About Our Team | Executive Speakers Bureau

Richard Schelp is the President and Co-Owner of Executive Speakers Bureau. Richard has been with Executive Speakers Bureau for 20 years, and during that period of time he has helped lead the organization to an unprecedented level of growth. Known as a true expert in the industry, speakers and organizations from all over the world contact Richard for his insight on future trends and directions. In addition, Richard handles some of the bureau's largest and most significant accounts, including all of the state hospital associations, State Farm Insurance, American Rental Association, Chase Bank, Boston Scientific Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Allscripts, and American Heart Association.

Prior to joining Executive Speakers Bureau, Richard was in sales and sales management with a few top technology companies including IBM and AT&T. During his tenure with those organizations Richard received a number of awards for his sales performance. Richard has lived in the state of Tennessee for most of his life, and has a BS in Business from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from the University of Memphis. He is married to his lovely wife Angela and has four wonderful children. When Richard is not working, he enjoys sports, attends his children’s sporting events and shows, and participates in international missions with his church.

Angela is the Founder and Co-Owner of Executive Speakers Bureau. With 27 years in the meeting and events industry, Angela has extensive experience in guiding her clients to speakers who will make their events memorable. As co-owner, Angela also has a wide array of responsibilities in operating the business. From searching out the next great speaker to keeping ESB financially sound, she must continually stay focused on the business and trends of the industry. Prior to ESB, Angela worked for IBM in marketing and sales, where she received the foundation for outstanding customer service, quick response times, and highly ethical behavior. These traits have helped Angela build a loyal following of clients, many of whom she considers close friends.

Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Angela lives in the small suburb of Germantown. She graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Marketing. She is married with 4 wonderful children, 2 dogs and a cat. When not at work, you can find Angela antiquing, biking or kayaking. Known among her friends as an extraordinary hostess, whipping up dinner parties that are out of this world is another one of her favorite hobbies!

Vice President at ESB, Jenny has spent the last 16 years writing contracts, assisting clients and speakers with event coordination, implementing marketing strategies and keeping her colleagues on their toes! Jenny's previous experience was in sales as a consultant for a leading textbook publishing company where she learned the value of exceptional customer service. As a people person, Jenny enjoys working with both the speaker and the client to ensure a seamless event. Having graduated from TCU, Jenny enjoys college sports and supports the purple horned frog, and stays busy visiting her “almost” grown children in various parts of the country.

A highly organized, type A personality who loves to multi-task, Jenny also uses these skills at home where she leads a weekly bible study, assists her husband in his medical supply company and cares for far too many dogs. A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jenny heads to the mountains to hike, be on the lake and enjoy the serenity of the outdoors every chance she gets. Her favorite way to unwind is to curl up by the fire with a good book and a glass of wine. Jenny loves to travel, is the queen of practical jokes, and enjoys time spent with her family.

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Now in her 23rd year with ESB, Pam is committed to connecting her clients with speakers who will make a real and lasting impact. Many years of experience at IBM gave her a real understanding of how to manage the critical needs of her clients. She works diligently with the rest of the ESB team to build solid, long-term partnerships. Pam loves the challenges each day brings and all of the fascinating people, both clients and speakers, who she has the opportunity to meet.

The daughter of a college football coach, Pam has lived all over the eastern U.S., but proudly calls Tennessee home. She and her husband David have 3 wonderful children, an amazing son-in-law, and the cutest grandchildren on the planet. When she is not at work, Pam enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities, especially biking and hiking. She also enjoys experimenting with new recipes and being surprised by anything that grows in her garden. A graduate of Clemson University with degrees in French and Economics, Pam is a loyal Tiger fan!

Matt Meyer joined Executive Speakers Bureau in April of 2018. Prior to joining the ESB team, Matt was one of the leading Regional Sales Consultants at Voya Financial (NYSE: VOYA), where he consistently worked with clients who each required a tailored solution. He seamlessly carried over that expectation and experience into now helping organizations of all sizes determine who all can best help them achieve their own business objectives.

What Matt enjoys most about working in the "speaking industry" is the opportunity to not only build unique relationships with clients and speakers, but to have his hand in positively impacting people and organizations all throughout the world. 

Matt was born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa and attended the University of Northern Iowa. He has a degree in Financial Management & Economics. He spent his early career in Des Moines, IA until his wife was offered her dream job to come work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital here in Memphis, TN. The move turned out to be a further blessing as it also led Matt to ESB and a greater career purpose.

Outside of the office Matt enjoys learning new things, traveling, and spending quality time with family & friends.

Carson Schelp joined Executive Speakers Bureau in May 2015. He spent his first couple of years working as a marketing intern where he spent most of his time learning how the business worked. Now, being with the company for three years, he has worked his way up to account executive. What Carson enjoys most about the speaking industry is creating the many different relationships and delivering the best experience possible for his clients.  

