GREAT HOSTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
For more than 30 years, Boom Chicago’s expert MCs and planners have made events better. Our experience is valuable in planning the day, and of course on the day. We balance serious messages with a light touch to help meetings and conferences sizzle. 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 can support your speakers, moderate panels and lead engaging question and answer sessions. Start the event with tailored comedy, and end with a bang as we wrap up like no one else can.
We love traditional events, digital conferences and everything hybrid. A Boom Chicago host will help 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.
He 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 hosts high-stakes business events for international companies like Johnson & Johnson, Ahold, KPMG, ING, IBM, Software AG, Netflix, Google, Adyen, Novartis… There are more than a thousand. We could do this all day.
As Co-Founder and Director of Content for Boom Chicago for Business, Pep gets to follow his passion daily: Using comedy to make hard-to-communicate messages land and stick.
His inspired, second book, Work Laugh Balance was published in 2025. His interactive keynote, ‘Humor Makes Business Better (Yes, even yours)’ is in high demand.
In addition to all that, Pep was nominated for an Emmy for his writing on America’s long-running television show, Saturday Night Live.
ANDREW MOSKOS
Andrew Moskos is a co-founder of Boom Chicago and a partner in Boom Chicago for Business. He hosts international conferences like Tata Steel’s 100-year Anniversary, Vodafone’s Global Strategy Event in London, OnBrand (marketing), Revolution (mobility and electric vehicles), KPMG Yalla Tax Middle East and Brand Minds, the biggest business event in Central and Eastern Europe.
Andrew works on high stakes corporate events for most major companies in the Netherlands. Yes, ‘most’ as in a majority of them. He coached Prime Minister Mark Rutte and co-wrote his ‘most successful speech ever,’ for the Dutch Correspondents Dinner.
Andrew coaches top business leaders who enjoy sparring with him to sharpen their own messages. He has helped CEOs like Margret Versteden (Bol.com), Stephen Corlette (180 Global) and Victor Hoong (Riverflex) on their speeches, communication and presentation skills.
Put him on a panel to get a real discussion flowing or have him interview your CEO for a much more dynamic presentation. Everything seems more real with Andrew, even pre-written questions and planned moments.
STACEY SMITH
Stacey Smith is no stranger to the world of entertainment. 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, Phillips, NBC, Leaseweb, Facebook, Rabobank, Bloomreach, Asics, Wells Fargo, McKinsey & Co., Optiver, IMC, Deloitte, 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, pub quizzes and even a pitbull adoption event surrounded by dogs onstage (where she was both terrified and professional).
KATIE NIXON
Katie Nixon is an American comedian, actor, instructor, host, and writer. She has hosted events and ran workshops for such companies as Microsoft, Heineken, and the University of Amsterdam. Katie has run the Disrupt Stage at the prestigious DPW Amsterdam conference for two years in a row.
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, the Laugh Factory and the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival.
MATT CASTELLVI
Matt Castellvi is a Cuban American comedian who has been an accomplished host 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 MC in Amsterdam and produces shows with Lo-Fi Comedy.
MICHAEL DIEDERICH
Dutch speaking Michael Diederich has also been involved with creative company Boom Chicago for over 25 years as a comedian, host and currently as artistic department manager.
He is frequently used by the business community as a public speaking coach, MC at major events and has facilitated many workshops for companies such as Google, Tommy Hilfiger, Bol.com, Philips, Heineken, Shell, Uber, Funda and many others.
Michael is also active internationally as a speakers coach and International Keynote Speaker at prestigious events such as the Dubai Business Club and Nasa.
His has played multiple roles in Joop van den Ende productions (including Chicago, Saturday Night Fever, Jesus Christ Superstar). You may also know Michael from his sharp commentary in the RTL 4 musical TV program All Together Now and commercials for Hertog IJs and Swish Fund (Lending Money Costs Money).
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.
