
With backgrounds as diverse as our members' needs, the Insider management team offers an unmatched mix of expertise and connections across client services, dining, luxury goods, travel, entertainment, event planning, music and fashion.
Lindsi Shine • Chief Executive Officer
A proud Hoosier by birth but with a hunger for bigger adventures, Lindsi headed west from her home state of Indiana to attend UCLA, where she earned a degree in women's studies. She went on to work for the agents of athletes Shaquille O'Neal and Oscar De La Hoya. But having failed to discover her inner Jerry Maguire, she decided to move on. During subsequent stints in the dot.com world, the music industry and then back in sports, she built a fiercely strong network.
After heading to NYC, Lindsi's desire to develop her own niche inspired her to launch Insider in 2003. Loyal, savvy and ultracompetitive (she never takes "no" for an answer), she excels at finding resourceful ways to make things happen with style and ease. Outside of work, Lindsi is often mistaken for a dog walker — must have something to do with trotting her and her husband's three dogs around town…
Jill Diedrich-Gunnison • President
Born and raised in the heartland of Ohio and educated at Ohio University, Jill has a Midwestern sensibility that preserves her positive attitude amid the hustle of NYC. She thrives in a creative, fast-paced environment and has a passion for working with individuals, bolstered by her previous experience as an art-studio manager working with developmentally disabled adults. There, she gained a deep appreciation for working with all types of people in a team-oriented capacity, which has translated well to INsider’s eclectic office since joining the team in 2006.
A world traveler with a knack for crafting memorable experiences Jill says her favorite INsider task is guiding clients off the beaten path to explore untouristed nuances. Outside of work, she enjoys refurbing flea market finds with her better-half, collecting stamps in her passport, and playing “hostess-with-the-most-est” in their backyard in Brooklyn. Jill is always up for an outdoor adventure and never turns down a passed hors d’oeuvre or reason to raise a glass.
Courtney Sider • Vice President of Operations
Courtney has always been an NYC kind of gal. While growing up in Scarsdale, NY, she often made the short trip into Manhattan to experience the city's charms. She spent her college years at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she earned a bachelor of business administration from the School of Business. During a study abroad program in Rome, she traveled all over Europe and into Africa. (Favorite city: Marrakech, Morocco.)
After graduating from college, Courtney moved back to the area and landed a job in PR. She joined Insider in 2012 — and given her love for fashion, shopping and trying new restaurants, she's been the perfect fit. Among her specialties here: setting up private events and parties (particularly kids' birthday parties). Courtney lives in Long Island City, where she relishes her view of the Manhattan skyline.
Katie Couri • Senior Director of Operations & Administration
Katie's affinity for NYC dates back to her childhood in Bergen County, New Jersey. She spent her college years upstate studying hospitality management and tourism at Syracuse University. After graduation, she pursued a culinary career and earned a diploma in pastry and baking arts from Manhattan's Institute of Culinary Education.
Katie's work as a pastry chef magnified her passion for NYC dining and brought her keen insights into a restaurant's front and back of the house. As her colleagues, we can say her natural sweetness must have preceded her schooling. She infuses the office with kindness every day.
When Katie is not recipe-testing in her apartment or cheering on the 'Cuse men's basketball team, you can find her searching Instagram for the best burger in NYC or indulging her love of tequila. Her favorite tasks at Insider include recommending restaurants, putting together gift suggestions and keeping up with the latest food trends.
Jaime Eisenberg • Director of Account Management & Vendor Relations
A childhood spent experimenting in the kitchen with her father, a New York City chef, primed Jaime's passion for the restaurant scene ― and earned her a feature in a Food Network Snapchat story. (We're still hoping she'll let her Insider colleagues sample her famous cupcakes.)
Jaime holds a degree in tourism, hospitality and event management from Indiana University, where her effervescence and keen sense of style made her the obvious choice to chair her sorority's trunk show. She also spent a semester in her college years touring the trattorias of Florence.
Clients love Jaime's knack for finding the perfect night spot or anniversary present. When she gets a little time off, she enjoys shopping with friends, searching for the boroughs' best pizza or relaxing on the beach.
Emma Gurney • Executive Account Manager
Emma is truly a student of the world, having studied abroad in Czechia and Fiji and lived in Sydney, Australia, for a year. Her favorite travel destinations are New Zealand, Saint Lucia and Greece.
It makes perfect sense that Emma pursued a degree in parks, recreation and tourism management from North Carolina State University, and she's thrilled to be able to apply all she's learned and experienced to serving clients at Insider.
Emma's ideal meal is steak frites, and she loves indulging in chocolate desserts, reading and spending time outdoors — all of which fit nicely with her passion for travel.
Drew Kohl • Senior Director of Finance & Administration
LA native Drew is Insider's resident Valley Girl, but beneath that breezy persona is a business-savvy go-getter with an entrepreneurial spirit. She got her start running bake sales for her elementary school, began working in the restaurant industry as a line cook at age 17 and launched her own cookie dough company right out of college.
Drew expanded her knowledge of food anthropology, business and sustainability as an undergraduate at NYU, where she also played volleyball and studied abroad in Florence. Later, she polished her finance and HR skills working at a nonprofit organization in the food industry.
When not traveling, trying out new restaurants or playing beach volleyball in Tribeca, Drew is likely cooking up something scrumptious for friends or hanging in the West Village with her husband and their enormous dog.
Natalie Biedron • Director of Travel
Hailing from the quaint town of Peapack, New Jersey, Natalie’s wanderlust has taken her far beyond small-town life - from living in Spain for two years to heart-shifting trips through Africa, where destinations like Cape Town, Botswana’s Okavango Delta, and Odzala National Park in the Republic of the Congo left an indelible mark. After earning a double major in Business Administration and Hospitality & Tourism Management from the College of Charleston - plus a master’s in Sustainable Tourism - she’s spent her entire post-grad life immersed in luxury travel.
