Team
Meredith Emmanuel, President and Lead Strategist
Meredith Emmanuel founded EBComs, LLC (formerly Emmanuel Bates Communications) in 1997, with a vision of providing strategic, cost-effective public relations services to creative clients in the field of arts and sciences.
With more than 40 years experience in film, television, radio, music, and media; she has built an impressive network of valuable relationships. Focusing on behind-the-camera public relations, she has successfully executed numerous client award campaigns for the Academy Awards®, Creative Arts Emmys, and guild-specific awards. In addition, she has helped grow the careers of creative artists’ by highlighting their achievements and expanding their individual networks.
In 2019, she produced her first feature-length documentary, One More Orbit, about a Guinness and FAI World Record-breaking mission, directed by astronaut Col. Terry Virts, who she also manages.
Emmanuel has worked in Europe, Australasia, and the United States, with notable companies and clients including DDA Talent, Untitled Inc, Netflix, The Walt Disney Company, Amazon Studios, CBS, United Talent Agency, William Morris Agency and is a proud member of the Television Academy and Local 600 union, The Publicists Guild.
Ranjinder Hans, Partner and VP of Talent Relations and Awards
Ranjinder Hans is VP of Talent Relations and Awards. From Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Being an Accounting & Finance graduate, she had a successful accounting career in IBM, before stepping into the world of Public Relations in 2009 and never looked back.
Ranjinder has a vast experience in PR & Event Management, having managed world class events such as Formula 1 Grand Prix, MotoGP, WTA, international concerts and many more. Her PR portfolio ranges from TV & Movies, Lifestyle & Entertainment, Fashion, Food, Sports and Leisure.
A true travel junkie, Ranjinder has travelled to 27 countries (and counting). This experience has given her a global understanding and appreciation towards different cultures and work ethics. She is also a yoga instructor, an avid animal lover, language enthusiast and passionate about life & spiritualism.
Mackinley Sullivan, Partner and COO
Mackinley Sullivan is a public relations specialist and Chief Operating Officer at EBComs. Since joining the EBComs team in 2019, she has assisted with talent relations and management, several film and television award season campaigns and event coordination.
An alumnus of Arizona State University’s Hugh Downs School of Human Communication and Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in Media Studies.
Based in Los Angeles, originally from the North Shore of Chicago, she is an avid lover of sitcoms and finds life on the West Coast to be “Pretty, pretty, pretty good...”
Mary Keeler, Partner and CFO
Mary Keeler fell into bookkeeping when a colleague asked her to fill in for them back in the day. It was then she realised numbers were more fun than people, and she hasn't looked back since. Studying sociology with a focus on law at University of California, Riverside, Mary started her career as a publicist (with Meredith at EBComs!) before making the switch to bookkeeping. After five years as VP of Distribution and Accounting at Cinevolve Studios, Mary started her own company, MKK Bookkeeping, which she runs to this day and retains EBComs as a client.
While close friends call her Moose because of her clumsiness, Mary's interests include playing old videos games such as Super Mario Bros. and the like, as well as interrupting any conversations she may be in to say 'hello' to passing doggos.
Catie Disabato, Sr. Publicity Coordinator
Catie Disabato is a PR, marketing, and events strategist with ten years experience representing production clients. She began her career at the talent agency DDA and spent four years working on behalf of Canon at the agency Sunshine Sachs and Associates. Disabato is thrilled to join the team at EBComs after years of mentorship from Meredith Emmanuel.
Johanna Lovett, Database and Communications Manager
Johanna Lovett is a communications and social media specialist based in Phoenix, Arizona. She assists with database research and social media strategy for EBComs. Before joining the team, Johanna received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University.
Having previously worked in the tourism industry, she is a lover of travel and adventure on a mission to visit every U.S. National Park before she turns thirty.
Shana Kad, Publicity Coordinator and Media Trainer
Shana Kad is a media trainer and Certified Master NLP Life Coach. With over 10 years experience, she has an established career supporting and developing individuals achieve specific personal or professional goals and to strive towards making a positive difference in their lives.
Chosen as the preferred Life Coach, for three consecutive years, to deliver a Personal Breakthrough Programme for a Life Challenge competition in a leading media publication, Shana brings a wealth of media and life coaching knowledge to the EBComs team.
In addition, she is a neuro lingusitic programming practitioner, a certified master timeline therapy practitioner, a certified Innermetrix consultant, a stress bio-feedback practitioner, and a certified hypnotist.
Holden Schlanger, Publicity Coordinator
Holden Schlanger is an aspiring filmmaker and communications coordinator for Emmanuel Bates Communications. When joining the company in 2019, he helped oversee news and reviews and database research, before transitioning into his new role.
Before joining the EBComs team, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Production with an emphasis in Directing from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts: School of Film, Dance, and Theater at Arizona State University.
Immersed in the behind-the-camera entertainment industry and based in Los Angeles, he is eager to grow his on-set film experience as a dedicated crew member.
Kara Kitchell, Publicity Coordinator
Kara Kitchell is a Southern California native with an interest in music and all things pop culture. She began her career in healthcare before pursuing her dream of working in entertainment. Kara has prior experience working in publicity alongside musicians where she discovered her interest in PR. Prior to joining the EBComs team, she studied Communications with an emphasis in entertainment and tourism from California State University in Fullerton. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts and taking her dog Penny to the beach.
Jenna Fanelli, Publicity Coordinator
Jenna Fanelli is a New York-based content creator with a passion for all things storytelling and media. She earned a BA in Communications and Media Arts from Marymount Manhattan College and is currently an MA candidate in the NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute’s Magazine and Digital Storytelling Program. If she’s not consuming copious amounts of television, film and theater, she’s likely analyzing, researching and writing about it.
Celeste Galindo, Executive Assistant to President/CEO
Celeste Galindo is a Latina who grew up in Southern California. She has spent the last five years living in London, England where she graduated from Richmond American International University in London with a Bachelors of Arts in Filmmaking and Photography. Celeste enjoys all art forms from Exhibitions, Dance to Television and Film. If she is not spending her time watching a Film she is most likely spending her time exploring new cities.
Carol Palomino, Communications, Database and Research Coordinator
Carol Palomino is a Bolivian-American born and raised in Los Angeles. Carol earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Cal State Northridge and is proud to be a first generation college graduate. She has always had an avid interest in music, pop culture, and entertainment. Carol enjoys writing and blogging about women of color in media and popular culture while also spotlighting their achievements and telling their stories.
Delphine Figueras, Consultant
Senior publicist Delphine Figueras worked with the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) for 18 years before bringing her expertise to EBComs. She is widely admired throughout the film and television production industry where she helped produce the annual ASC Awards ceremony, co-hosting onstage for many years. Figueras also coordinated the ASC Master Classes and the society’s other education and outreach initiatives.