“I’ve always been drawn to working with people whose words and ideas have strong impact. At my core, I’m one of those wildly curious people who get excited about learning something new, applying it to life or business, and sharing it with others. My personality is perfectly suited for the business I’m in,” says Tony D’Amelio. He began his career managing songwriters and rock bands in 1969. Thirteen years later he landed full-time in the speaking industry where he built a career representing distinguished leaders and experts from business, economics, politics and sports.
In 2011, after concluding 27 years with the Washington Speakers Bureau as executive vice president, Tony took time off to pursue a different passion: education. He founded and served as first co-president of the first-ever city-wide college scholarship foundation in Stamford, Connecticut. Called Stamford Dollars for Scholars (www.sd4s.org), the foundation is an all-volunteer non-profit that mobilizes the community to provide scholarships for local students who want to pursue their education beyond high school. In its first eight years, the startup foundation has awarded over $760,000 to 200 local students who dreamed of pursuing education beyond high school. “This effort fits squarely with my belief that learning is a life-changing experience.”
“The exciting thing about the D’Amelio Network is that it allows me to focus on the thing I enjoy most: bringing people with fresh ideas and insights to the marketplace. In helping audiences discover an important voice they’ve not heard before, we help make the world a little better – one bit at a time. I’m reminded that the great writer Studs Terkel was once asked, ‘What’s the meaning of life?’ – ‘To make a dent,’ he responded. That sums up my hope for the D’Amelio Network.”
John brings his thirty-plus years of events industry expertise to D’Amelio Network, spanning many vital aspects of the business, ranging from content development, mainstage strategy, marketing, sales, building, and coaching winning teams, and managing diverse talent. He approaches every leadership challenge with enthusiasm and foresight.
John’s passion for the events industry was first ignited when he served as chairman of his college’s Lecture Committee while attending SUNY Oswego. He then entered the speakers bureau world as an agent with the young team at Keppler Speakers. In his many leadership roles at Keppler, his expertise and vision were integral to building the company into one of the nation’s leading bureaus.
John lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his partner, Gregory Naranjo, a content and exhibition developer for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
“I’ve always been fascinated and driven by the persuasive power of storytelling. This fascination was ignited by some of the excellent high school and college teachers who inspired me at a young age. As my career unfolded, I realized that business professionals react similarly to great speakers as we did to those inspiring educators. These speakers instill confidence, issue calls to action, and elevate any meeting or conference. Their passion and energy have been the driving force behind my journey in this incredible industry.”
“On the surface, my job is a balance of numbers and figures, dates and details – from plane schedules to car pick-ups to hotel confirmations to conference calls – but in reality, the core of it is really people and relationships,” say Matt Anderson. “But that isn’t just MY job – I think that it is the heart of what the D’Amelio Network is all about: working to strengthen our relationships with the people we work with every day. Tony’s passion for connecting with people is one of the biggest reasons I wanted to come to work with him, and I’ve never looked back.”
Matt came to the D’Amelio Network in 2013 with a strong background in the lecture industry – having worked with Tony at the Washington Speakers Bureau for five years as an Event Coordinator, and then spending almost 2 years as the Director of Events with the Worldwide Speakers Group. In addition to his experience in this industry, Matt also brings a wealth of knowledge in both sales and customer service from working with DirecTV, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and City Segway Tours in Washington D.C. Additionally, he spent the 2012 and 2013 school years teaching Public Speaking to inner city 5th – 7th-grade students through Ford’s Theatre’s Education Department. A proud native of Boise, Idaho, Matt has lived in Norrköping, Sweden – 90 miles Southwest of Stockholm – for the past 4 years and enjoys traveling and exploring various corners of the world as often as possible.
“Much of what I do is technical and behind-the-scenes – and also fundamental to creating a seamless experience for those we serve. What’s satisfying for me is to see it all come together and to place that one last piece into the puzzle; the piece that helps deliver a great outcome for all concerned.”
Jenny joins the D’Amelio Network with over a decade of experience managing high-profile events. She spent five years on Capitol Hill as the Executive Assistant, Scheduler, and Office Manager for Congressman Chris Cannon. After leaving the Hill, she spent five years at the Washington Speakers Bureau as a Senior Event Manager, where she coordinated and managed the event details and logistics for an impressive group of former government leaders, business executives, and media personalities. Jenny lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband, Paul, and their two young children.
Originally from Connecticut, Carin had an eleven-year career as a Photography Editor in magazine publishing working for Parents, Men’s Journal, and Smart Money. She also owned her own Paint-Your-Own Pottery business for five years. She came to D’Amelio Network after taking some time off to raise her two boys.
“Coming from the world of magazine publishing, I watched how content is created and shared. The experts we manage report the news, write books and articles, interview interesting and important people, contribute to blogs and twitter and offer fresh ideas on a daily basis. My job is to keep up with all of our speakers’ content and share it so that event professionals have the tools they need. Learning something new every day from our expert’s wide range of topics is what I really enjoy most about my position.”
After spending four years as a Montessori educator, Meg worked in client experience and broadcasting. Her journey in the lecture industry began as Manager of Customer Engagements for National Speakers Bureau, where she helped facilitate the booking process from speaker selection and contracting through final itinerary. Meg brings not only those skills to D’Amelio Network, but a joy in fostering human connections – during both the planning and the presentation. She is happy to have found a career that goes hand in hand with lifelong learning.
“The speaking industry is about big ideas, but there are many small details to arrange in order for those ideas to effectively reach an audience. I’m privileged to support that process on behalf of an organization I admire and speakers who genuinely influence people for the better. They inspire us be more intentional in our professional, personal, and civic lives.”
Rose brings a people-first approach to speaker management and event operations, grounded in the belief that the most impactful work often happens behind the scenes.
“While much of what I do happens behind the scenes, its purpose is always the same: to make sure every detail is buttoned down so there are no unwelcome surprises. Doing so allows speakers and clients to feel supported and well-prepared, so they can focus on delivering a great event.”
“What I love about this work is every event is a puzzle. And years of experience allow me to anticipate and ask questions that assure a smooth experience for everyone. Strong relationships are what make that possible – clear communication and trust are just as important as the logistics themselves.”
Rose’s foundation in the hospitality and meetings industry was shaped at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, where she was part of the hotel’s opening team. While the experience wasn’t originally on her bucket list, it fostered a deep appreciation for teamwork, adaptability, and the coordination required to bring large-scale events to life. With over a decade in the speaking industry – including twelve years at Keppler Speakers – Rose has built her work around thoughtful preparation, proactive communication, and a genuine commitment to the people behind every event. She finds the greatest fulfillment in creating seamless experiences that allow ideas – and the people sharing them – to shine. Rose lives in Norfolk, VA – home of the largest naval base in the world – and can usually be found sharing adventures, laughs, and stories with her nieces and nephews.