MODERATOR

Barry J. Heyman, Esq.

Program Coordinator, Music & Entertainment Industry Studies (MEIS), Five Towns College | Entertainment Attorney, Heyman Law

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Barry J. Heyman is an entertainment attorney, educator, and music industry professional with extensive experience advising artists, songwriters, producers, and entertainment businesses. He is the founder and principal attorney of Heyman Law, a New York City-based practice focused on music, intellectual property, and entertainment law. He also serves as Program Coordinator of Music & Entertainment Industry Studies (MEIS) at Five Towns College, where he teaches and helps prepare students for careers in the industry. Throughout his career, Barry has worked at the intersection of music, business, law, and education, supporting creative professionals and fostering connections within the entertainment community.

James Faith

Owner, J Faith Presents | Producer, Great South Bay Music Festival | Instructor, Five Towns College

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James Faith is the owner of J Faith Presents, a performing artist booking agency, and concert, festival, and events production co., located in Port Jefferson Village, NY.

He is the founder and producer of Long Island’s largest and longest-running music festival: the Great South Bay Music Festival, as well as co-owner of Island Artists Agency, a boutique booking agency and production company. Jim has been booking entertainment and producing shows, large and small, for over 40 years. James is proud to be the co-founder of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame and past two term Chairman.

Consuelo Sayago

CEO/Founder, CribNote Entertainment

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Consuelo is currently the CEO/Founder at CribNote Entertainment which offers music publishing and rights management consulting services and music business solutions for artists and songwriters at various stages of their careers and a music publishing model that is tailored to the needs of the client, which have included Lil Peep’s Estate, and A+E Television Network.

Most recently, she was the VP of Global Administration at Spirit Music Group where she oversaw the administration of the Spirit Catalog, which contains such greats as the Pete Townshend, Billy Squier, T-Rex, and Dropkick Murphys catalogs.

Other previously held positions include Head of Society relations at the UAE based collective rights organization, ESMAA, the General Manager at Mojo Music & Media in their start up year, and AVP of International at BMI.

She is on the Board of the Association of Independent Music Publishers and oversees the AIMP’s Copyright Constituency Group. She was elected and is currently a member of the MLC’s Dispute Resolution Committee and she frequently speaks on panels at music conferences and universities.

Consuelo holds a Bachelor of Science in Music from Hofstra University and a certificate from Columbia Graduate School of Business in Emerging Leadership.

Eric Lense

Founder and CEO, Eric Lense Management

Connect with Eric Lense on LinkedIn

Eric Lense is the founder and CEO of Eric Lense Management, where he works with artists on career development, touring, releases and long-term strategy. He previously led GroundUP Music’s label and publishing operations as CEO, garnering 10 Grammy nominations and 6 Grammy wins during his tenure, as well as serving as Vice President of Creative Operations at SESAC. He began his career in music rights and publishing at ASCAP and remains active as a musician. His work across artist management, recorded music and copyright gives him a broad view of how artists build sustainable careers.

Bruce Colfin

Founder, Bruce Colfin, P.C. | Adjunct Instructor, Five Towns College

Bruce E. Colfin is the founder of Bruce Colfin Law, P.C., a New York-based entertainment, copyright, and trademark law firm, with more than 40 years of experience in the music and entertainment industries. His career began as a roadie and stage manager for artists including Peter Tosh and evolved into work as a sound engineer, video producer, tour coordinator, and personal manager for former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor. As an entertainment attorney, he has represented notable artists and industry professionals, including Sly and Robbie, Inner Circle, Freddie McGregor, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Bernard Purdie. Bruce has taught at Five Towns College since 1999, specializing in music business contracts, music publishing, and copyright law. A graduate of Queens College and New York Law School, he has written and lectured extensively on entertainment and intellectual property law and has held leadership positions with the American Bar Association and Nassau County Bar Association.

MODERATOR

Elijah “Eli” Johnson

Founder, The Too Alive Tour | CEO, TACTN Media | Adjunct Instructor, Five Towns College

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Eli “ShotofADRENALIN” Johnson is an artist, professor, and entrepreneur bridging music, media, and impact. As the founder of The Too Alive Tour and CEO of TACTN Media, he’s built platforms that empower young artists to own their voice and vision. When he’s not performing or producing, you can catch him teaching Music Marketing at Five Towns College, helping the next generation turn creativity into career power.

