hunters, to name a few. She has also produced content in the true crime, talk, court, and live award show space for Netflix, HGTV, BET, Food Network, FOX, and more. Her passion for story-telling also extends to film, where she wrote and executive produced the Telly Award winning short film, Balance of Power.
FUN FACTS: Sybil is also a budding playwright. She wrote the short play, Interrupted that was selected, cast, and performed on stage in Australia for SHORT+SWEET Sydney 2020, the world’s largest global festival of ten minute plays. She also expresses herself through her paintings and is excited to launch Art by Sybil @art_bysybil soon!
RAY DOTCH
ABOUT: Ray is an Emmy nominated Executive Producer and Showrunner with over 20+ years experience. His career took off with "Oprah" where he not only produced her iconic talk show including such popular episodes as "Oprah and Gayle's Big Adventure" the fun-filled 6 part series where Oprah and her best friend Gayle King drove from California to New York - but also the gut-wrenching 2-part episode "Tyler Perry and 200 Sexually Abused Men Come Forward" for which he and his colleagues were honored by the Television Academy. Since then Ray has worked for every major network, from ABC to CBS, MTV to OWN. He was on the ground covering the riots in both Ferguson and Baltimore for BET News and most recently he was the Executive Producer/Showrunner for the groundbreaking, critically acclaimed series, "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath".
FUN FACTS: Ray is a native of Washington, D.C., a Howard University alumnus and loves all things tennis.
MELLICENT DYANE
ABOUT: Mellicent Dyane has over 27 years of professional experience as a Casting Director and in 2014, she took a leap of faith and became a Director and Producer. Mellicent began her career in entertainment as a freelancer in California and started Dyane*Foster Film, Casting & T.V. She has worked on too many commercials to count for national brands. She has also worked on television pilots for major networks including Viacom, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, and more. Mellicent is also a two-time recipient of Latinas Unidas, "Latina of the Year," award. She is a member of NYWIFT, New York Women in Film & Television and NAMIC, National Association of Minorities in Communication, New York chapter Co-Chair of Membership 1997 to 2002.
FUN FACTS: Mellicent is a passionate fan of New York sports teams, including the Giants, Knicks, and Yankees. When she is directing, she loves to hire an all multicultural female crew.
MARIKA DYE
ABOUT: Marika was born in upstate New York but spent most of her childhood living in Tokyo, Japan, where her father was stationed in the military. While in Japan, she was signed to an international modeling agency and appeared in fashion shows, print ads, and commercials. Her family relocated to Atlanta as a teenager, and she continued to model as a teen. Landing an opportunity casting VH-1's Flavor of Love spear-headed her career in unscripted television and her passion for finding great characters. Over the years, Marika has worked on a plethora of content for film, radio, broadcast news, and daytime television.
FUN FACTS: Marika is obsessed with wine and has always dreamed of owning her own vineyard. She has collected so many bottles over the years that she has a dedicated room for her expansive collection in her home!
TIFFANY THOMAS FULLER
ABOUT: Tiffany Thomas Fuller is an Unscripted Casting Associate Producer and Casting Coordinator based out of Los Angeles, CA. She graduated from Cal State University, Northridge with a Bachelors Degree in Electric Media Management. She has worked on hit reality shows like FOX’s MasterChef, Masterchef Junior, ABC’s The Bachelor, USA’s The Biggest Loser, and NBC’s Ellen’s Game of Games. Deep research, finding interesting stories, and organization is her specialty.
FUN FACTS: Tiffany worked as a Social Media Manager for Trisha R. Thomas the author of the Nappily Ever After Series which eventually came to life on Netflix.
alana gaitling
ABOUT: Alana Gatling is a seasoned producer born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, and currently resides in Los Angeles. Alana originally started her career in television production before she found a niche as a producer. She has a knack for producing talent and cultivating content. Alana's most recent project is the docuseries “#LOVE” for the CW Network. Alana thrives in the unscripted world, producing other shows such as VH1’s To Catch a Kitchen Beautician and MTV’s Made in Staten Island. Alana’s producing skill set also extends to digital platforms for vertical networks. She has served as a studio producer for major brands, including Walmart.
