Introducing the hardest working Trivia Team in the business!

Dave Oliver President & Founder Dave simply isn’t human. It is widely speculated that he never sleeps, but if he does, there is no doubt he continues to design trivia answer sheets in his dreams. As President and Founder of Trivia, AD, his tireless leadership and vision is what keeps this business growing. Being married to his beautiful wife, Kara and a dad to his two amazing boys has left him searching for the meaning of the word “balance” within his life. He’s a huge New York Yankees fan, lover of Pearl Jam and started Trivia, AD with his love of Seinfeld. Dave strives for perfection in everything he does, including his hair, although he inexplicably insists on covering it with a baseball hat more often than not.

Kara Oliver “The Boss" Kara eats, sleeps, breathes, and dreams Disney, and has been a super fan since her first visit in 1977! She knows a dream is a wish your heart makes as she is in her 5th year as a travel agent specializing in Disney, thrilled to help hundreds of families add value, not cost to their Disney vacations. You’ll find her on Facebook and Instagram at Fairytale Journeys by Kara, and in Disney World 4-6 times a year with her husband and 2 boys. A long-time trivia buff, Kara has been with Trivia AD since 2010 when she met the owner, marrying him in 2011. Originally from upstate NY, Kara has lived in the NYC area for 20 years, and considers winning Cash Cab the highlight of her trivia “career.”

“LP” Jedi Princess LP is Trivia AD’s longest running host and is a Jedi Princess, proud Ravenclaw and huge Disnerd. She can recall minor details from TV shows, books and movies from years past, yet ask her what she had for breakfast? Not a clue. LP has been living in Hoboken and working in NYC for over a decade now. She is so full of random fun facts and pop culture knowledge, that there is no room for actual things to help her daily life. Thank the Seven Gods she’s so ridiculously good looking (and humble). LP’s random knowledge however, has made her a game show winner, lead her to appear on PBS and write and host trivias at a few of her favorite places like New York Comic Con and Liberty Science Center. When she’s not hanging out in the NYC area, you can find her in any of the Disney Parks around the World. She loves working for Trivia AD because while we all may not be into the same fandoms, the passion people have for theirs is intoxicating and amazing.

Kirsten Messier The Captain Kirsten’s alter ego is Batman, Adam West’s Batman to be specific. You could never tell by her rural surroundings that she grew up just twenty minutes away from Taylor Swift’s new swanky Rhode Island pad. When her grand plan to become Maroon 5′s manager fell through, she decided to take a gig instead at an advertising agency putting all those catchy hits and jingles you love to hate into commercials. Proving her allegiance to the US’s greatest city, Kirsten supports all things Yankees, Giants, and Rangers. Kirsten unabashedly enjoys listening to Josh Groban and still has faith that he might just be “the one.” She always knew that, one day, her vault of useless knowledge would bring joy to others.

Tom O’Beirne Master of Domain Tom passed his dreams so long ago, they’re now chasing him. He has a 3rd place trophy for “competitive jogging in place” and countless participation ribbons. He’s been fired from more jobs than he’s been hired for and was recently allowed to sit at the adult table at his family’s Thanksgiving. In addition to being hilarious and charming, he’s hilarious and charming. His retention of Seinfeld knowledge exceeds anything he learned anywhere, ever. A reformed Van Buren boy, he is currently aspiring to the level of enlightenment only attainable by completing the Ron Swanson “Pyramid of Greatness.” He is currently on “Skim Milk: Avoid it.” Tom read a book once. Yada yada yada – and then he joined Trivia, AD.

Allison St. Rock Moment Capturer Allison hails from Mystic, CT but is proud to call NYC her home of three years (and proud of her sweet Brooklyn/Rhode Island hybrid accent to boot). She graduated from Rhode Island College with a BA in Musical Theatre and then moved to the city to study at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting. She is still performing throughout the NY/NJ area. Due to her lifetime obsession with capturing moments, it only made sense for Allison to open up her own photography business, so she could maybe, I don’t know, make some money doing what she loves (allisonstrock.com). Allison’s other dream is to meet someone as obsessed with HIMYM as she is so that when she makes constant references to the show in everyday conversation, people aren’t like “what?” Allison is excited to put all of her (seemingly) useless television and movie knowledge to good use with Trivia AD. When not performing, taking pictures in your face, or watching Netflix, Allison may be found in the stacks at The Strand (her favorite place in the city) or perhaps sucking down a frozen marg at Blockheads (close second).

