Team

Meredith Emmanuel founded EBComs PR (formerly Emmanuel Bates Communications) in 1998, 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.

Ranjinder Hans is the Vice President of Talent Relations and Awards. Originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, she is now based in Los Angeles, California. With a background in Accounting & Finance and a successful early career at IBM, Ranjinder transitioned into Public Relations in 2009 and has never looked back.

She spearheads PR awards campaigns that highlight the craftsmanship behind acclaimed films and television series. With deep expertise in film festivals, red carpet premieres and major awards shows, Ranjinder brings a strategic and creative edge to every campaign.

Her extensive experience in PR and event management includes global events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix, MotoGP, WTA, international concerts and more. Her portfolio spans industries including film and television, fashion, lifestyle, food, sports, and entertainment.

A true travel enthusiast, Ranjinder has explored 43 countries (and counting), gaining a rich global perspective and deep appreciation for diverse cultures and work ethics. She is also a certified yoga instructor, an avid animal lover, a language enthusiast, and a passionate advocate for spiritual growth and purposeful living.

Mackinley Sullivan is the Chief Operations and Public Relations Officer at EBComs. Since joining the team in 2019, she has been instrumental in shaping the firm’s client relations and developing and executing media and PR strategies for clients, playing a key role in the firm’s growth and success. She provides hands-on management across a broad slate of clients each year, leading numerous craft campaigns, from film festival launches to theatrical releases and awards season initiatives. 

In addition to overseeing clients and projects, Sullivan helps lead the EBComs team, guiding operations and fostering a collaborative, mission-driven environment. Her approach blends strategic thinking with a true passion for people, storytelling and artistry. Known for her leadership and attention to detail, she plays a central role in elevating the visibility and recognition of industry artisans, professionals and organizations through thoughtful public relations efforts. 

Before transitioning into entertainment, Sullivan worked in the travel and tourism industry, where she managed corporate communications, content strategy and public relations for Arizona’s third-largest city.

She is an alumna of Arizona State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in Media Studies from Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Based in Los Angeles, she brings a national perspective to her work, with personal and professional connections spanning the South, Midwest, East Coast and West Coast.

Mary Keeler is the Chief Financial Officer of EBComs PR and the founder of MKK Bookkeeping, a company she started after five years as VP of Distribution and Accounting at Cinevolve Studios.

She began her career as a publicist at EBComs, where she worked alongside Meredith, before transitioning to bookkeeping. A graduate of the University of California, Riverside, with a focus on sociology and law, Keeler discovered her passion for numbers and has never looked back.

Keeler’s close friends affectionately call her “Moose” thanks to her lovable clumsiness. When she’s not crunching numbers, you’ll find her reliving the glory days of classic video games like Super Mario Bros., or taking a break to stop and say “hello” to every dog that crosses her path, because who can resist a cute dog, right?

Catie Disabato is a PR, marketing and events strategist with over ten years of experience representing production clients.

She began her career at the talent agency DDA before spending four years working on behalf of Canon at Sunshine Sachs and Associates.

Disabato has been an integral part of the EBComs team, bringing her expertise and benefiting from years of mentorship under Meredith.

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 is a publicity coordinator at EBComs, based in Los Angeles, bringing a film school background to the world of publicity. He joined the team in 2019, initially overseeing news, reviews and database research before transitioning into his current role.

Schlanger holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Production with an emphasis in Directing from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. His training in storytelling and visual media gives him a unique perspective on crafting impactful PR strategies.

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.

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.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Autumn Peterson Florez is proud of her native American Apache heritage. She loves holistic healing and remedies. She is a certified CAMTC massage therapist, so she’s a very hands on kind of gal who seeks to nurture and support others.

PA work in the entertainment Industry is second nature to Autumn as she grew up doing print modelling from ages 3-14, yet she was always more intrigued by the people behind the camera who make all the magic happen on set. She enjoys bringing order to chaos, while alleviating everyday stresses by offering a helping hand. Autumn spends her spare time bonding with her animals and chasing sunsets in the desert with her partner.

Steve James is a former state of Victoria police inspector who was responsible for Australia’s Drug Policy, advising government at the highest levels. He is a highly qualified detective and prosecutor who has an eye for detail. For more than a decade, he has been immersed in the world of public relations, primarily for production artists in the film and entertainment industry. Steve is also a volunteer fire fighter. He has invaluable experience in managing crisis situations. He is also an accomplished martial artist and has been known to rescue clients from crowds of adoring fans.