Carson was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee and graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a degree in marketing. His favorite part of working is learning to balance his time where he can give the client his best work. Outside of the office, Carson enjoys spending time with his friends and family, playing golf, boating and traveling around the world.

Peyton Schelp joined Executive Speakers Bureau in May 2018. He will be working to cultivate the managed speakers division. Prior to joining ESB, Peyton worked for Duncan-Williams Investment Banking Firm where he helped his clients manage their fixed-income portfolios and gave them recommendations based on current and projected future market conditions. Peyton enjoys building relationships with his clients and coordinating events that have lasting impacts on the audience.

Peyton was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee and attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Finance and International Business. Outside of the office, Peyton enjoys traveling, playing soccer, and spending time at the lake.

Jennifer Lier joined Executive Speakers Bureau in November 2019 as a sales executive, yet she is no stranger to helping clients find the perfect speaker for their events! For almost 5 years, Jennifer ran National Keynote Speakers, a successful speakers bureau based in Las Vegas. Before starting the bureau, Jennifer was recruited by Polaroid in 2013 to build their brand new corporate event space, The Polaroid Museum in Las Vegas, and was the head of the event sales team.

Prior to 2013, Jennifer had an illustrious 25-year career as an international headline singer, actor, model, and on-camera spokesperson.

Along with a comprehensive background in corporate event sales, catering, production and entertainment, Jennifer’s gift of pairing the perfect speaker for a client’s needs allows her to truly be a consultant and partner with you as she walks with you through the process of selecting the perfect speaker from inquiry, to event day and beyond.

Jennifer was truly honored when she was the 2019 recipient of the prestigious International Association of Speakers Bureaus Dotty Walters Award for exhibiting exceptional willingness to help others in the bureau industry.

Jennifer is very active in her Las Vegas community currently serving on a number of non-profits boards and teaches yoga on the weekends. If you keep an eye out the next time you’re in Las Vegas, you just may see her singing a few tunes on one of those famous Las Vegas stages…

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Jamie joined Executive Speakers Bureau in March 2022. Prior to joining ESB, Jamie worked for Strong Capital where he managed a portfolio of real estate assets. Jamie enjoys establishing strong relationships with his clients and organizing events that the audience can enjoy and learn from.

Jamie was born in Los Angeles, CA and raised in Memphis, TN. He attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX where he graduated with a degree in Finance. Outside of the office, Jamie enjoys reading, traveling, playing tennis, and spending time at the beach.

Nicole Meredith joined Executive Speakers Bureau in August of 2022. Prior to ESB, Nicole spent her first years out of college as a sales representative for Liquor and Wine Distributor. Here, Nicole had a list of businesses, including bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and supermarkets that she saw regularly and offered insights into market trends, shared data on what liquors were performing well, and discussed how products could cater to their customer base. Similar to the liquor and wine business, what Nicole enjoys most about her role at ESB, is the opportunity to build strong relationships with clients, speakers, and work family.

Nicole was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee where she graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in Advertising.  When Nicole and her husband Marc are not traveling somewhere, her favorite things are playing with her two fur babies, cooking, painting portraits, interior design, and spending time with her family.

Prior to joining the ESB team, Kevin was a talent manager, speaker agent, and founder of Say Something Entertainment. There, he built the careers of authors and thought leaders, representing talent who brought inspiration and transformation to audiences, reaching their minds through actionable tools and expertise, and their hearts through powerful storytelling and wisdom.

Having worked across the industry, Kevin has booked corporate events for dozens of Fortune500 companies, brokered podcast deals with major brands like iHeartMedia and UnderArmour, managed nationally bestselling book launches, produced live tours, viral videos, and more.

Kevin was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and got his degree from the University of California, Irvine in Business Administration. Outside of work, Kevin teaches meditation and mindfulness, plays the piano, and enjoys beach volleyball and tennis.

Kari Jones is an accomplished Talent Agent and Sales Executive at Executive Speakers Bureau, where she specializes in connecting top talent with global audiences. With over 12 years of experience working with founders, executives, athletes, influencers, and emerging artists, Kari has a proven track record of aligning talent with leading brands to create impactful content and marketing campaigns. Her expertise spans across industries, from tech and finance to fashion and philanthropy, and her commitment to building authentic, long-lasting relationships has led to award-winning collaborations.

Prior to joining the Executive Speakers Bureau, Kari led global talent and creator programs for Forbes' Branded Content Studio, securing high-profile talent for top global brands. She managed all aspects of talent relations, including storytelling, contract negotiations, and on-set production. In addition to her work at Forbes, Kari has also held roles at leading companies such as Birchbox, Michael Kors, and major media and publishing brands, further enhancing her ability to strategically connect talent with opportunities.