Genna Matarazzo MCU Supernerd Genna attended her first Trivia, AD event in the fall of 2018, was immediately hooked, and joined the hosting team a year later. She watches too much TV and an excessive amount of movies, but claims it’s “research” since she holds a degree in film production and works as a freelance writer. Genna loves musicals, is a huge Disney fan, a proud Ravenclaw, an MCU supernerd, and a member of house Stark (according to a Buzzfeed quiz). She loves food and sometimes wishes she was a hobbit so that she could get away with eating seven meals a day. Genna is delighted to be hosting Trivia, AD events virtually and sharing her love of movies, TV, and trivia with so many others.

Bobby Latrenta Maritime Lawyer Bobby knows more about your favorite show than you do. A New Jersey born lad and is not ashamed to admit it. He attended college at Marymount Manhattan College with a degree in acting. When he’s not shouting King Lear on the street for nickels he is a temp for corporate America. However, he is also a TV buff that shouldn’t be messed with. He is very excited to join the Trivia AD team because it provides a good outlet for him to talk about the unjust cancellation of Firefly. In his spare time he likes to cook, ask his roommates what he’s good at so he can finish his bio and continue on his quest to find New York’s best bagel.

Edan Stanley Jersey Girl Edan is a born and raised Jersey native and proud of it. She uses her blinker on every jug handle and feverishly defends taylor ham. By day, she’s an editor and will annoyingly correct your grammar. But by night she will also correct your grammar while cooking up a tasty meal because hosting is one of her favorite things to do. At home with her ferocious mini house panther, a delightfully tubby cat named Willa, she can be found binging television shows and movies in unprecedented timing. All time favorites include Gilmore Girls, Harry Potter, Parks and Rec, and obviously, Twilight. Go ahead and @ her. #TeamEdward4Life. With Trivia AD, Edan embraced her inner theater kid and found the perfect balance of being a super fan and an insufferable know-it-all. She is thrilled to be a part of such a great team and hopes to bring some joy to the events she works.

Peggy Nelling Fighter of the Nightman Born and raised in St. Louis, Peggy is just a small town girl who moved to the big city with big dreams, just to find out that the only way to make it in the big city is to host trivia. And that’s what she does at Trivia, AD. When she’s not on mic, Peggy can be found being Joan Holloway in the Chrysler Building, exploring Brooklyn to find her next great Instagram post, casually trying to pet strangers’ dogs, following the Mountain Goats, chipping away at her goal to try every craft beer ever, and feverishly trying to keep up with the Golden Age of Television. She is often burdened with the decision of starting the next promising streaming service drama or watching the Wire again. These tough debates often result in emotional resignation and watching old seasons of America’s Next Top Model while playing Two Dots. Peggy is living her best life.

Lara Selavka Batgirl Lara Selavka is a proud, badge(r)-wearing Hufflepuff, an avid Batgirl fangirl, a Disney devotee, and Star Wars savant. A military brat (Semper Paratus) with roots all over the country, Lara has lived in Brooklyn for nine years, but she’ll go toe-to-toe with you on anything Red Sox. In addition to hosting trivia, Lara cracks the whip as a project manager in NYC and can been seen around Brooklyn crafting the most glittery of gifts. In what spare time she discovers, Lara can be found planning for all things Halloween, signing up for far too many races (she’s a [two-time] medal-holding Disney Princess Half Marathon finisher), belting out the most obscure show tunes at Marie’s Crisis, camping out for tickets to Shakespeare in the Park, or making her way through her ever-growing pile (upon pile, upon pile, upon pile) of books. She’s got years of trivia knowledge stored in the endless cavern that is her brain, and she’s excited to finally put it to use!

