Agent/casting director/Manager bios - November Showcase 2023

Kristie Raymond is a 30-year veteran of the modeling and commercial advertising industry.  She began her career by opening Models, Inc. in 1991, shaking up the New England modeling industry with a progressive approach to finding new faces for her clients.  In 2000 she launched Viewfinder Productions.  Casting, location scouting, and producing print campaigns for clients like BOSE, Sebago, and Liberty Mutual for the last 15 years. Photo Producer with Hasbro rounds out her recent career.  It was here that Kristie directed conversations on how to approach casting talent for branding marketing materials in a way that reflected a brand’s mission statement of diversity and inclusion. Seeing this as an overarching need for brands and companies, Kristie launched HumanKind, LLC in January 2021.  Her mission is to find authentic talent to appear in photo campaigns and also to encourage the selection of a crew that truly represents our social landscape.

Marta Michaud is a Fashion Model Representative & star maker. She began her career on the West Coast in SF, AZ and LA training and selling model contracts worldwide and repping talent in the US for Print modeling & runway while providing models for MTV shows & videos, advancing to commercials, TV and Movies. Using her skills from Emerson College, Marta was the first to claim she had “models who can act” & She went onto co-founding the entertainment arm of world-famous Wilhelmina Models in NYC. Marta Michaud now personally manages a select model-based roster for multidimensional careers and development. Check out Marta Michaud’s IMDB.com profile for a few of her exciting success stories, like Oscar-nominated, Amanda Seyfried. 

Raheem Barry a Native of NYC, (alumni of Laguardia Music and Performing Arts High School), has been in the entertainment business since 2000. He started his career with Innovative Artists Talent and Literary Agency and now moving to Management with Zanee Entertainment LLC.  Zanee Entertainment is a leader in talent management and has transformed the landscape of representation by curating a dynamic portfolio of talent across the board. Their impressive roster of clients ranges from children to mature talent covering the entire spectrum of show business: Television, Films, Theatre, On-Camera Commercials, Commercial print, and Voiceover.

Zanee's mission is to guide its artists to fulfill their goals by marketing its artist's strengths specifically to each category in which the client excels. You have seen Zanee's clients over the years in highly recognizable TV series and films for all of the major networks and studios, such as ABC, CBS, Columbia, Comedy Central, CW, Fox, HBO, Hulu, MTV, NBC, Netflix, Paramount, Peacock, Showtime, Starz, Universal, VH1, Warner Bros, and more. Their expanding business also involves representing comedians, content creators, dancers, disc jockeys, influencers, magicians, news anchors, pro athletes, reality stars, and singers.

ZE works diligently on enhancing clients' talents through our advisement and counsel, thus, fostering each artist to new heights with the utmost attention and care throughout their journey.

Zanee is committed to serving our clients with dedication, direction, and determination.

Chondra Profit-Ardrey is a Talent Agent Representing Artists in Theatre, TV/Film, Commercial, Voiceover & Print. Largely focused on #ArtistDevelopment & #Diversity

Since a young girl, Chondra has been captivated by the arts. Her experience has been paved by a true passion for modeling, film, television, and mostly theatre. Chondra found that having an artistic outlet was the perfect way to express her thoughts, creativity, and imagination. She quickly fell in love with directing and the art of bringing a vision from the page to the stage. Chondra is the founder and co-producer of Lights Out on Broadway, an interactive soulful musical experience, shared in a comfortable, judgment-free space. Chondra is also very passionate about the advancement and development of youth. She is director of operations for many teen programs all over the world, such as Be-YOU-Tiful Foundation, which promotes young ladies to just BE-YOU; Runway Rhythms, which teaches the core fundamentals of modeling, etiquette, and public speaking; Talent Award Association (TAA), which helps youth recognize their talents and how to take them to its highest level. Becoming an agent has been one of Chondra’s proudest joys. As an agent she aims to advise, guide, and empower a diverse array of artists in the entertainment industry. Chondra works hard for her artists because she believes in their craft, potential, and what they stand for. She prioritizes her artists' individuality and works to create an environment that respects and supports their goals and aspirations, which in turn establishes long-lasting CAREERS.

It is OK to walk into a room and be UNAPOLOGETICALLY GREAT at your craft."

~Chondra Profit-Ardrey

Create Model Management was founded on the premise that a women-owned partnership backed by decades of experience is a strong foundation for the discovery of new talent and the mentoring that builds lasting careers. Fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for building brand images, our founders combined their extensive knowledge of the fashion and advertising industries to create an agency that represents some of the most coveted models in the world today. Based in New York and Miami, our team provides beautiful talent to clients globally.

Bri Curtis studied Film and Management at Asbury University in KY. After moving to Los Angeles, she interned for Bialy/Thomas Casting before landing in talent representation. She got her start in the mailroom at A3 Agency (Abrams Artists Agency) and 6 years later found herself at DDO Artists Agency as a talent agent in the Youth Division. Bri absolutely adores working with kids and considers it an honor to be a part of a young actor's journey. DDO represents series regulars on Nickelodeon, Disney, network shows, as well as many kids in feature films, animated series, print, and commercial campaigns. After a nomination in 2019, Bri also received the Heller for 2022s Youth Commercial Agent of the Year.  