FUN FACTS: Alana has also worked in front of the camera! She was a host for season 2 of Bossip on WeTV. She has also appeared as an on air personality for FoxSoul.
deidra george
ABOUT: A native of Oakland, CA, Deidra George is a woman of many talents spanning across the Entertainment Industry. Now residing in Los Angeles, she has contributed to the success of many, working in the heart of Hollywood for 10+ years in television & film production, live events, and digital media. Her credits have contributed to in-house staff within notable companies and brands such as Disney, E! Entertainment, DuBose Entertainment, and Lionsgate. Deidra is now exploring her passion in storytelling to develop and produce original Television & Film concepts that promote positive representation for people of color.
FUN FACTS:
Deidra is a writer across business platforms, a visionary, and divine encourager. She believes in the power of mentorship and has devoted time to mentor and volunteer through the partnership ABC Disney & Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, Hill Harper’s - Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, the Nate Parker Foundation, and School on Wheels.
ASHLEY GLADIEUX
ABOUT: Ashley Gladieux is an Emmy nominated television producer and Casting Director. Born and raised in Chicago, IL, she moved to Los Angeles after graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Communications and Broadcast Journalism. She has been in the entertainment field for more than a decade working in various roles including an on-air personality for WPGU 107.1FM and a blogger for the NBC5 Chicago street team at the start of her career. Upon moving to LA, she landed jobs in production working for the likes of E!, NBC Universal, Netflix, Game Show Network, and more. Some of her other renowned credits include Rhythm & Flow, America Says and The Bachelor. Ashley is a married and new mother.
FUN FACTS: Ashley has an uncanny memory when it comes to pop culture trivia. She can recite specific events that have occurred based on release dates of popular albums, films, and songs.
CRYSTAL & MARVIN GREEN
ABOUT: Marvin J. Green and Crystal E. Green are the owners of Media Heist, a production company and digital entertainment network founded by the couple in 2014. Their most recent productions include The New Jim Crow: Majority Rules, LIV: The Series, The Bouldins and Welcome to DoobieLand. Crystal serves as Head Writer for the company while Marvin oversees all areas of the business from pre-production to distribution. Both Marvin and Crystal create, develop, direct, produce and edit projects under the Media Heist banner.
FUN FACTS: When not producing, Marvin can be found leading a conference call with the members of his nonprofit organization, 7thirty2, a company firmly invested in the health and overall wellbeing of the family while Crystal can be found at EarthFinandFire.com, a pescatarian food blog where she shares new lyrically-inspired recipes weekly and tells compelling stories to accompany them. And when not working, the couple enjoys spending time with their two young children.
joHnathan gupta
ABOUT: After nearly thirty years of running large construction projects, Johnathan decided to turn his focus toward design and construction for television. With his building and logistics experience, his friendly professional work ethic, and his natural leadership abilities, he has been an ideal liaison between construction trades and production personnel. He has served as a Construction Set Designer and Construction Coordinator for some of the most popular home renovation shows on HGTV, TLC, OWN, Discovery, and Animal Planet.
FUN FACTS: Johnathan has been a lifelong resident of Los Angeles. He still makes time to go whale watching near his home every single day. Johnathan loves to travel, and he also started a nonprofit animal organization called The Red Nose Lucy Foundation to help bring awareness and find homes for rescued and abandoned animals.
devorn hannah
ABOUT: Devorn is a storyteller with experience in different realms of entertainment. For the past ten years, she has successfully produced multiple genres of television, as well as worked on the creative teams for some of the world's biggest pop stars today. Her innate ability to connect with all talent on any level, helps her to deliver compelling content and visuals.
FUN FACTS: Devorn is originally from the Southside of Chicago but currently resides in Los Angeles, California. As a mother and a woman of faith, she doesn’t believe in luck. Instead, she values that the greatest inspiration is motivated by human interactions.
sally harrison
ABOUT: Sally is a Los Angeles native that got her start in entertainment working on the Michael Baisden show with her Aunt Kelley Allen, a veteran in the unscripted casting space. She has since built her resume casting various reality, award, and live events, including Jimmy Kimmel’s Live, the BET Awards, BeautyCon and MTV’s Catfish, Are You the One, and OWN’s Ready to Love. Above all, she is passionate about not overlooking anyone and finding true talent.