Jessica Breda Loose Seal Jessica is an actress and a writer. When she’s not trying to make her rabbit, Piper, insta-famous, she’s probably memorizing a Shakespearean soliloquy of a King no one will ever cast her as, making mediocre-but-cost-effective hummus, and assuring herself that there is always money in the banana stand. She is a firm believer that Arrested Development should have ended with Season Three, that it was a cop-out that Harry Potter didn’t die at the end, and that every list of three or more things should include an oxford comma. Jessica would like to emphasize that watching movies over and over until she had them memorized ended up not being a waste of time, Mom.

Mary Kate Portera MKP After attending a Trivia, AD “Friends Thanksgiving” event in November of 2017, Mary Kate thought she could put her public speaking skills to good use and emailed company owner, Dave, for an interview. Mary Kate and Dave became fast friends and she’s been with the company ever since! When she’s not hosting trivia, she’s teaching 4th grade; both skills require a whole lot of talking and repeating oneself. She is thrilled to be able to continue virtually hosting trivia and hopefully bringing our Trivia, AD patrons some joy and happiness during this time of uncertainty.

Gina Sidote The Next Supreme A born and raised New Yorker who still has difficulty deciding what we do better, pizza or bagels? Gina joined our team after stepping down as a repeated single-player trivia champion. When she isn’t talking pop culture or working as an Account Manger, you can find her checking out the latest and greatest restaurants in Brooklyn. Her favorite shows include The Office, American Horror Story, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Law & Order SVU and RuPaul’s Drag Race. She never hides her love for the Kardashians and hopes one day to replace Jordyn Woods. After all, who doesn’t want a billionaire bestie?

Michelle Tidmore The Companion Michelle grew up in Alabama but has called NYC home since 1998. Theatre is her first love but travel is a close second. It’s her goal to make it to as many places as her vacation days allow; even if she keeps returning to her favorites. She grew up watching classic film and TV, and even knew what time it was based on the show that was airing on Nick at Nite. Her love for television brought many friends into her life, including fellow Trivia, AD hosts Kim and Sage. They not only introduced her to the Doctor (Whovian for life), but also to Trivia, AD, first as a player and now as a team member.

Kim Rogers "The Ringbearer" Kim has been a pop culture nerd practically from birth, making it known when she refused to leave a screening of Cinderella, forcing her parents to sit through a second one. A former regular Trivia AD player, Kim’s Doctor Who trivia team “I refer you to the Yeti!” is the undefeated champion in New York City, even winning the tournament at New York Comic-Con 2014. She has never met a boyband she hasn’t loved, believes in the power of glitter and animated gifs, and is a proud Hufflepuff. She funnels all of her fangirlish feelings into her pop culture blog, Head Over Feels, which she founded with her best friend and former Trivia AD legend, Sage. She recently returned from pilgrimage to New Zealand for her birthday (don’t ask how old, she is a LADY) where she embarked on a two week guided Lord of the Rings tour that took her from Hobbiton to Gondor and back again. Be prepared to block out at least an hour if you ever want to ask about that trip.

Steve Strangio Action Hero Steve started in the stand-up and improvisational comedy world at the ripe young age of 17 and never looked back. Hitting the ComicCons for most of his life, while also playing and inventing new team sports, Steve kept his options open in all things awesome. All sorts of cool gigs followed such as a weekly performance as a trivia show host and interviewer for the WWE, along with being a regular writer for Cracked Magazine, hosting several television shows, and even working as a screenwriter for interactive movies released in theaters nationwide. Podcasting and streaming came along and Steve leapt into that world, producing several fandom related podcasts, as well as streaming shows that currently play on Roku, AppleTV, Chromecast, web, and mobile. Steve is also a playwright with over 20 of his plays produced. When he’s not doing everything in the entertainment field, Steve lounges on the couch with his beautiful wife Helena and their perky pug named Duckie.

