Catalyst Interview with Shelly Justice

As you may recall from a previous post, Convention Model & Talent’s CEO, Shelly Justice, was honored among Catalyst Magazine’s Top 25 Entreprenuers. Check out the interview with her below conducted prior to the results reception!

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us!

We here at Convention Models & Talent just want to say how thankful we are for all of you out there: all talent, clients, friends, family, and beyond. Without you, CMT Agency wouldn’t be where it is today. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and be sure to endulge! Tis the season!

Futurama and GA vs. FL game… what could be better?

So two saturdays ago Jacksonville held arguably the largest rivalry in the Southeast among NCAA Football teams and CMT got the opportunity to be in the middle of all the action!

The University of Georgia vs. University of Florida football game brings hundreds of thousands of people to Jacksonville, FL each year. One of our clients asked us to staff four ambassadors to promote the DVD release of Futurama while also tying into the football game festivities. Check out some pictures from the event below. Our girls attracted quite a crowd! (Pay no attention to the dates on the photos… someone’s camera was messed up… *cough*Mike*cough*)

Your FAQs Answered… it’s about dang time!

As I sit here to write this blog, I’ve realized that this has been a long time coming. Managing the Convention Models & Talent blog, managing Live Chat, and helping to answer the phones leads one to feel a bit like a recording who keeps repeating herself upon most inquiries. Thus, I have decided to attempt to intercept your questions before you ask them… It may seem as though we are reading your mind, but really it’s just a result of your Frequently Asked Questions. Here we go:

1. How do I register with Convention Models & Talent? If you are interested in becoming a part of CMT as a model or talent, please complete a profile by visiting www.cmtagency.com/talent and select the “Register” button. From there, you simply follow the directions to completing a profile. Once complete, you will submit it for approval, and our Talent Administrator will be in touch with you to let you know if you have been approved or if your profile needs some modifications prior to approval.

2. Does it cost anything to register? No, CMT Agency does not charge to register.

3. Is Convention Models & Talent exclusive? We are non-exculsive. In fact, most of our models and talent are registered with multiple agencies in order to maximize their chances of obtaining work.

4. People tell me all the time that I should be a model. How do I get started? Please see the answer to question #1 above.

5. Do you have any height and weight requirements? We do not. Our clients’ needs vary across different heights, weights, ethnicities, hair color, etc. so we welcome models and talent in all different shapes and sizes.

6. Do you accept children? Unfortunately, we do not. We only accept people into our database who are 18 years of age and up.

7. What is your payment policy? CMT’s payment policy is to allow 30-45 days after the last day of the event for your check to be cut and mailed out to you.

8. Do you serve/staff my area (insert area here)? Convention Models & Talent is a global company. We staff wherever our clients needs are, and those span across the world. Even if you feel like you live in a remote area, register with us! You never know when a need may arise for models/talent in your area.

9. Do you have casting calls/how can I audition? CMT Agency does not conduct casting calls or auditions. If you are interested in registering with us, please see question #1 above. Also, if you are ever in the Atlanta area, you are more than welcome to stop by our office so that we can put a face with a name.

10. Where are you located? We are headquartered in Atlanta, GA and have a satellite office in Las Vegas. However, we staff nationwide and internationally. Please feel free to register with us no matter where you live. It is not a requirement to live near or visit the office.

And there you have it! If you can think of anything else that I may have left out, please let me know! I am here to help you and help answer any questions you may have.

All in the Family!

Everyone has been Spotlighted thus far, now let’s put them all together! (minus Sue Grady, Shelly Justice, who was taking the photo, Lauren Merritt, who is on maternity leave, and Picabo, who was behind Rayla)

(From left to right: Kimi Comiskey, Melissa Platt, Misha Tomesh, Mike Peyton, Ashley Gross, Rayla Bailey, and Katie Hester… and Minnie too!)

Happy Birthday to You!

We have two birthdays this week here at Convention Models & Talent: Melissa Platt and Mike Peyton. If you get a chance, Twitter them a happy birthday message!

Prank called by a radio station!

This morning at around 9am we were the object of a prank call from a radio station’s morning show (WQRZ possibly). I am awaiting a return call from them so we can find out which station for sure and see if it was recorded. We wish ya’ll could have been in here! We haven’t laughed that much in a long time!

Our very own honored among Catalyst Magazine’s Top 25 Entrepreneurs

Back in September, we received word that Convention Model & Talent’s very own Founder and CEO, Shelly Justice, made it into Catalyst Magazine’s Top 25 Entrepreneurs…

Well the results are in and Shelly Justice has been named number 20 out of the 25 top Entrepreneurs!!! Congratulations Shelly! This is an incredible honor for an incredible woman!

And this week’s Spotlight goes to…

Well this week wraps up the internal Convention Models & Talent employee Spotlights, but have no fear… Next week begins our CMT Models and Talent Spotlights!

This week’s Spotlight goes to the brand spankin’ new addition to our family. Now, Introducing Miss…

 

Katie Hester

(Twitter Katie)

Position within CMT: Booking Agent

Favorite thing about working at CMT: The fun people I work with and their dogs

Likes: All sports, being outside, cooking, laughing, shopping, to-do lists

Dislikes: Licorice, traffic, when there is no good music on in the car, lack of to-do lists

Hobbies: Running, cooking, and reading

Hidden Talent: I love karaoke!

Favorite Quote/Motto: “Embrace youth, for it will bring you prosperity.” and “It’s not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on.” ~Marilyn Monroe

Brief Bio: I was born in Denver, CO but raised most of my life in San Diego, CA. I came out to the East coast to attend Clemson University and run Cross Country/Track & Field. I majored in History and Sociology and spent a ton of time ont he lake and in the mountains at Clemson! I have a sister who also came out East for college to the University of Tennessee, and she loves it too! After college, I headed to Atlanta and am loving it so far! I’m very excited to be at CMT!

And this week’s Spotlight goes to…

Almost the entire Convention Models & Talent family has been Spotlighted thus far. You have been introduced to Lauren Merritt (the new mom), Melissa Platt (the Georgia Bulldog fan), Mike Peyton (#1 Booking Agent), Minnie (CMT’s guard dog), Kimi Comiskey (the BAMA fan), Misha Tomesh (the girl who wears many hats), Sue Grady (the “Photo Nazi”), Picabo (the Toe-Licker), Ashley Gross (the resident blogger), and Rayla Bailey (the Tennessee VOLS fan).

This week’s Spotlight goes to the woman who takes care of us all and is the reason for the existence of Convention Models & Talent. She is the glue that holds all of us together. This week’s Spotlight goes to…

 

Shelly Justice

(Twitter Shelly)

 

Position within CMT: President & CEO

Favorite thing about working at CMT: Working with very passionate and dedicated people who want to be a part of a fast-growing company

Likes: Eating at trendy restaurants, decorating my house, and playing with my bird named Baci

Dislikes: AtPeople that run late and do not use spell check

Hobbies: Golf (could be better), Fly-fishing, and shooting sporting clays

Hidden Talent: I can whistle louder than anyone you know!

Favorite Quote/Motto: Silence means approval

Brief Bio: I was born and raised in Athens, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1989. After graduation, I started as a sales person with a company selling VHS movies to retail stores like Blockbuster. However, I decided that the corporate world was not for me, so I became a serial entrepreneur and hit it big with CMT Agency. I married my husband, Mike Kohlsdorf, in 2006 and became a stepmom to an incredibly handsome 21 year old named Ryan. He is in his junior year at Emory University.