FUN FACTS: Sally is left-handed, loves to travel, and listen to dancehall music. She is cautious by nature but loves to take risks when her gut leads her to do so. Her inner guidance is intensely strong and usually spot on.
heidi hill
ABOUT: Heidi moved from her native home in Cleveland, Ohio to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment and has since cast for nearly every network on the air. Currently, she works as a casting director for both network and independent projects. Heidi has worked with various networks including HBO, Food Network, Netflix, Amazon, Bravo, and more. A few notable shows include Project Runway, Beat Shazam, Hell's Kitchen, and Ready to Love. Heidi has experience in all facets of entertainment including writing, development, and casting for both scripted and unscripted projects. Her passion for cultivating new talent inspired her to create The Casting Vault, a networking page for casting directors, producers, actors, musicians and other industry talents.
FUN FACTS: Heidi is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc. and remains committed to inspiring others to pursue their dreams. Her motto is "Fear only exists in your mind. Releasing fear allows you to pursue your dreams with all that you have."
Ravan-simone jarrett
ABOUT: With over 8 years in experiential marketing, RaVan-Simone has been able to pivot into the entertainment industry as a casting recruiter for some of the biggest unscripted programs. RaVan started in the industry as a professional dancer, and while she loved being in the spotlight, she also discovered a love for the action behind the scenes. She utilized her skills to work as a production assistant and quickly worked her way up as an Associate Producer with Divorce Court. RaVan continues to challenge herself and search for more opportunities that will elevate her career.
FUN FACTS:
It may surprise most people to know that RaVan holds a CDL-A license and is certified to drive semi-trucks! She is also a trained hip-hop dancer and appeared in the movie "Drumline" and Soulja Boy's "Crank That" music video.
GRIVAS KOPTI
ABOUT: Grivas was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and immigrated to London at the age of seven with his parents in 1996. From a young age, he discovered a love for writing and entered local writing competitions. Grivas credits his obsession with the original British Big Brother as the catalyst to pursue a career in television years later. He got his break working in television after winning a competition with MTV to report backstage at the annual Music Video Awards. Since then, Grivas is an accomplished Field, Story and Casting producer and has gone on to produce hit shows for Netflix, Fox, YouTube, and more. From capturing captivating stories in the field to interviewing Syrian refugees, Grivas is honored to utilize the power of television to shine a light on stories that need to be heard.
FUN FACTS: At the age of three, Grivas was involved in an attempted kidnapping, and he has intuitive dreams of things that go on to really happen.
stefan laTOURE
ABOUT: Stefan LaToure was born in Houston, Texas but spent most of his childhood in Southeast, Washington, D.C. He briefly attended Howard University before enlisting in the Air Force, where he discovered his passion for film and the Arts. He is a multi-award winning Editor (picture and sound) and over the last ten years, he has worked on over 40 film and television projects from around the world. After working for Viacom/BET in Washington, D.C, for three years, Stefan relocated to Los Angeles in 2017 and has worked in Post Production on a variety of Independent Film and TV projects, at Sony Pictures and most recently worked at HBO on Season 4 of Insecure.
FUN FACTS: In December of 2019, Stefan graduated as the Salutatorian in his class from Full Sail University, with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. He enjoys writing, photography, and cooking on his grill and he was a background singer for a number of gospel artists!
ASJAI LOU
ABOUT: Asjai Lou is a blazing, bi-coastal Casting Director with a distinct vision for talent. Delivering over 15 years of experience, Lou’s casting credits include a diverse array of over 11 unscripted series, including ABC’s American Idol, OWN Network’s Ready To Love, and Lifetime’s Honeymoon Island. Asjai also dominates the commercial arena and has worked for some of the world’s most recognizable brands like NIKE, Uber, Microsoft, and Audi.
FUN FACTS: It’s no surprise that Asjai landed in entertainment. Her mother is the former Director of Production at Viacom, Sharron Cannon, and her father, Kenneth Crutchfield, was a theatre performer. She spent much of her childhood on studio lots and backstage, getting an up-close and personal experience with some of the most beloved Broadway productions.
