WHO WE ARE

CO-FOUNDER

Matthew Winer is an Emmy-winning producer and arts executive known for creating high-impact live and televised events that connect artists and audiences through powerful storytelling. During more than a decade at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, he served as Executive Producer of the Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (Netflix), overseeing large-scale productions that combined cultural prestige with national visibility.

He launched the Kennedy Center’s comedy program—expanding audiences and unlocking new revenue streams—co-created Sound Health with Renée Fleming, the NIH, and NEA to explore the intersection of the arts and wellness, and developed NEXT at the Kennedy Center, a PBS concert series featuring artists such as The Roots, Cynthia Erivo, and Sara Bareilles. His expertise spans artist relations, content strategy, and complex event logistics, driven by a belief in the performing arts as a vital civic force.

Earlier in his career, Winer founded Traffic Circle Productions and held roles with Princeton Entertainment, Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, The Mann Center, and Bohemian Caverns. He is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis Olin Business School.

CO-FOUNDER

Justin Ellis is a producer and cultural strategist redefining how orchestras engage audiences. Over a 20-year career, he has delivered record-breaking box office, created original productions, and produced nationally broadcast events that bridge symphonic tradition with popular culture.

As Senior Producing Director of the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Justin led the most well-attended and highest-grossing seasons in the orchestra’s history, and produced televised concerts (Kennedy Center Honors, Kennedy Center at 50, Next at the Kennedy Center) reaching millions nationwide. He has collaborated with Kendrick Lamar, Sara Bareilles, Maxwell, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Folds, Diana Ross, Laufey, and John Williams, and co-created Declassified: Ben Folds Presents, a first-of-its-kind immersive series attracting younger audiences.

He has also built lasting institutional partnerships with organizations including NASA, NPR, PBS, NIH, and the Smithsonian, creating cultural moments such as Apollo 11 at 50and NASA’s 60th Anniversary.  He holds an MBA in Arts Administration from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor of Science in Music from Portland State University.