John-Michael Perez
Chief Executive Officer
John-Michael Perez is a visionary entrepreneur who creates innovative marketing strategies, changing and customizing the ways businesses reach their target markets. He began his career working with Coca-Cola and Northwest Mutual before expanding his ideas and techniques through his own entrepreneurial ventures. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas A & M University, with a focus on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
John-Michael has a passion for the entertainment industry. His professional background includes modeling and acting, as well as 6 years’ experience working in a photography studio. In creating TalentSpark, John-Michael combines his expertise in marketing, education and training with his knowledge and love of the entertainment world. His contacts in the entertainment, fashion and design industries have allowed him to assemble a team of industry veterans who are re-envisioning internet communication and social media, developing a revolutionary professional community that is customized to the needs of its members and dedicated to their success.
Kiki Perez
Vice President of Business Development
Kiki Perez is an accomplished model and actress, with a distinctive style that has brought her success both in the US and internationally. In her 12+ years in the business, she’s learned the ins and outs of the modeling world, and has lived and worked in Paris, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Her impressive credentials include work with industry giants such as Ford, Click, Wilhelmina, Page Parkes, Campbell Agency, Elite, Mannequin, LA Models, and Innovative Artists.
Kiki has also worked with the biggest names in the fashion industry – her runway shows include Tommy Hilfiger, Badgley Mishcka, Carolina Herrera, and Vera Wang. Additionally, she has appeared in numerous high-fashion magazines, including Seventeen, Marie Claire, Female, Elle, InStyle, and Glamour, as well as a variety of print and television ads for companies such as Paul Mitchell and Versace.
Kiki knows what it takes to succeed in the industry, and is excited to bring that knowledge and expertise to the TalentSpark network.
Codie Leigh Larsen
Artistic Director
Codie Leigh Larsen brings her expertise in photography and design to TalentSpark. After graduating Cum Laude from the highly respected and renowned Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, Codie began her career as a resort designer for the Walt Disney Company. Since then, she has worked as a design consultant on multimillion dollar projects in locations as diverse as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Canada, Norway, and Belize.
In addition to providing artistic direction for the TalentSpark team, Codie uses her knowledge of fashion, design, and photography to develop TalentSpark’s resources for professionals in those fields, helping us create the tools and networking opportunities to help them achieve success.
Lucia Herrera
Industry Advisor
Lucia Herrera is a veteran of the fashion and entertainment industries. She’s spent over a decade scouting talent at major events in US fashion and entertainment centers such as New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami and Atlanta, and has worked with top national and international models in Central and South America, London, and Singapore.
Lucia has served as a mentor to professional models and actresses, assisting them in preparation for runway shows, photo sessions, and film shoots. She has also worked with Page Parkes modeling agency, providing instruction and audition preparation for up-and-coming models and actresses. Lucia brings in-depth, insider knowledge to TalentSpark – what you need to get noticed, what talent scouts, agencies and casting directors are looking for, and how to prepare and position yourself for success.
Steve Markham
Chief Operations Officer
Steve Markham has 17 years of experience managing web projects, and has worked for high-profile organizations such as the World Bank, The Nature Conservancy, Intelsat, and Development Gateway. He is a graduate of Georgetown University.
Steve’s exceptional eye for detail and his awareness of the implications of demographics, symbols, graphics and web nomenclature for different cultures allows him to implement unique web designs and create web sites that work in new ways.
Steve takes the innovative ideas behind TalentSpark and puts them together in a seamless web interface, creating an industry network that is the first of its kind.