Laura Catana

Director, Content & Social Media Strategy, Symphonic Distribution

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Laura Catana is a passionate advocate for independent artists and the democratization of the music industry. She co-founded one of Cuba’s first indie music labels, Guámpara Music, where she served as artists & label manager, marketing manager and creative producer. After spearheading Artist Relations at music startups Tigre Sounds and IndieFlow, she has found a home at Symphonic Distribution as a Director, Content and Social Media Strategy on the Corporate Marketing team where she manages a talented cross-cultural team of Social Media + Marketing Coordinators spanning the United States and Colombia, continuing her mission to empower musicians with the tools and resources they need to succeed. Always curious and forward-thinking, Laura remains dedicated to building a more inclusive and sustainable music industry.

Jason Lekberg

President, Lekberg Enterprises

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Jason Lekberg is a music industry executive with both Major and Independent label experience as well as 20+ years of performance and creation. He specializes in product management as well as digital marketing and excels at first-to-market digital creativity. Jason currently runs Lekberg Enterprises; a Label-as-a-Service agency specializing in helping established artists take control of their careers as well as Hard Target; the first ever hyper-targeted retail media network exclusively for heavy music.

Sam Addeo

Head of Marketing, Single

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Sam Addeo is Head of Marketing at Single, the Shopify app powering DTC from rising indies to the biggest names in music. Her work is focused on helping artists build sustainable fan businesses. It’s a thread she’s pulled across a decade at the intersection of music, culture, and technology. Before Single, Sam led Partnerships & Development at Urban Archive, where her work earned recognition from the Webbys, the American Alliance of Museums, and the Big Apple Awards. She’s also a working artist and composer, with credits at Warner Chappell and music featured by Spotify Fresh Finds, Early Rising, Alfitude, and Lefuturewave.

Gregory Matthews (Yellow Shoots)

Producer & Multi-Instrumentalist, Yellow Shoots

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Yellow Shoots is the Brooklyn-based musical project of producer and multi-instrumentalist Gregory Matthews, blending psychedelic soul, funk, and alternative R&B. Known for his infectious grooves, vintage-inspired production, and soulful songwriting, Yellow Shoots creates a sound that feels both nostalgic and modern. His breakout single “Soft One” went viral across social media, generating millions of views. His music has also received recognition from legendary artists including Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, and Timbaland, further establishing his presence in the modern soul scene.

Sarah Kloboves

Music Growth Manager, Duetti

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Sarah is a Music Growth Manager at Duetti, the world’s most active catalog company, where she helps activate and grow a catalog of more than 30,000 tracks. She leads Duetti’s in-house remix program, pairing catalog tracks with emerging artists and producers to drive new engagement. She manages each project end to end, from pitching through distribution and post-release marketing. Before Duetti, Sarah was a Marketing Manager at Chartmetric and worked in PR and publicity.

MODERATOR

Lou Plaia

Artist Manager / Artist Services Specialist, Hot Rats Entertainment, LLC | Instructor, Five Towns College

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Lou Plaia is a seasoned music industry executive, entrepreneur, and educator with decades of experience in artist development, marketing, and management. He began his career at Atlantic Records, rising to Vice President of Marketing & Strategic Planning, before serving as Head of Marketing & Artist Development at Lava Records, working with artists such as Kid Rock, Matchbox Twenty, Jewel, and Stone Temple Pilots. In 2006, he co-founded ReverbNation, which grew into one of the world’s largest independent artist services platforms, serving over 5 million artists before its sale to BandLab in 2021. He later served as A&R Director at Sentric Music Publishing (2022–2025) and currently operates Hot Rats Entertainment, a boutique artist management and services company whose clients include the metalcore band Deadlands. Plaia also teaches Artist Management as an Adjunct Professor at Five Towns College and has spoken at more than 100 music industry events worldwide.

Laura Catana

Director, Content & Social Media Strategy, Symphonic Distribution

Connect with Laura Catana on LinkedIn

Laura Catana is a passionate advocate for independent artists and the democratization of the music industry. She co-founded one of Cuba’s first indie music labels, Guámpara Music, where she served as artists & label manager, marketing manager and creative producer. After spearheading Artist Relations at music startups Tigre Sounds and IndieFlow, she has found a home at Symphonic Distribution as a Director, Content and Social Media Strategy on the Corporate Marketing team where she manages a talented cross-cultural team of Social Media + Marketing Coordinators spanning the United States and Colombia, continuing her mission to empower musicians with the tools and resources they need to succeed. Always curious and forward-thinking, Laura remains dedicated to building a more inclusive and sustainable music industry.

