Amy Watkins has served as the National Director for Convention Expo since 1997 and has been recognized as one of the industry's leading model and talent scouts for over 25 years. She has managed and overseen operations and personnel scouting for the world's top movie studios, television networks and model and talent agencies for major markets including Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, London and Milan. Ms. Watkins was honored to serve as the mentor for the winner of Elite Modeling Agency's International Look of the Year competition in Nice, France which included contestants from over 60 countries. Ms. Watkins also continues to lecture nationally on how to break into the business of modeling and acting.  Amy can be reached by e-mail at info@conventionexpo.com. 

Sherry Rhine-Padilla has been involved in modeling and acting for over 25 years. She began to model in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 15 and went on to work professionally in local fashion shows and print work. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from Middle Tennessee State University where she performed as a dancer and actress in a number of productions as well as overseeing choreography. After graduating in 1988, she coordinated fashion shows in nine states and then traveled throughout the southeast for the next three years, working with a leading designer clothing line. She later went on to become the Director of a leading Nashville model and talent training agency until begin asked to join the executive management team of convention Expo where she brings over two decades of expertise in discovering and developing aspiring talent. Sherry can be reached at: info@conventionexpo.com

Merrill Carsh was discovered on a local bus in his hometown of Denver when he was quite young.  He took some basic on-camera classes along with some casting and audition workshops after which he signed on with JF Talent, a local agency.  By the age of twenty Merrill had more than 50 theatrical productions under his belt, including comedy, drama and musicals.  His commercial and film credits ran the gambit from local TV station promo ads to breakthrough theatrical releases.  Merrill began to travel outside of the Denver market as he got older, handling bookings for a variety of clients.  He often he ran into models and talent who were trying to find work, so he began scouting them directly to agencies and clients in a number of larger markets.  Merrill used the many contacts he had established in the U.S. and in Europe to succeed with this.  Merrill became an instructor at the John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center in Denver in 1989 and he continues in this position.  In 1998, he became the Agency Director at MTM in Denver, where he also continues to find much success and satisfaction in finding work for hundreds of new and veteran models and actors.  Merrill feels very lucky to have been able to spend most of his life in the industry he loves, and he (still) acknowledges his parents for allowing him to the opportunities to do so.

Karyn Kraf has been working in the modeling and acting industry for more than 10 years.  She began her career as a model doing numerous fashion shows and commercial work for many well-known clients.   Karyn then began professionally scouting for talent for a well-known school and agency in Tampa, Florida, where she eventually became the Director.  She developed and placed talent locally and nationally for several years.  She has overseen over a dozen agencies while managing talent on a well-known on-line network.  Karyn has spent the last 5 years scouting all over the United States with various networks and agencies and looks forward to continuing her success with Convention Expo.   Karyn can be reached at karyn.k@conventionexpo.com.

Ellen Wasser-Hrin began her career in the modeling and fashion industry over 25 years ago.  She is a graduate of Temple University and has a dance/ theatre and psychology background.  She has worked in many aspects of the business developing her “eye” for discovering talent along the way.  She ran a model/talent development center, produced professional fashion shows, worked as a makeup artist, model, actress, and has taught young aspiring models the secrets of modeling on the runway and in front of still and video cameras.   

 Ellen is the founder and Director of MMA, one of the top full-service agencies in the Philadelphia area.  “High caliber talent and quality service remain the trademark of the agency.” She has discovered and booked some of today’s top talent. Six years ago, Ellen was appointed as an independent scout for Elite International; traveling coast to coast, guest speaking on radio shows and conducting model searches.  She has also developed relationships with other top modeling agencies across the country and has placed 120 models/talent to date.  

Along with her duties as Director of MMA, Ellen has been hired to oversee 17 of the MTM model and talent agencies across the country.  This has all worked to help build her relationships with the NY agencies as well as the other larger markets for placement and referrals. 

Recently, Ellen has been hired to work together with Amy Watkins and Sherry Rhine of Convention Expo. Ellen and her staff handle the agent callbacks and placement of the MTM models and talent that attend the MB EXPO in Dallas. She and her staff of MMA act as ‘mother agent’ to help give the MTM talent opportunities to work in the various markets and follow their growth and success. 

One of Ellen’s missions is to help others realize their full potential.  This has been and will continue to be Ellen’s goal for her talent and staff.