EVAN MAJORS
ABOUT: Evan Majors, CEO of Major Media + Casting, LLC, is a Casting Director, Talent Executive, and Producer with almost two decades of experience working in the entertainment industry. Evan specializes in multi-platform, high-profile unscripted T.V. series, pilots, and docu-series directly for T.V. networks, cable, and streaming services, as well as digital campaigns for national and global brands. He also held network positions as Head Casting Producer for Sean "Diddy" Combs' multi-platform music network Revolt T.V. and Manager of Talent Development & Casting for Discovery Communications.
FUN FACTS: Evan has been writing poetry since junior high school! His very first concert was Billy Joel and he’s never once seen the blockbuster hit Titanic.
kellie brook malone
ABOUT: Kellie has worked in the entertainment industry in various capacities for over 20 years. She was raised in Detroit and relocated to Los Angeles after college. Kellie spent six years in the music industry working in artist development, marketing, and promotions for major labels, including DefJam and Capitol Records. Working on music videos sparked Kellie's interest in film and television production. She has successfully worked as a creative producer for daytime talk and court shows as well as finding fresh faces for food and lifestyle shows for major networks like CBS, FoodNetwork, and Fox.
FUN FACTS: Kellie loves to travel and carries her passport at all times. She has lived abroad in France, Germany, and Italy. Recently, Kellie had the opportunity to spend three months in Spain connecting with fellow industry creatives. She believes that film and television content creators are artists and that artists have the power to unite the world.
EBONY MCCLAIN
ABOUT: Prior to her foray into entertainment, Ebony successfully executed marketing strategies for several cable networks and sports companies, producing product launches and live event executions for several Fortune 500 corporations nationally. Working with companies like Nike, HBO, USA Networks, and working for cable affiliates (Comcast, AT&T, and MediaOne) incited a passion for entertainment that shortly led to television production where she has served in several capacities ranging from casting & development to producer. As a result, Ebony has penned her writing and producing talents to several shows, including MTV's True Life, Lifetime's Mother/Daughter Experiment, and Fox's daytime talk show, The Real, for which she was nominated a Daytime Emmy Award.
FUN FACTS: Ebony holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Communications from The University of Michigan and continues to produce independent projects as well as remain active in various non-profit organizations.
KAMILAH MEEK
ABOUT: Kamilah was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She is no stranger to entertainment, as she was a childhood actress and appeared in several short films. After completing her studies at UCLA in Film & Television, she launched her career on the other side of the camera working on NBC’s The Voice. While at The Voice Kamilah contributed to a number of departments including Casting, Talent Coordinator, and Wardrobe. Kamilah is currently an Executive Talent Assistant and Associate Producer on demand for Access Hollywood.
FUN FACTS: Kamilah is the younger cousin of actor/singer Tyrese Gibson. She also lends her time as a producer and mentor for the nonprofit Kids in the Spotlight, an organization that mentors foster children teaching them how to create and develop short film scripts.
CARLA MITCHELL
ABOUT: Twenty-year industry veteran Carla is a dynamic and in-demand television producer that got her start producing prime time live award shows such as The Golden Globes, BET Awards, the ESPYs, and more. Along the way, she honed her skills as a Casting Director and red carpet talent manager. Her credits span all genres a few notable projects include reality Ready to Love and Temptation Island, talk shows Join Or Die with Craig Ferguson, and game shows including The Last Comic Standing. Carla has earned highly coveted membership in some of Hollywood’s most prestigious organizations, including the Producers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild.
FUN FACTS: Carla is a native Arkansan and the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville Alumna. True to her ethos, Carla is active in her community and often volunteers with projects benefiting the SPCA, The Union Rescue Mission, The American Cancer Society, and Habitat for Humanity.
sheonna mix
ABOUT: Mix is the Vice President of Current Production at Bravo Media. She serves as the executive in charge of production on some of Bravo’s buzziest series, including the hit show Vanderpump Rules and the upcoming The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. She was instrumental in building out Bravo's home design block and took pride in launching the network’s race relations series – Race in America. She has overseen an impressive crop of shows, including Texicanas and Don't Be Tardy and is currently collaborating with Peacock streaming service on the new series Vanderpump Dogs. Mix brings to Bravo over a decade of television experience ranging across all genres of programming including live, studio, documentary, talk, competition and reality.
