Curtains Up on Inauthenticity!

At the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020, Jesse Pudles had a fight with his roommate. Desperate for an emotional release, he had two options: stay inside or go on a walk. He chose the latter.

Soon, he found himself in front of the famous Paul Smith Wall, uncharacteristically empty and illuminated by a single large light that shone like a spotlight.

Acting on intuition to seize the moment, Jesse stood and sang his heart out. Though a lifelong performer, he’d rarely had the opportunity to take up space so freely – to express himself authentically, without a hint of concern for how it’d be received.

And thus, SpotCorp was born.

So you’re probably asking: What do we we do?

A lot!

We create psychologically safe events for people to feel their full expressive and authentic selves. We create events for…

Meet the Team

JESSE PUDLES, CEO

  • Founder, CEO

    Jesse has spent his whole life figuring out one thing, how to bring people together in a way that actually feels good. It started onstage at eight years old, where he learned that great performances aren’t just about the spotlight, but about trust and knowing you’ve got a team behind you. Then came teaching, coaching, producing, each experience adding a new tool to his belt. He learned how to get people to drop their guard, to find power in authenticity, and to transform a group of strangers into an ensemble. Whether it was running games and activities at a leadership summer camp, roleplaying as a fake patient to teach doctors real empathy, producing shows in cities he barely knew, or working with McKee Consulting to create culture shifts in businesses by showing how small changes in behavior lead to transformation for all, Jesse realized the magic is always in the connection.  

    And that’s what he does now! He takes everything he’s learned and uses it to help teams break out of autopilot and actually enjoy working together. He’s seen firsthand how a little creativity, a little play, and a little risk-taking can turn “just coworkers” into a real ensemble. He’s spent years figuring out how to make people feel safe enough to be real with each other, because when that happens, everything else clicks into place. So, if you’re looking for a guy who’s been on both sides of the curtain, who knows how to set the stage for trust, teamwork, and a little bit of magic, that’s Jesse.

IZZY SALANT, COO

  • COO

    Originally from Maryland, Izzy traveled up the east coast to study at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, obtaining two Bachelor's Degrees in Theater and Journalism. He then realized he hated cold, humidity, and being allergic to going outside and relocated to Los Angeles.

    He has consulted for and/or served as a marketing and social media manager across numerous companies, such as JNS and Lost Tribe, and served as executive at numerous startups including the Authority Hive and Stropse.com. He is also a playwright, aiming to tell stories that need to be told (which makes SpotCorp and him a perfect match) and is a proud member of the Alliance of Jewish Theater, the Playwrights Center, and the Dramatists Guild, as well as an artist in residence at the Braid in Los Angeles.

    After joining the company, Izzy decided he wanted to put “Spot” in front of everything the company did, which is how the name SpotCorp came to be. No seriously. He’s also a practicing magician, which isn’t necessarily helpful in his role but it’s pretty cool.

PEYTON ASHBY, CPO

  • CPO (Chief Production Officer)

    Peyton would love to say she was born in a bookstore and the rest was history: or rather her studying it! As an avid learner her entire life, her curious mind led her from leaving Ohio where she grew up to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies at Chapman University as well as a focus on Historical Studies. Her love of theatre was truly sparked by people and the stories that we all have to tell - which is why her role in HR was such a natural fit after she had found it.

    On her life-long quest for people to fall in love with learning as much as she has; she has dabbled in a variety of working industries including Business and Sales, Marketing, Hospitality, Service, Clerical work and varying types of Assistant work. She proudly directed her companies theatrical debut, Spotlight Presents, December 2023 and directed her companies Fringe debuts of Do Better at San Diego and Hollywood Fringe Festivals 2025. One of the highlights of her life was getting to work as a dramaturg for a one-act of Terrence McNally in which he himself attended.

    Everyday that she gets to be a part of SpotCorp Events is a dream come true for her, and people are the heartbeat of what the company does: so thank YOU for being here.