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…
Heather Ramin, President
After growing up in Iowa and receiving a business degree from the University of Iowa, Heather headed to the East Coast. Working in the fashion industry honed her savvy and resourcefulness — qualities that she brought to Insider soon after its launch. She has a passion for world travel, but also counts herself lucky to come home to the food mecca that is NYC.
Heather's favorite parts of the day: her morning walk to work (coffee in hand) and dinner with her husband (dirty martini in hand). Her favorite Insider task: planning travel and food itineraries for clients. In addition to her appetite for learning, Heather's organizational skills and Midwestern values help her thrive under pressure while building and managing Insider's extraordinary concierge team with grace.
Sarah Tredwell, Chief Operating Officer
A New Jersey native and graduate of Northwestern University's highly esteemed Medill School of Journalism, Sarah worked for The News with Brian Williams on MSNBC and as a general-assignment reporter for Fox News in Fargo, ND, before finding her way to Insider. She soon learned that life as a concierge had many parallels to that of a journalist, and, just as in the newsroom, the day-to-day at Insider is dynamic and the challenges are always evolving.
In NYC, Sarah also found an outlet for her love for all things food-related: Exploring the city's newest culinary establishments is one of her favorite parts of the job. Aside from dining out, she loves to spend her downtime traveling, snowboarding, binge-watching TV series and occasionally escaping the chaos of the city by spending weekends with her husband and two kids upstate.
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, director of account management
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, Executive ACCOUNT MANAGER
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.
LILLY WILBANKS, Director OF LIFE EXPERIENCES
Lilly is an Alabama belle now in a New York state of mind. A graduate of New York University with a degree in hotel and tourism management, she brings her passion for travel and homegrown southern hospitality to our office every day. And Insider is better for it!
Lilly spent her freshman year of college abroad in Paris and still enjoys working on her French. When not scouring sample sales or traveling the world (her three favorite destinations: Amsterdam, the Bahamas and Tokyo), she can often be found camped out with her favorite guilty pleasure: reality TV.
CARLY WALTER, Account manager
Carly is deeply serious about good friends, good eats and seeing the world — and she relishes opportunities to combine all three passions. Born in Charleston, S.C., and raised between both the US and France, she has made friends in over 65 countries on all seven continents, and she never leaves a destination without a recipe.
Back home in Manhattan, Carly is forever scouting out new spots for sushi, ice cream or a well-made G&T. She loves finding creative ways to mark special occasions, whether it's baking exquisite birthday cakes for her closest compatriots or putting together the perfect anniversary celebration for an appreciative client.
If you ever cross paths, be sure to ask Carly about basketball (she's a huge Duke Blue Devils and Milwaukee Bucks fan) or her beloved parrot, Pico. She's always happy to recount her summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro as well.
EMMA MULLER, 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 — so far, at least — 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.
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.
Drew Kohl, controller
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.
Hunter Rhode, Assistant Account manager
Although born in New Jersey and raised in Maine, Hunter from a young age foresaw her future as a Carrie Bradshaw protégé. That vision led her to pursue her undergraduate studies at Temple University in Philly, where she earned a degree in communications with a minor in American Sign Language.
Hunter later spent nearly 10 years in the restaurant industry, which taught her volumes about providing excellent customer service while juggling competing demands in a fast-paced environment. Landing a gig at Insider brought her to New York — another aspect of her childhood dream fulfilled.
Hunter loves traveling to new places and sampling different cuisines, but when she needs a break from the brisk pace of city life, she makes time to snuggle with a cat or stretch out in Central Park.
Angus
sugar
MADDIE
reggie
queenie
emmy
Office morale (the Six pups)
Each of our canine counterparts brings something different to the office dynamic.
If you see someone parading past on all fours, pretending he's not dying for your attention, that's Angus. His idea of meeting a deadline is getting every staff member to play with him at least once before lunch. Sugar is the diva of the office, she runs the show and will let you know it. Her favorite treats are salmon, chicken and your heart. Maddie is our resident office foodie-dog & a 5 pound force with begging eyes that will win you over until she steals a bite of your lunch. Finally, there's Reggie, Emmy and Queenie, our part-time pups. Reggie is a ball of energy who loves to run through the office and play with everything in the toy box, especially Sugar! Queenie wants to be a lap dog and has a Master’s Degree in Sleeping, so if you’re sitting on the floor, be ready for kisses. And don’t be fooled by Emmy, our 100 lb. speaker of the house who’s really just a gentle giant.
Together, these pups exemplify the concept of company loyalty. Our work culture wouldn't be the same without them.
ELOISE
MISHA
Molly
in memoriam
Gone, but never forgotten, our pups who have crossed the rainbow bridge remain in our hearts.
Eloise, our matriarch, spent her time contemplating the meaning of life from her cardboard-box throne. We loved her butter eyes, fierce devotion and commitment (she showed up for work every day). Molly raised everyone's spirits with her bursts of frenetic energy. And Misha, our resident 100-pound German Shepherd who makes her presence known to all who come to the door – she really is a softy at heart and if you break out a ball will be your best friend for days.