Our Team
Meet our world-class team of media professionals.
Jake Sasseville – Chairman, Founder and Executive Producer
Part funny man, part shrewd business man, Jake is all about the FUN. Known to buy trampolines for the offices, and take last minute trips to exotic locations, Jake is voice to “Late Night Republic” and works on developing new ways of engaging our audience.
Travis Granfar – Founder and Executive Producer
A recovering corporate lawyer, Travis Granfar is the cat with nine lives. He’s worked for the UN, he’s worked in Silicon Valley on tech startups and he’s even taught University (unknown to even his business partner until a few weeks ago). He leads strategic vision for LNR Studios, he does sales and manages our team, and he’s also been known to direct episodes of “Late Night Republic.”
Jeffrey Eisenberg – Executive Producer & Sponsor Love Team
Jeff doesn’t like to talk much about his past. He only looks at the future but he will say that he joined Jake a few years ago after losing a bet in Vegas. He has worked extensively throughout the broadcast, cable and marketing arenas and for some reason continues to work with us. Jeff focuses on overall creative and business strategy with Jake and Travis, manages (besides Jake) our production and writing teams and liases with sponsors and ad agencies on our multi-platform campaigns. Most importantly he asks that we do not show him on camera because he is currently in the witness protection program.
Caitlin Engel – Publicist & Tribal Team
Caitlin is a mover and shaker in the purest sense. She started working at one of the largest pharmeutical sales companies in the world, honed her skills as an influencer and a saleswoman, and has climbed to top 1% in the country. For LNR Studios, she engages with fans daily, throws surprise pizza parties for loyal viewers all around the country, liaisons with press and editors around the world and puts together winning strategic alliances. It’s no secret that Jake and Caitlin travel together a lot, and if you’re invited to be a part of the adventure, you’re bound to bust a gut laughing hysterically. Email caitlin.engel@latenightrepublic.com.
Jessica Hester – Writing & Producing Team
Jessica is one of those rare finds. Genius producer, spot-on director with an eye for comedy, and yet she’s unassuming and she gels with anyone. She’s worked for and pitched Comedy Central, developed and directed shorts and features and has managed to do it all working in partnership with her sisters. At LNR Studios, she writes, she directs and she’s even played a Russian temptress.
Matt Baetz – Writing & Producing Team
Hailing from Maryland, Matt Baetz is one of the funniest people he knows. After starting at The Late Late Show the same week that Craig Ferguson began, Matt was an associate writer and appeared in his dozens of Late Late Show sketches and several times as a featured comedian. His wry sense of humor often confuses Jake Sasseville, and Matt can never tell if Jake really likes him, or is hitting on him.
Bobby Guerette – Digital Team & Tribal Team
Bobby is the 007 of LNR Studios — somewhat elusive and never in the office, but always somewhere out in the world on mission. Bobby has known Jake for nearly 12 years and takes a ton of credit for Jake’s success. He prefers gelato over regular ice cream, has managed digital campaigns, and streamlines communication internally at LNR Studios and with our fans and audience. Email bobby.guerette@latenightrepublic.com.
Chris Keene – Tribal Team & Value Creation Team
If you YouTube-search for Chris Keene, you’ll see Chris in his past life of choir directing. In one particular clip, you’ll notice he leads an audience of hundreds in an African chant. A fan of “Late Night Republic,” Chris often reached out to the team and was pleasantly surprised with how they interacted personally with thousands of fans. After a six week boot camp and test, Chris Keene became a valuable member of our team and is on the front lines of our sales initiatives as a value creator and also works to engage fans and create digital campaigns that rock. He’s also been known to spearhead odd, if not eccentric, date-settings for women including but not limited to Easter Egg hunts (off-season). Email chris.keene@latenightrepublic.com.
Dana Leever – Sponsor Love Team
Dana first met Jake and Travis when Jake was presenting at her former ad agency, Doner US in Newport Beach. Jake and Travis brought a 6-foot party sub for the staff at Doner, and Dana was sold. Dana is on the front lines of planning Late Night Republic LIVE and Late Fest. She is also charged with loving our sponsors and advertisers. She works with them on creative and business development as it interfaces with LNR Studios. An All-American Cali girl, Dana surfs and occasionally will dress like a hippy at carnivals. Email dana.leever@latenightrepublic.com.
Brenton Geiser – Value Creation and Digital Team
Brenton is a cross between new business development guru, spiritualist and entrepreneur. He’s done deals with Avril Lavgine, John Legend’s nonprofit, Texas Instruments, Sony and Taco Bell. He zones in on production development and digital strategy. He can be found all throughout San Francisco, and usually hanging out watching the weirdos in The Mission (sometimes with Jake). He’s working with LNR Studios on ways to streamline engaging tens of thousands of fans at the same time, and creating value for new business partners.
Anita Katzen & Ana Candelaria – Business Managers
We never thought money-handlers could be so cool, or so hip. Anita and Ana take care of our business management, they pay people and they love our internal staff and take such good care of them. Anita is a classy New York eccentric who’s been handling the money of entertainers and production companies for decades. Her raspy voice is a welcome relief to the rest of the city-slickers. Ana is best described as a quiet butterfly, fluttering, but aware of each move. Together, they are opposite, and they are hilarious.
Pat Croce – Senior Advisor
Pat is an American entrepreneur, sports team executive and owner, author, and TV personality. He was the President of the Philadelphia 76ers and under his leadership, brought the team from last place to the NBA finals five years later. He’s written three best-sellers, has been all over television and speaks globally. He’s wacky and has the testicular fortitude of an octopus.. Pat advises the LNR Studios team on long-term strategy, management and getting the job, any job, done.
Austin Hurst and Zach Hurst – Advisors
Austin and Zach have been Internet whiz-kids since hitting puberty. They’ve also been working together for at least that long. Launching from humble beginnings in Missouri, the Hurst brothers are recognized as some of the sharpest advisors for startups in the country. Before graduating high school, they had over 10,000 clients from their web hosting company and an ad agency. They’ve recently relocated to Florida where they are engineering technological platforms that are changing the game in several industries.
Lou Zant – Advisor
One of the coolest 58+ year olds in the world (as stated by Jake Sasseville), Lou Zant has captured imaginations for decades with his brilliant savoir-faire across business, creative and tech industries. By the time he reached his twelfth month as head of the Men’s division of Calvin Klein, sales had skyrocketed to $450 million. He’s also owner of five health and wellness holistic schools in the US and is known to gladly “get down” and attend a Richard Branson party or two. (Pictured with his lovely wife, Sonja.)