FUN FACTS: Sheonna was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. Her love for University of Michigan sports runs so deep she has a maize and blue room painted in her home! In her spare time, she loves to bake and writes a blog, Dear Future Boyfriend, that chronicles her search for Mr. Right.
tiaira muhammad
ABOUT: A proud Inglewood native, Tiaira stayed right in the city she loves to graduate from USC where she fostered her passion for storytelling. Beginning her entertainment career interning across studios, networks, and agencies, Tiaira landed her first job in the mailroom at Creative Artist Agency and is now at FX Networks working across scripted tv and docuseries. Describing herself as being in the “business of people,” Tiaira values forming relationships with others to find those unique, yet relatable stories that make us all feel seen.
FUN FACTS: Tiaira is the first in her family to graduate from college. During her time at USC, she founded the First-Generation Student Union to foster community among fellow first-gen students. She spends her spare time ruining dinner and opting for Postmates, perfecting her meme/gif library, and cuddling with her cat, Nefertiti.
CHAZEEN PEMBERTON
ABOUT: Chazeen is a New York-based producer and director best known for creating high-performing digital, branded, unscripted, and original content for media brands (BET, Complex Networks, Music Choice) and lifestyle platforms. With 8+ years of experience, she is a creative leader with in-depth knowledge of storytelling, editing, shooting, directing, and YouTube strategy. She also specializes in bringing the most out of high-profile talents like Cardi B., Selena Gomez, and J Balvin.
FUN FACTS: Often known in social circles for her rich resourcefulness and easygoing insights, Chazeen developed Chaz Chats - a quarterly event series where she and guest panelists discuss fun facts on social media branding, professionalism, and mental wellness from the POV of a Millennial mindset. This series has collaborated with Google, Samsung, and the New York Times. Chazeen also enjoys sharing ”life hacks for better living” on social media and has partnered with multiple lifestyle brands to create highly-engaged social media campaigns.
randy pennington
ABOUT: Randy is an Emmy nominated producer with over 15 years of casting and producing television and digital content. He started his career casting for E! Networks and later honed his skills producing and writing for various networks, including CBS, Fox, TNT, Bravo, MTV, and A&E. He also spent many years working on daytime and court shows and was recently named Executive Producer for Divorce Court. Randy is an innovative thinker whose passion for television has made him eager to expand his horizons to create content for various entertainment platforms. He has built a wide array of contacts and prides himself on his relationships within the entertainment industry.
FUN FACTS: Randy is originally from Cleveland, OH; he is a husband and father living in Los Angeles, CA. He is passionate about sports and played college football at Ohio University. He loves teaching and helping others achieve their goals, and has taught classes on how to brand and market yourself as a television host.
DEBBIE PIERRE
ABOUT: Debbie was born and raised in New Jersey and got her first taste of working in television as an intern for The Maury Show while studying Film & TV Production at Southern Connecticut State University. She has always had a passion for television and media since she was a little girl. Debbie's career is off to a great start as she has cast for several successful unscripted series, including 90 Day Fiance, Married At First Sight, and Love is Blind. Debbie is always up for a challenge and is looking forward to building a career in the unscripted space.
FUN FACT: Debbie is a true Capricorn, and watching reality television may as well be a second job! She is also a huge jokester - she's always making people laugh.
Lagrande powe
ABOUT: LaGrande is a seasoned Casting Director and development producer with over 15 years of experience in the unscripted space. He has worked on a myriad of network shows, including Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker, Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, FOX’s, Don’t Forget The Lyrics, OWN’s Ready To Love, Animal Planet’s Animal Cribs, MTV’s Real World and Ex On The Beach. He has a strong reputation for finding unique characters from untapped worlds. In addition to casting, he produces sizzle-reels, creates, and develops show concepts across all platforms.
FUN FACTS: Originally from the deep south, LaGrande got his start as an elementary school teacher in South Los Angeles. He also spent a little time in front of the camera, including a music video with Kelis and an appearance in Gary Marshall’s hit movie Raising Helen. He also infused his passion for fitness by co-authoring his first workout book for Joe Weider’s Muscle & Fitness Magazine.