Joy joined the Executive Speakers Bureau in August 2015 and is one of our Event Coordinators,  with a focus on our Exclusive Speakers.   As an Event Coordinator, she writes contracts and assists clients and speakers with the logistical details pertaining to their events. Her goal is to ensure a seamless experience for both the client and the speaker.  Joy has a degree in Elementary Education and was a classroom teacher for 15+years. Teaching and raising four active children allowed her to learn to juggle many activities at the same time, while still giving attention to the smallest details. 

Joy enjoys spending time with her husband, Matt, and their four children and two dogs. She can often be found watching her children on the soccer fields, basketball court, marching in the band or cheering. She and her husband spend much of their free time relaxing with friends on their patio, cheering for the University of Memphis Tigers and Memphis Grizzlies,  or at church where she and her family devote much of their time.

Deenie joined Executive Speakers Bureau in 2018 as an Event Coordinator, where she assists with the wide variety of details that ensure a successful program for our clients and speakers.

She graduated from the University of Memphis with a B.A. in Journalism and a concentration in Public Relations, and she is a lifelong Tiger football and basketball fan.  Her work experience includes over 25 years in the travel industry, where she has honed her skills in operations, event planning, customer service and marketing. 

Deenie and her husband Steve have two sons, Brooks (22) and Brendan (15) and they are very active in their church and community.  When not at work, she can be found in the stands cheering for her son’s baseball team, and most likely recording the game stats.  Besides spending time with her family and friends, she loves her daily walk and is an avid reader.  She is a current volunteer with Arise2Read and a class program director for CBHS. 

Sheryl joined Executive Speakers Bureau in December 2020 and is one of our Event Coordinators, with a focus on our Exclusive Speakers. She comes to us with over 7 years of experience in the speaking industry. As an Event Coordinator, Sheryl assists clients and speakers with the logistical details pertaining to their events. Her goal is to ensure a seamless experience for both the client and the speaker.

Sheryl was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Marketing. Upon graduation, Sheryl spent several years working in New York City, Connecticut, and Santa Barbara, California. She has now returned to her cajun country roots in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

On the weekends and evenings, you can find Sheryl stand up paddleboarding, running, hiking, enjoying Cajun cuisine, watching LSU football, and hanging out with her cat rescued from the streets of Los Angeles, Rosie K.

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Karen Viotti joined Executive Speakers Bureau in November 2016 as Marketing and Social Media guru. Her primary responsibilities include maintaining and updating our social media sites, blog, and promoting the bureau and our speakers on a regular basis.

Karen graduated from Christian Brothers University with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, and spent more than fifteen years working in the nonprofit sector in the Memphis area prior to joining ESB. Most recently, Karen served as Director of Development and Operations for the Junior League of Memphis, where she worked with the Board of Directors to manage the fundraising, staffing, and strategic planning efforts of the organization.

In addition to her professional activities, Karen enjoys playing the piano, going for long walks, and spending time with her family, which includes Pete, her husband of 16 years, two children, Giuliana (14) and Nicholas (11), and the sweetest doodle ever, Winnie.

Jennifer “Jenny Dos” Riley joined Executive Speakers Bureau in October 2017. She supports the ESB team in creating Speaker Contracts and invoices. Jenny graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor’s in Sociology, but her background is in banking. After working in the banking industry, just shy of a decade, she spent the next 10 years with her children.

Jenny enjoys crafting and creating any, and all things DIY. If she is not at the cheer gym, soccer fields, or her children’s school, you can find her cheering on the Memphis Tigers, MS State Bulldogs or Dallas Cowboys.

Alex Suddoth is the go-to person at Executive Speakers for all things production and fixing. As the production manager, he's known for his ability to tackle any challenge head-on. Whether something is broken and needs fixing or a project requires designing, programming, or overall system implementation, Alex is the person to call. His skills and can-do attitude make him an invaluable asset to the team, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and effectively.

Luna and Rey are the dynamic duo of office dogs. They are enthusiastic about their office duties, especially when it comes to greeting delivery men and visitors, and spreading joy wherever they go. Luna and Rey are always up for office activities and eagerly await lunchtime, their favorite part of the day, when they get to enjoy delicious treats (i.e. ham from Richard's sandwich) with their mom, Angela.

Ace is the beloved office dog of Jenny, known for his love of relaxation and sneaking lunchtime treats. He can often be found lounging in his leather chair, enjoying the comfort and tranquility of the office space. Despite his lazy demeanor, Ace brings joy and a sense of calm to the office, making him a cherished member of our team.