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Meet Our Team
LAI Live houses some of the industry's most creative, intelligent, and ruthless talent.
Our team members bring clients more than event management- they offer a full-service experience.
  • matts
    • Leadership
    President & Chief Executive Officer

    Matthew Jones is the president and chief executive officer at Leading Authorities Inc., one of the nation’s most prominent event design and lecture…

  • Kate Burns
    • Leadership
    Chief Operating Officer

    Kate Burns is the chief operating officer at Leading Authorities. With a 10+ year background with LAI, Kate is involved across the company in executing our plans for growth, helping build a company that creates value and opportunity for all of us in the years ahead.

  • hele
    • Leadership
    • Account Executives
    • Event Consultants
    Senior Vice President, Leading Authorities

    Helena Lehman is responsible for building the company’s business in content marketing strategy among its clientele.

  • Shannon Semler in a green knit sweater smiling at the camera with her hands on her hip
    • Leadership
    • Producers
    Senior Vice President, LAI Live

    With more than 20 years of experience as an event producer, Shannon has produced everything from multi-million dollar, nationally-televised events to a nationwide…

  • Katie Nesbit-Blackburn
    • Producers
    Executive Producer, LAI Live

    Katie Nesbit-Blackburn joined LAI Live with over a decade of experience in all facets of event production.

  • fe
    • Producers
    Producer, LAI Live

    Elizabeth has over 10 years of experience working with LAI customers in all aspects of our business. She maintains production schedules, manages workflow and tracks…

  • sc
    • Producers
    Creative Director, LAI Live

    With over a decade of experience designing a wide variety of engaging visual media solutions, Benjamin McGeever brings a refined eye and a fresh approach to…

  • LAI Live Producer, Grace Dearing, smiling in a black dress
    • Producers
    Producer, LAI Live

    With a background in marketing, PR, event logistics, and video content creation, Grace Dearing brings a holistic perspective to live production.

  • Caleigh Agee in a black Northface with her arms crossed smiling at the camera
    • Producers
    Production Assistant

  • megan-davison-headshot
    • Account Executives
    • Event Consultants
    Event Consultant

    Megan Weinknows that finding the perfect event strategy for a client can move hearts and minds—that’s why she was drawn to working at LAI in event sales.

  • rainey-headshot
    • Account Executives
    Partner & Executive Vice President

    Rainey Foster is executive vice president and partner of Leading Authorities, Inc, serving on the company’s Management Committee.

  • mimi-headshot
    • Account Executives
    Senior Vice President, Colorado Office

    Mimi Hair has worked at Leading Authorities since 1993. She assists corporate and association clients in securing speakers and top quality event production.