SEAN RANKINE
ABOUT: For over 20 years, Sean Rankine has been producing and directing some of America's most memorable reality television series. Starting on the pioneer of unscripted series, MTV’s “The Real World and Road Rules” in 1999 as a Production Assistant and Researcher. His credit list now includes over 50 seasons of series and specials for both cable and broadcast television. Sean has produced series spanning all segments of the reality genre; Follow Docs, House Reality, Competition/Elimination, Docuseries, Occu-soaps, and “Soft Scripted” projects have all been traversed with success and acclaim. He also has directorial credits for 10 cycles of MTV’s “Making the Band” and several other series. He has served as an Executive Producer on over 18 cable series for Viacom and in recent years, as the EP behind 11 seasons of the wildly popular series “Basketball Wives” and he has logged over 200 episodes on Vh1 alone. Additional recent credits include: "The Rap Game”, “Camp Getaway” and "Married to Medicine: LA”. Currently, he is serving as an Executive Producer/Showrunner on OWN’s “Iyanla: Fix My Life.”
JAMAIL SHELTON
ABOUT: With over 20+ years of experience in television production, Jamail has produced and show-run some of the most iconic shows in pop culture history. As a veteran producer, his roster includes groundbreaking shows like MTV's Jersey Shore, MTV's Momma, VH1's Flavor of Love, VH1's Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, and most recently, TBS's popular new game show, The Cube. With an acumen for identifying raw talent and a knack for cultivating engaging stories in multiple genres, Jamail prides himself on pushing the envelope and making the ordinary extraordinary. His goal is simple; to create cutting-edge content that takes production companies and networks to the next level. Jamail is bicoastal and currently maintains a roster of producers and production crew that service projects in the Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, and Houston markets. With a relentless work ethic, Jamail's goal is to execute the vision established by both the network and production company for each project flawlessly and to bring the production to life!
ALISA SHERROD
ABOUT: Alisa Sherrod is a Northern California native. She graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She's been working in unscripted television for 15 years starting out in casting and production management. Over the last decade, Alisa has produced and directed content for Netflix, Vh1, WEtv, MTV, BET, ABC and Lifetime. Alisa is currently developing several projects for TV and film in both the scripted and unscripted space and she is also a member of The Producers Guild of America.
FUN FACTS: When she isn't working, she enjoys writing, international travel, volunteering, and vintage shopping. Alisa is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
TORRIEL SIMON
ABOUT: Torriel C. Simon was born and raised in Destrehan, LA which is a suburb of New Orleans. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication from Dillard University in New Orleans, LA and obtained her Master's Degree in Television/Film Producing from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. Torriel has been in the entertainment industry for over ten years. Her career began in radio then transitioned to casting/producing television shows. Torriel has worked on shows from various genres including, Showtime at the Apollo, Signed, Rhythm and Flow, Love Connection, Ellen Game of Games and many more.
FUN FACTS: Torriel is also a public relations specialist for several clients. After working in radio promotions and television, she has leveraged her professional and personal contacts to help up and coming hip hop and R&B artists.
CYNTHIA SIMPSON
ABOUT: Emmy Award-winning producer with over ten years of diverse skills in TV production and digital media. Accomplished talent manager, development Casting Producer, Field, and a Story Producer for major networks. Cynthia prides herself on her established relationships that she has cultivated over her career with talent managers, celebrities, influencers, and more.
FUN FACTS: Cynthia is of Ghanian heritage and is a wife and mother living in Brooklyn, NY. She is passionate about connecting people with people. Cynthia is the founder and co-host of GATHERBK - a group for modern mamas based in Brooklyn. Fashion, beauty, and meditation feed her soul, and Cynthia lives by the mantra ‘To nourish your dreams, you need a positive mindset, reinforced with positive energy.’
monique taylor
ABOUT: Monique Taylor is an Emmy award-winning television executive and producer with over 15 years of experience delivering innovative, cutting-edge programming for networks including ABC, NBC, Bravo, TLC, and VH1. The Chicago native earned her BA in Broadcast Journalism from Morgan State University and her MFA in Documentary Film from Emerson College. Monique's extensive production resume includes The Wendy Williams Show, The Chew, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, and Love & Hip Hop New York. Currently, Monique is the Co-EP for the 90 Day Fiancé spin-off, Darcey & Stacey.
FUN FACTS: In Monique's free time, she can be found enjoying her love of extreme vacations: cliff jumping, exploring volcanoes, and swimming with sharks.