Ryan MacTaggart

President, Kicking Vinyl | Founder, R383LL10N Entertainment

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Ryan MacTaggart is a music marketing executive, entrepreneur, and artist development strategist with more than 25 years of experience in the music industry. A 2001 graduate of Five Towns College, he began his career at Universal Music Group in field marketing and artist development before advancing to leadership positions at Interscope Records, 300 Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. Throughout his career, he has developed marketing campaigns for artists whose music has collectively sold hundreds of millions of records and generated hundreds of billions of streams.

During his eight years at Interscope Records, MacTaggart directed national retail and lifestyle marketing campaigns for artists including Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas, Kendrick Lamar, Imagine Dragons, Gwen Stefani, and Ellie Goulding. He developed partnerships with major retailers and lifestyle brands, combining traditional music marketing with experiential activations, social media campaigns, and fan engagement strategies.

MacTaggart subsequently joined 300 Entertainment and Warner Music Group, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President of Artist Development and Lifestyle Marketing. In that capacity, he led campaigns for artists including Young Thug, Gunna, Migos, Megan Thee Stallion, and others, while developing strategic partnerships with brands and organizations such as Nike, Puma, the NBA, NFL, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple. His work helped connect music with fashion, sports, gaming, and digital culture, expanding opportunities for artists to reach and engage audiences beyond traditional music platforms.

Today, MacTaggart serves as President of Kicking Vinyl, a music marketing and consulting company specializing in artist development, cultural marketing, digital strategy, and brand partnerships. He also founded R383LL10N Entertainment, an independent music company focused on artist development, rights ownership, brand building, and direct-to-fan commerce. Through these ventures, he combines his major-label experience with an entrepreneurial approach to building sustainable artist careers, incorporating emerging technologies, audience analytics, and innovative marketing strategies.

In recognition of his contributions to the music industry, MacTaggart received the Five Towns College Alumni Award in 2025 and was previously recognized as a Universal Music Group Star Performer. Returning to his alma mater as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Music & Entertainment Industry Studies Conference, he brings a perspective on the evolution of artist development, the importance of building authentic connections with audiences, and the opportunities available to the next generation of music industry professionals.

Melanie Rodriguez

Founder, Melanie Rodriguez, LLC + The Drop

Connect with Melanie Rodriguez on LinkedIn

Melanie Rodriguez is a fractional marketing partner for founders, artists, managers, and labels, and the founder of Melanie Rodriguez, LLC and The Drop. Over 25 years in music she has worked venues, tour management, artist management, business management, and label marketing, finishing as VP of Marketing at an independent label. Across more than 100 releases, her campaigns include Seth Glier’s Grammy-nominated The Next Right Thing and the Dirty Heads’ “Vacation” resurgence on TikTok, which drove more than 6 billion combined views and streams. Through The Drop, she maps who an artist is first, then builds the release strategy on top of it.

Brittany “Bebe Flight” Flythe

Author, Entertainment Journalist, Media Entrepreneur & Creative Curator | Founder, LipsticknLyricsz Media

Connect with Brittany “Bebe Flight” Flythe on LinkedIn

Brittany “Bebe Flight” Flythe doesn’t just document music culture. She helps create opportunities within it. With over a decade of experience at the intersection of music journalism, talent discovery, and creative development, she has built a career rooted in recognizing emerging talent, amplifying authentic voices, and connecting artistry with opportunity.

As the founder of LipsticknLyricsz Media and creator and host of Late Night with Bebe Flight, she has established herself as a passionate voice for independent artists, using storytelling, media, and live experiences to bridge the gap between talent and visibility.

Her influence extends beyond the interview chair and into live entertainment, having curated artist lineups for major music festivals and platforms, including Rolling Loud, A3C, and SXSW. Her work with The EarWaxx Sessions further reflects her commitment to creating spaces where emerging artists can be discovered, heard, and celebrated.

In July 2026, she expanded her impact with the release of The Indie Artist Media Playbook, a practical guide empowering independent artists to navigate media opportunities, master interview preparation, build authentic personal brands, and develop the professional tools necessary for career longevity.

Drawing from her experience as a journalist, curator, and media entrepreneur, Bebe approaches artist development through a lens that extends beyond the music itself. She believes that visibility without preparation is a missed opportunity, and that understanding how to communicate your story is just as important as creating the art.