Elizabeth Peterson started as a college intern at Frontier Booking more than 2 decades ago and has been working with agent and owner, John Shea, ever since. Now, an Associate at Frontier Booking, she thoroughly enjoys every aspect of the industry and loves searching for fresh new faces that Frontier can help to develop. Frontier Booking International found its beginnings as an agency in the music industry over 30 years ago. Until his passing, founder Ian Copeland managed a vast roster of musical talent including such names as Sting, Snoop Dogg, Modern English, Jane's Addiction and R.E.M. John Shea, director of the New York office of FBI, has helped maintain and strengthen its reputation as a top agency for young performers. FBI is known for establishing the careers of some of today's top stars, beginning with its first client, Courtney Cox. Elizabeth Peterson & Stephan Gregory work tirelessly alongside John to help promote and advance the careers of the performers on the FBI roster. The ever-growing talent division of FBI specializes in performers of all ethnicities, ranging from children and teens to adults. Their clients have been recognized in various mediums of entertainment (especially film, television and theatre). 

For over 10 years, Jackie Dixon of Zanee Entertainment LLC—a full-function talent management company—has been a leader in the entertainment industry. Coming from the world of casting into management, she has cast for the groundbreaking film Precious under the tutelage of Winsome Sinclair & Associates and for the Oliver Stone film Pinkville. Her impressive roster of clients covers the entire spectrum of show business: Theatre, Films, On Camera Commercials, Television series, Commercial print, and Voiceovers. 

Bookedit Talent Management agency is based in Maryland. Marie became interested in helping actors after serving as a Momager to her son for years, and seeing how little actors knew about the industry. BookedIt represents clients across the US. Their strength as an agency is growth. Growth because they enjoy taking clients from their humble beginnings and watching them evolve as part of the process. Their roster is small by choice as it is important to form a relationship with each client. Marie is looking forward to visiting New England and seeing all of the wonderful talent coming to the showcase! 

A proud SAG/AFTRA member since 2004, John moved to Los Angeles after graduation from Northwestern University.   Once in LA, John studied with Anthony Meindl, Ivana Chubbock, Stephanie Feury and Playhouse West.  He also got involved with improv at IO West and UCB. John has appeared on such shows as SPEECHLESS, SWAT, CSI, 2 BROKE GIRLS and CASTLE.  He also appeared in the feature film TOUCH and SOLVER. John has worked in casting for over 10 years.  He started off at Ulrich, Dawson and Kritzer working on television shows.  After working there, he moved into commercial casting and has been a session director for almost every commercial casting director in town including Ross Lacy, Joe Blake, Jodi Sonnenberg, Spot Casting, and many more. John joined the studio in 2017 where he has served as a teacher and coach.

Frontier Booking International found its beginnings as an agency in the music industry over 40 years ago. Until his passing, founder Ian Copeland managed a vast roster of musical talent including such names as Sting, Snoop Dogg, Modern English, Jane's Addiction and R.E.M. No longer involved with music, FBI is currently known for establishing the careers of some of today's top stars... beginning with its first client, Courtney Cox. John Shea, current owner of FBI, has been with the agency for 30 years and works to continually maintain and strengthen its reputation as a top agency for young performers. The ever-growing talent division of FBI specializes in performers of all ethnicities, ranging from children and teens to adults. Their clients have been recognized in various mediums of entertainment (especially film, television and theatre).

Firestarter Entertainment Talent Agency was founded by Nicole Pryor Dernersesian in 2008, first as a production company, where Nicole wrote, directed, cast, produced, and booked shows under the company. In 2013, Nicole decided to transition Firestarter Entertainment into the successful talent agency we know today.  The company has grown exponentially from its humble beginnings and it is exciting to see its continued growth moving from year to year. Firestarter is proud to have Katie from the  NYC Office & Marissa from Chicago Office joining the showcase. 

Kristie Raymond is a 30-year veteran of the modeling and commercial advertising industry.  She began her career by opening Models, Inc. in 1991, shaking up the New England modeling industry with a progressive approach to finding new faces for her clients.  In 2000 she launched Viewfinder Productions.  Casting, location scouting, and producing print campaigns for clients like BOSE, Sebago, and Liberty Mutual for the next 15 years. Photo Producer with Hasbro rounds out her recent career.  It was here that Kristie directed conversations on how to approach casting talent for branding marketing materials in a way that reflected a brand’s mission statement of diversity and inclusion. Seeing this as an overarching need for brands and companies, Kristie launched HumanKind, LLC in January 2021.  Her mission is to find authentic talent to appear in photo campaigns and also to encourage the selection of a crew that truly represents our social landscape.

For over 10 years, Jackie Dixon of Zanee Entertainment LLC—a full-function talent management company—has been a leader in the entertainment industry. Coming from the world of casting into management, she has cast for the groundbreaking film Precious under the tutelage of Winsome Sinclair & Associates and for the Oliver Stone film Pinkville. Her impressive roster of clients covers the entire spectrum of show business: Theatre, Films, On Camera Commercials, Television series, Commercial print, and Voiceovers.