MIMI v
engoechea
ABOUT: Mimi moved from Santurce, Puerto Rico, to Los Angeles to continue her career in entertainment. Mimi’s first job in the business, was a celebrity talent assistant for award shows such as The Source Awards, NAACP Awards, and The Latin Grammy's. Now a resident in the City of Angeles, she has worked in unscripted TV as a Casting Producer for over a decade. Her credentials include; Discovery's Emmy Nominated Naked and Afraid, ABC's Home Edition Extreme Makeover, NBC's American Ninja Warrior, Netflix's Say, I Do, and Lifetime's Seatbelt Psychic where she served as supervising casting director. Mimi also has a background in developing show content for major networks.
FUN FACTS: Mimi enjoys creating children's content and exploring other countries. She is obsessed with creating new recipes for her husband and sons, and when she's not In the kitchen cooking, you can catch her salsa dancing and lip-singing to the tunes of Frankie Ruiz and Marc Anthony (¡Wepa!).
Lisa visagie
ABOUT: Lisa is a former model and booker with over ten years of industry experience, which boasts a unique angle on casting. From fashion to food, Lisa is an unscripted casting savant who prides herself in finding diamonds in the rough with authentic and relatable stories. Diversity is the default for Lisa, and her track record of booking superstar talent of color makes her a dedicated advocate for inclusion in reality television. With a focus on creating quality content, she hopes to continue bolstering the movement for greater representation in entertainment.
FUN FACTS: Lisa is a first-generation American, with most of her family still in South Africa. She has traveled the world during her time modeling and spent time living between London and Los Angeles. Los Angeles is now home to Lisa and her fiance. She enjoys cooking, meditating, binge-watching shows, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
tyler walton
ABOUT: Tyler is an unscripted TV story and development producer based in Los Angeles, with over 150+ hours of content on networks like Food Network, HGTV, HBO Max, and more. With experience ranging from live music production to video game design, to unscripted copywriting, Tyler’s diverse background offers a unique perspective on media intersectionality. Combine that with a passion for pushing the industry toward quality, substantive content, and you have a clear vision for the future. Tyler hopes to continue making inclusive, wholesome content with the potential to change people's lives for the better.
FUN FACTS: Tyler grew up in Southern California but was actually born in Alaska. After film school at CSUN, he toured with a rock band for three years before settling into a TV production job in 2014. He now lives with his fiancé and enjoys sports, archery, comic books, and video games.
bina warren
ABOUT: Bobbina Warren, better known as “Bina” was born in West Augsburg, Germany, and raised in Jonesboro, GA. Bina graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a degree in Television. She was a second-grade school teacher for four years before discovering her love for casting and finding new talent. She has worked on a variety of shows including The Voice, The Real World Ready To Love, Married At First Sight, and Wife Swap just to name a few.
FUN FACTS: Bina grew up in the music industry, and at the age of 15, she was singing background vocals for Keith Sweat, TLC and Case. Bina also appeared on Showtime At The Apollo singing Lovin’ U by Minnie Riperton. She lives in Atlanta and has an 11-year-old son and absolutely loves being a mom! During her free time, she enjoys Mexican food, red wine and spending quality time with her friends and family.
TELON WEATHINGTON
ABOUT: Since 2007, this Southern California native has worked in all stages of production in talk and reality television. Telon has a B.A in Broadcast Journalism and Ethnic Studies from the University of Laverne and a Masters in Television/Film Producing from Chapman University. Some of her credits include Big Brother, Ru Paul's Drag Race, F Boy Island, Ready to Love, Shark Tank and Married at First Sight. Telon's roots in the industry began before she was born with her father who was a stagehand in 9 to 5 and Blade Runner and she currently manages her younger brother who plays “Cutter” in A House Divided.
FUN FACTS: As a child, Telon appeared in several commercials and films including The General's Daughter starring John Travolta. She also tried her hand in pageantry in which she became Miss Black Fontana in 2010. Telon was television Ross Mathews' very first personal assistant. In her spare time, she enjoys playing competitive tennis in a USTA league, running her Trader Joe's fan page on Instagram, and entering sweepstakes, in which she has won tens of thousands of dollars in prizes.