At the heart of her work is a philosophy that continues to define her voice and purpose: “If you can be anything, at least be real.”

MODERATOR

Krysti O’Rourke

Director of Career Services, Five Towns College

Connect with Krysti O’Rourke on LinkedIn

Krysti O’Rourke brings extensive experience in higher education, private business, and the public sector to her leadership role in Career Services at Five Towns College. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College and a Master of Public & Health Care Administration from Long Island University, where she also served as an adjunct instructor for more than 15 years. Her professional background includes employment placement, workforce development, research, and building relationships with employers across various industries. Through her 20+ year tenure at Five Towns College, she has helped thousands of students secure internships and employment opportunities, particularly within the academic disciplines that FTC offers. She actively participates in professional organizations and industry events, including GRAMMY U, the Audio Engineering Society (AES), and the Melville Chamber of Commerce & Hauppauge Industrial Association. She also leads career development workshops, alumni panels, networking opportunities, and other programs designed to prepare students for professional success.

Sydney Festa

Label Operations Manager, Black & White 50/50

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Sydney Festa is a music industry professional and 2026 graduate of Five Towns College, where she graduated as Salutatorian with a degree in Music Entertainment Industry Studies. During her time at Five Towns, she served as a GrammyU Ambassador and was actively involved in the college’s music and entertainment community. Her experience includes recording studio operations, A&R, music marketing, PR, and artist development, including work with Primary Wave’s Assets & Archives team and A Diamond Heart Productions. She currently works in label operations for an independent record label.

Jan Filip Jagielski

Owner, JFJ Digital LLC

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Jan Filip Jagielski is a Five Towns College graduate in Business Management and Marketing, a past president of the FTC Business Club and a former member of the basketball team. He went on to earn a Master of Science in Decision Analytics from Stony Brook University.Today he owns JFJ Digital LLC, a digital marketing agency serving local businesses across Long Island and New York. He builds social media strategies, websites and digital advertising for law firms, construction companies and many others, work that has generated more than 300 million views across social channels to date.Outside of work he dances with Galopka, a Polish folk ensemble based in New Jersey, and trains kickboxing weekly.

Matthew Novak

Production Assistant, D’Addario

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Matthew Novak is a 2024 graduate of the Film/Television program. Since graduating, he’s continued to build his career, joining D’Addario as a Production Intern before transitioning into a full-time Production Assistant role on their marketing team. His work spans both production and post-production, including video editing, color grading, motion graphics, camera operation, and on-set production. Since joining D’Addario, he’s also had opportunities to work on projects featuring Jacob Collier, Anika Nilles of Rush, and Eloy Casagrande of Slipknot.

Stephanie Eatz

Event Producer, Hank Lane Music and Productions

Stephanie graduated from Five Towns College in 2004 with a degree in Music Business. During her time there, she gained valuable industry experience while interning with the Marketing Department at Sony Music (Columbia/Epic Records).

After graduation, Stephanie spent several years working in sales at iHeartRadio, representing Z100 and Q104.3. She also immersed herself in the Long Island music scene, working with concert promoter Loaded Rock Shows and managing the box office at The Crazy Donkey.

Currently, Stephanie serves as an Event Producer and Music Supervisor at Hank Lane Music and Productions, a live entertainment company specializing in weddings and corporate events. In this role, she plays an integral part in every stage of the process, from the initial planning and creative vision to the final production.

“I love curating fun music ideas for couples getting married,” says Stephanie. “Seeing everything come together in real time and witnessing the smiles on their faces on such a monumental day is what makes it all so special.”

Dylan Gross

Director of Operations, School of Rock (Huntington, Queens, Rockville Centre, Roslyn & Syosset/Oyster Bay)

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Dylan Gross, an alumnus of Five Towns College’s Class of 2015, is the Director of Operations for School of Rock Huntington, Queens, Rockville Centre, Roslyn & Syosset/Oyster Bay. He joined School of Rock right after graduation as a substitute bass and drum instructor at the Rockville Centre location, then worked his way up as an instructor, show director, music director, and general manager/music director overseeing multiple locations. Along the way, he helped open each of the schools that followed Rockville Centre, is now helping develop a sixth, and directly oversees the general managers and music directors of every school. Dylan has also served as an Assistant Music Director for School of Rock’s national AllStars program and has led student groups at Governors Ball, Warped Tour in Orlando, and the New York Stock Exchange. He’s excited to share with students how relationships and adaptability can shape a career in the industry.