At Insider, Natalie excels at planning off-the-grid adventures and crafting bold, extraordinary itineraries for inquisitive clients. Her creativity doesn’t stop at trip planning - she’s also a devoted cook, film photography fan, and former competitive figure skater with a soft spot for ice cream (she owns a machine and even runs tasting sessions). She’s bungee jumped, shark cage dived, and skydived - twice - and if you’ve had a few glasses of wine with her, chances are you’ve seen her signature card trick. Just don’t be surprised if she’s already planning her next gorilla trek.
Melinda Erickson • Chief of Staff
Melinda's knack for knowing the hippest hangouts dates to her time growing up in the Pacific Northwest and living in Southern California and Nashville. It tracks that she spent over 20 years in the hospitality industry hanging with world-renowned chefs.
Those experiences have translated to an appreciation for well-thrown parties, the perfect cocktail, gimmicky restaurants and cheeky burlesque shows. A true superfan, Melinda can chat you up about everything from Star Wars and Seattle sports teams to "RuPaul's Drag Race" or the latest binge-worthy show.
In her downtime, you might find Melinda checking out a tucked-away speakeasy or walking Queenie the beagle in Central Park.
Daniela Nashawaty • Account Manager
Daniela's four years in the Bay Area (she's a Santa Clara University grad) confirmed her as a Cali girl through and through — though she's also enjoyed the East Coast sunshine from her home on Cape Cod in Chatham, Mass.
Given her reputation as a chatterbox, it's no surprise that Daniela holds a degree in communications. In an alternate universe, she's likely an accomplished stand-up comedian; in this universe, her colleagues appreciate the comic relief she brings to even the highest-stress situations.
Daniela excels at drawing out Insider's customers and making spot-on dining suggestions for every occasion. Outside of work, she loves to walk the West Side Highway and admire all the wiener dogs, check out far-flung restaurants and explore new destinations with her tried-and-true travel companions — her mom and sister.
Jordyn Bloom • Client & Office Operations Manager
Jordyn is a beaming ray of sunshine at Insider, a credit to her South Florida upbringing. Her style, however, is pure NYC (which might well reflect the fact that she was born here).
As a student at Syracuse University, Jordyn studied communications and rhetorical studies. Today, she has an unmatched talent for finding hidden gems, whether it's a tucked-away travel destination, a one-of-a-kind gift, the best lounge for sipping a cucumber martini or the perfect meme to match the moment.
When she's not brightening up her customers' or colleagues' days, you might find Jordyn snuggling one of the many pups of Manhattan, dashing back to Florida to reconnect with friends and family or dreaming of her next trip to South Africa or the Greek island of Mykonos.
Gia Scaduto • Assistant Account Manager
A Long Island native with deep Sicilian roots, Gia brings warmth, humor, and a serious flair for hospitality to the Insider team. After studying Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management at Indiana University in Bloomington, she’s made it her mission to turn everyday experiences into unforgettable ones. Though she’s traveled everywhere from Australia to Spain, her heart belongs to Mazara del Vallo, Sicily — her family’s hometown and a place she considers pure magic.
At Insider, Gia’s passion for travel meets her obsession with details. She’s the queen of the “just in case” outfit, never boards a flight without her five-song playlist, and finds joy in long walks, Aperol spritzes, and Love Island marathons. She’s also got a sharp eye for vintage finds and a tendency to reorganize any cluttered space she walks into. When she’s off the clock, she’s either hanging with her Shih Tzu, Coco Chanel, or catching up with friends over dinner somewhere fun in the city — usually with a tart froyo in hand.
Sarah Magrini • Assistant Account Manager
(Sarah M. Bio)
Sami Silverman • Account Manager
Raised in North Jersey and seasoned by summers spent down the shore and at sleepaway camp, Sami has always thrived on movement, energy, and new experiences. After earning her marketing degree at Indiana University (go Hoosiers!) and studying abroad in Florence — one of her all-time favorite places — she started her career in digital marketing before making a sharp pivot into the world of corporate events. She spent three years crafting experiences before finding her perfect fit at Insider.
These days, Sami shines in the fast-paced rhythm of concierge life. She loves learning about NYC’s ever-evolving restaurant scene, sharpening her natural people skills, and diving into whatever unique request hits her inbox next. Outside of work, you’ll find her surrounded by close-knit family and lifelong friends, squeezing in a new Pilates class, or tracking down the city’s best pizza, pasta, or bagel (preferably all three). She’s passionate about travel, always game to explore a new city, and once went skydiving over the Swiss Alps — a thrill that, much like carbs, never gets old.
Yana Romanova • Account Manager
Ukrainian-born and Milan-raised, Yana brings a well-stamped passport and a passion for global hospitality to the Insider team. Her journey took her from Europe to New York City, where she earned a marketing degree from the Zicklin School of Business and quickly made Brooklyn home. Yana’s professional path spans luxury travel, top-notch customer service, and event production, with experience at brands including Tablet Hotels by Michelin Guide, Sabre Holdings, Soho Grand & The Roxy Hotels, and Blace.
Fluent in five languages, Yana thrives on variety. At Insider, she’s in her element - designing multi-stop vacations, curating nights out, and planning events that people talk about. Her personal life is just as adventurous: she’s hiked volcanoes in Guatemala, sailed the Seychelles, solo-traveled through Colombia, surfed in Costa Rica, and still makes time to track down New York’s most interesting restaurants.
Jordan Story • Account Manager
(Jodran S. Bio)
INSIDER AMBASSADORS
HEATHER RAMIN
SARAH TREDWELL
Founding Member
CARLY WALTER
LILLY WILBANKS
Founding Member