GREAT HOSTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Our English speaking MC’s are the best. We balance serious messages with a light touch to support speakers and help events reach their goals. We keep the program on time and the energy up, even after lunch. If any (technical) surprises appear, you’ll want us onstage to think on our feet.
Boom Chicago hosts are knowledgeable in most areas of business, tech and innovation. We interview speakers and lead engaging and exciting question and answer sessions. We wrap up conferences with tailored comedy including the latest from the day.
We love traditional events, digital conferences and everything hybrid. A Boom Chicago host makes the difference and helps bring your event to the next level.
PEP ROSENFELD
Known for his humorous, disarming approach to just about any business situation, Pep Rosenfeld is one of the industry’s most sought-after event hosts, keynote speakers and trainers. Pep does it all, both in person and digitally.
Pep hosts high profile events like the Nordic Business Forum where he made Barack Obama laugh. He also hosted The Next Web, Brand Minds, the Accenture Innovation Awards and TEDx Amsterdam. Remember when you went to Ted events? We do…
Pep’s interviews with thought leaders like Simon Sinek, Brené Brown and Malcolm Gladwell get rave reviews. He’s great to work with too.
Keep reading on Pep’s Speaker’s Page.
ANDREW MOSKOS
Andrew Moskos is a co-founder of Boom Chicago and is a partner in Boom Chicago for Business. He writes for and hosts international conferences like Brand Minds (the biggest business event in Central and Eastern Europe) DPW, the biggest Procurement event in the World, OnBrand (marketing and branding), Revolution (mobility and electric vehicles) Visma Software’s Global Olympics and KPMG Yalla Tax Middle East.
Andrew hosts major corporate events like Tata Steel’s 100-year Anniversary, Bol’s 25 Year Celebration, Vodafone’s Global Strategy Event in London, IFS World in Boston, TopCon’s Xperience in Cannes, TPV’s Philips Television event in Athens, and ABN AMRO’s New Strategy Launch in… Halfweg. Hey, there’s nothing half-way about Halfweg
See more on Andrew’s speaker page.
STACEY SMITH
Stacey Smith is no stranger to the world of entertainment. She has hosted events all over the world, so there’s no stage that she can’t handle. She pairs her versatile on-stage experience with her sassy New Yorker charisma, giving her a level of comfort on stage that lets her focus on her one goal: making your event the most fun it can be. Plus, she sings!
Stacey has hosted and written for corporate events for clients like Novartis, SAP, ING, Starbucks, Storck, Phillips, NBC, Leaseweb, Medtronic, Facebook, Rabobank, Bloomreach, Asics, Wells Fargo, McKinsey & Co., Hub International, Optiver, IMC, Deloitte, The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and The Chicago Urban League. She loves hosting panel events and her favorite interviews have included LOST actor Terry O’Quinn and comedy legend Dickie Smothers.
Stacey’s energy and skills also work with unusual events like comedy roasts, talent-shows, bingo nights, pub quizzes and even a pitbull adoption event surrounded by dogs onstage (where she was both terrified and professional).
Katie Nixon
Katie Nixon (she/her) is an American comedian, actor, instructor, host, and writer. A Boom Chicago cast member since January 2022, Katie has hosted events and ran workshops for such companies as Microsoft, Heineken, and the University of Amsterdam. She ran the Disrupt Stage at the prestigious DPW conference for two days.
She loves teaching improvisation for the Boom Chicago Academy and personal development skills in the corporate arena. Katie hosts the monthly Queer Community Night at Boom Chicago.
Before moving to Amsterdam, Katie spent ten years in Chicago where she appeared regularly at The Second City, iO, and The Annoyance. She has written and performed sketch comedy with several groups at festivals across the USA. Named Logansquarist’s Best Comedian in 2016, Katie has appeared solo at The Laugh Factory and the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival.
MATT CASTELLVI
Matt Castellvi is a Cuban American comedian who has been an accomplished host (online and in person) for the past 10 years. With his strong stage presence and stand-up/improviser background, Matt is knowledgeable, likable and commanding. Some of his clients include: Booking.com, T-Mobile, Kite Pharma, Stryker, Homesuitehome, and Whirlpool.
Matt has provided companies with hosting, training, roasts, stand-up, customized rap shows, and even commentary for dodge ball tournaments. If you have a rapping dodgeball tournament, look no further!
Voted Best Standup of 2019 by The Chicago Reader, Matt has headlined comedy festivals internationally including the Adelaide Fringe Festival, The Miami Improv Festival, Big-Little Comedy Festival, Omaha Improv Festival, Chicago Musical Improv Festival, and The Oslo Improv Festival. Matt is a regular emcee in Amsterdam and produces shows with Lo-Fi Comedy.
RAQUEL PALMAS
Raquel Palmas is a contagiously upbeat host and joy facilitator. She has hosted and facilitated workshops with various companies in the United States and Worldwide. Most notably she has worked with Facebook, Oxford Business School, AdColor Conference, World’s Best Cat Litter, VH1, and several United States-based universities. Her combination of being smart, kind and inclusive is her superpower. This makes everyone feel special as she uplifts and connects audiences.
ROB ANDRISTPLOURDE
Crowd favorite Rob AndristPlourde has been working with Boom Chicago and delighting audiences since 1994. He is a master trainer, coach and host, whose warmth and empathy allows him to connect with all kinds of audiences and participants. He is a popular trainer at the Boom Chicago Academy who teaches improvisation (and beat boxing) to thousands of participants a year.
In addition to his solo shows “Rob It Like it’s Hot!” and “Legends of Rob”, Rob is one of the creators of “Yo! Here We Go”, Boom Chicago’s longest running, hip hop freestyle piece. Rob loves all kinds of music and sees a connection between rhythm, beats and life.
SIMON LUKACS
Simon Lukacs is Boom Chicago’s sole British cast member, and has brought that dry British humour to a wide variety of business events in the past six years.
He has worked as a host, workshop facilitator and corporate script writer for clients such as ING, Kraft Heinz, Pepsi, Netflix, ABN Amro, Heineken, PwC, Deloitte, Samsung, booking.com, Nike, Shell, Adyen, Leaseweb, Liberty Global, Topcon, UNStudio, Aegon Transamerica, Bird, Mobiquity, nh Hotels, Dopper, Nauta Dutilh, KNVB, Johan Cruijff ArenA, UEFA, Accenture, Hotel School Madrid, Rhenus, BCG, ASML, InnoEnergy, Nyenrode School of Business, Strive STX, GroupM, RSM, Altra College, Remeha, CIO Platform, TU Delft, Miro, Enza Zaden, Prologis, Mendix, Kiadis, Mollie, Loyens and Loeff, Adecco, Rohill, Irdeto, Kaboom Animation Festival, DAA and Henkel. Phew. And that is just a partial list.
Simon is a regular host of live comedy shows at Boom Chicago’s Rozengracht Theater, as well as being a host of general knowledge, music and movie quizzes. He hosted The Eclectic Playlist on Wandsworth (now Riverside) radio in London before moving to Amsterdam.