Emily Mannon Whitest Sneakers Emily joined Trivia, AD because she loves the sound of her own voice. (#theaterkid) When she’s not doing deep dives into the Wiki pages of every half-hour comedy NBC has ever produced, she’s marketing children’s books and trying not to yell at her co-workers when they “haven’t seen any of the shows nominated for the Emmys because I don’t own a TV.” (#truestory) Her least favorite words are “moist” and “dangle,” and her most favorite words are “Next episode in 10 . . . 9 . . .” She wishes that her Netflix knew that yes, she is always “still watching.”

Aliza Chudnow Jayhawker If there is one thing Aliza knows it’s all things entertainment. Growing up as a self-proclaimed television and movie junkie, she has spent years preparing for this gig at Trivia, AD by watching and re-watching shows that range from Full House to Sex and the City and everything in between. She loves TV so much that her dog’s name is Telley, which she isn’t embarrassed to admit is short for Television. Hailing from the great state of Texas, Aliza has lived in many awesome places the past few years from attending school at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS (ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK) to Orlando, FL where she worked for 10 months as different characters at Disney World (Mickey, Minnie, Donald just to name a few) to Kansas City, MO (best barbecue in the world) and now to NYC! Aliza may be a newbie to the amazing city, but she is so excited to be here and to especially be joining the Trivia, AD team where she can constantly talk about her love of all things TV and movies without being looked at like there are better things in life to talk about.

Isabel Arissó The Other Gilmore Girl Isabel is a Midwesterner through and through, and hails from the great state of Wisconsin (go Packers!). She then made her way to the east coast and attended Fordham University in the Bronx (go Rams!), and has not left NYC since (go NYC! But never the Yankees…ever). Two truths and a lie: Isabel was once in a movie with Shia LaBeouf, has the cutest cat ever named Dolly, and has seen every Hallmark Christmas movie ever. Trick question – those are all true. When she’s not hosting trivia, you can find Isabel working at her job in the music industry, or strong-arming her boyfriend into watching “The Bachelor” with her (he secretly enjoys it).

Erika Briggans-Jones Pawnee Goddess A graphic designer by day, and President of the Olivia Benson Fan Club by night, Erika can be most often found Instagraming the newest outlandish desert trend, starting a new (and likely emotionally daunting) craft project which she will surely never finish, or scaling an Everest-sized pile of Amazon boxes in order to escape her bedroom just long enough to grab a snack before [insert your most hated Bravo/E!/VH1 reality program] returns from commercial break. Her life goals include traveling to 100 countries, founding an elephant sanctuary, and being awarded the Guinness World Record for largest matchbox collection. She is thrilled to be a part of the Trivia A.D. team as it means the countless hours she’s spent re-watching Sex & The City instead of finally starting Game of Thrones is paying off.

Adam Pacecca H.E. Pennypacker Hailing from a small town in Rhode Island, Adam came to NYC by way of a college career in Albany to come work for New York’s best hospital and, more importantly, New York’s best trivia company. He has always had an affinity for trivia, and got his start becoming the person everyone playing trivia knew as “the guy who plays by himself and gets first place”. After a hard day of screening cells for cancer, Adam can be found watching, studying, and praising the greatest TV show of all time: Seinfeld. In any situation he can find a Seinfeld reference in and is not shy about gushing about it to whoever will listen. When not obsessing over Seinfeld, Adam likes to explore the city, listen to classic rock, re-watch his favorite TV shows and movies without watching new ones, reading and spend time with friends. He knows to always look to the cookie, that it’s not a lie if you believe it and never forgets to put up a Festivus Pole every year in his apartment.

Melissa Martinez New In Town Melissa is a Floridan with New York roots! After spending her childhood in sunny South Florida and graduating from FAU with a degree in Multi-Media & Theatre it was time to come back to the big city. When she’s not working she spends most of her time watching 80’s Movies, 90’s/00’s Tv and all of John Mulaney’s stand up specials. She’s a Yankees fan to the core, a walking pop culture encyclopedia, a photographer and is always on the hunt for The Best Burger in New York. Yes Netflix, she’s still watching! Stop asking…