SHANNON KERNS, Executive Vice President

Shannon’s acumen for finding solutions to talent contract challenges in the areas of advertising & new media has placed her in the upper echelon of payroll and business affairs experts. She is also a sought after guest speaker and educator in this area, and is highly respected by her clients as well as her peers.

Having formed her own company, Payments Plus, in 1982, Shannon grew the firm from a two-person operation to a multi-million dollar concern. Ten years later she formed a joint venture with Media Services, creating their Commercial Talent Division, and then moved to Cast & Crew in 1999 as a partner, expanding their presence in the commercial talent payroll business. She was recruited by TEAM five years later and now serves as a partner and Executive Vice President, heading up their Advertising & New Media division.

In addition to her innovative and entrepreneurial approach to her profession, Shannon’s clients benefit from her extensive professional network, her unflagging dedication to excellence, and her focus on finding the most cost effective talent payment options.

JUDY SANTI, Senior Vice President

Judy has honed her expertise with the SAG, AFTRA & AFM Labor Agreements for all aspects of the music and advertising industries through an array of professional experiences in television, ad agencies, music houses, top payroll companies, and as the President of her own payroll firm, Half Note.

A native Chicagoan, Judy launched her career in payroll and business affairs right after moving to Los Angeles, when she landed the payroll position on the TV show, Midnight Special. This eventually led her to the music division of payroll giant, IDC, where she worked with TEAM’s President, Gerry Schwartz. Judy expanded her proficiency in advertising business affairs during her time at several ad agencies including McCann-Erickson’s LA office. In addition to McCann, Judy spent time working with noted music producers and prepared budgets and union forms for the country’s top orchestra managers including those from NBC’s Tonight Show’s orchestra and Paramount Studios.

Judy’s business savvy shone through in 1994 when she launched and quickly expanded her payroll firm, Half Note. Ten years later she reunited with Gerry Schwartz when she merged Half Note into TEAM, expanding the company’s advertising and music divisions. In addition, from her early leadership role in the Advertising Business Affairs Association to her current participation in trade organizations like AMP, Judy continues her long-standing tradition of advancing industry knowledge on key issues through seminars and professional networks.

MURIEL KATZ, Director, Advertising & New Media

Muriel is vital to the day-to-day operations of TEAM’s Advertising & New Media division, collaborating closely with Executive Vice President, Shannon Kerns on strategic solutions for clients, as well as assuring clear communication and fluid processes are implemented between the Burbank, Detroit, and New York offices.

A native of Buffalo, New York, Muriel moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s where her career track in the entertainment industry began with a Production Accountant position for the award-winning series, Faerie Tale Theater, which was produced by Shelley Duvall’s company, Platypus Productions. After her time at Platypus, Muriel, like her colleagues at TEAM, received a badge in entrepreneurship, by launching her own company Moore, Money, and Katz, a personal management firm. Muriel’s professionalism and loyalty was not forgotten by Ms. Duvall, however, and within a few years Muriel found herself back with Shelley as a production and business affairs supervisor for Duvall’s new company, Think Entertainment.

In 1994, Muriel joined Shannon Kerns, managing operations for the commercial talent divisions of Media Services, Cast & Crew, and then TEAM, where she has since advanced to the position of Director for the expanded Advertising & New Media division.

KAT KRONE, Director of Labor Relations

Kat is one of TEAM’s well-regarded and invaluable assets. A human search engine of talent contract knowledge, Kat has the cherished ability to not only break down contracts but to also communicate the nuances of those agreements to others so that they may work smarter in the future.

As a magna cum laude graduate of Brandeis University with Honors in Theater Arts and an MBA from the UCLA Graduate School of Management in Arts Administration and Labor Relations, Kat brought a special passion for acting and business to her 15 years of work in contracts and business affairs in the regional and national offices of SAG and AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild / American Federation of Television and Radio Actors).

Kat’s extensive experience with talent labor agreements began at the national SAG office in Hollywood, where she initially worked as a business agent and contract representative. Kat eventually assumed the position of Executive Director of the SAG/AFTRA office in Dallas/Fort Worth. Then, in 1995, she joined Shannon Kerns as Director of Labor Relations at Media Services, and has continued to partner with Shannon in that capacity ever since, helping discover unique and innovative solutions for our clients.