Michael Gapinski
President / Founder
With his three decades of producing astonishingly unique and stylish high caliber events around the globe, it is no wonder Michael is the face of Iconic Event Studios. Chief in command of creativity, working side-by-side with our planning department, he provides an unquestionable and priceless understanding of style. From celebrity weddings in Napa to corporate conferences in NYC,
retreats in the UK, and premieres in Hollywood,
Michael is Iconic’s ‘Right-Brain’ creative force.
Kevin Scott Hamilton
CFO / Founder
If Michael is the face of Iconic Event Studios, then Kevin is our backbone. Our ‘Left Brain’. Everything that is not involving the actual production of our events, falls under his domain. He is the CFO, presiding over the all the finances, taxes, accounting, investments, Real Estate and all the required City, State & Federal issues. Kevin’s astute stewardship comes from several decades of corporate management and ownership. Not bad for a boy from the glistening shores of Redondo Beach.
THE ALL-STARS
Lauren Motus TONGOL
Event Manager
Earning her hospitality degree from Cal Poly Pomona, Lauren's passion for events and commitment to excellence paved her way to Iconic. As the Event Manager, she utilizes her organizational prowess to ensure each event is planned and executed with care. She collaborates with our creative team to develop unique and stunning concepts for our clients. Leveraging her strong communication skills and attention to detail, she meticulously plans event logistics, from vendor coordination and budget management, provides onsite support on event days, and ensures every detail align with our client’s vision. Her dedication to excellence makes her an invaluable asset to our team.
ARIANA KAISER VARNUM
Director of Administration
The transition from NYU to our Director of Administration was an easy transition for this cum laude grad. Ariana makes sure our vendors are paid promptly, payroll deadlines are met, and all financial records are current and accurate. Being the director means she oversees the daily admin duties, including that whole list of corporate initials: HR, INS, A/R, A/P and P&L’s. Ariana’s responsibilities guarantee the Iconic machine is humming, so our creative team can continue producing spectacular events.
Andrew Pish
Lead Designer, Director of Operations
Saddled with a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Texas, Andrew galloped in to save the day as Iconic’s Lead Designer and Director of Operations. Andrew has an eye for design with an elegant and precise aesthetic. He designs printed materials, digital graphics, video content, event layouts, and our website. Andrew also keeps us organized and efficient - he built and organizes our inventory database, structures our digital workflow, maintains our computers, servers, and IT infrastructure. And with an eye towards the future, he’s always finding new solutions for us to transform and optimize our operations.
Cristian Gonzalez
Properties Manager
Building off his background in construction, Cristian is the manager of all our properties. This includes our main office, multiple storage centers, and the addition of our newly completed conferencing center, which he had a hand & hammer in constructing. In addition, he works closely with our production department to maintain our substantial inventory. He is our ‘Warehouse Whiz’, who knows exactly ‘what is where’ and how to quickly retrieve it, all with a mega-watt smile.
NICOLE RODOPOULOS
Event Coordinator
Nicole moved from Brazil to follow her dreams in design, and her dreams led her to Iconic. She graduated from FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) in Los Angeles with three degrees in Fashion Design, Product Development, and Business Management. After graduating from FIDM, Nicole realized she liked designing events more than designing clothes - and that is when the stars aligned and she crossed paths with Iconic Event Studios. Now, as an event coordinator and part of our creative design team, she is a vital part of both planning and designing our stunning events. Her design is inspired by culture, art, and travel. Nicole’s strength is envisioning event decor and details from conception to the final design in collaboration with Michael.
CHLOÉ SAUGET
Event Coordinator
