Staff
Louis Posen // President
How long have you been at Hopeless?
On this date more then 15 years
What do you actually do?
It depends who you ask. My title is president and my four areas of responsibility are team leadership, artist relations, business development and business affairs but my real role is trying every day to better myself in order to make a better life for those I touch.
Where are you from?
I was born and grew up in Los Angeles
What are you listening to lately?
Demo’s, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse , our bands, bands in our scene and my favorite classics from The Beatles to X.
Favorite movies?
This changes regularly, but The Jerk, Kurosawa’s Rashomon and Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder seem to always end up in the top 10.
What do you like to eat?
Mainly food. When not eating vegan…sushi, a great steak house or anything my wife cooks. all over a nice big cabernet
Anything else to add?
Feel free to ask questions. when you stop reading and meeting new people you stop growing. Top 5 books: Mans Search for Meaning, Good to Great, Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, The Tipping Point, John Wooden’s A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and Off the Court
Al Person // General Manager
How long have you been at Hopeless?
10+ years
What do you actually do?
Generally Manage?
Where are you from?
SO CAL ALL THE WAY!
What are you listening to lately?
Really into Coldplay, but as a prog rock fan (Rush, Pink Floyd, Yes) makes a
lot of sense! Also lots of Drum Corps International stuff on you tube…
Favorite movies?
Apocalypse Now still tops the list, with Shawshank Redemption a close
second…
What do you like to eat?
A good steak paired with an even better Cab.
Anything else to add?
I am very grateful to have the opportunity to work in this business at such
a forward thinking company, with a great team, and fantastic customers and
fans!
Brian Belknap // Director of Operations & Finance
How long have you been at Hopeless?
10/27/03
What do you actually do?
Director Operations & Finance
Where are you from?
Los Angeles
What are you listening to lately?
Favorite movies?
Edward Scissorhands, Kill Bill, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, E.T., Star Wars
What do you like to eat?
Donuts, cupcakes, pizza and cherry coke
Ian Harrison // Director of Marketing
How long have you been at Hopeless?
I’ve been a Hopeless since 2005
What do you actually do?
I help tell the world about Hopeless, Sub City and our artists and charity work
Where are you from?
I grew up in Southern California a town called Lake Elsinore. Its very hot there
What are you listening to lately?
Aside from Hopeless Bands… Andrew Jackson Jihad, The Falcon, Tim Barry, Gaslight Anthem
Favorite movies?
Eh, I don’t really like movies… I’m more of a TV person, but my favorite is movie is Spinal Tap. Favorite TV- The Simpsons, Arrested Development, Mad Men, Family Guy, East Bound & Down, South Park, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and stuff like that
What do you like to eat?
Mashed potatoes, rib eye steaks, sushi, chicken soft tacos from Del Taco, anything with tomatoes and parsley on it… to drink- black coffee, club soda, Diet Coke, red wine, whisky, IPA’s
Anything else to add?
Not really. @hopelessian
Eric Tobin // Director of Sales & Artist Development
How long have you been at Hopeless?
Started april 2005
What do you actually do?
Moving target, mainly sales and artist development
Where are you from?
A place no one has ever been. Pittsfield.
What are you listening to lately?
Chris Isaak, St. Vincent, All Time Low, Don Gibson, Roger Miller, Current93
Favorite movies?
Chocolat
What do you like to eat?
What do I not like to eat.
Anything else to add?
Side of ranch.
Chad Pearson // P is for Panda
How long have you been at Hopeless?
Hopeless has been part of my life for a little over a year now.
What do you actually do?
I operate P is for Panda.
Where are you from?
Papua New Guinea.
What are you listening to lately?
Music, NPR and books on CD. I blame my cross country driving trip.
Favorite movies?
How long do I have? Shawshank Redemption, Green Mile, Serenity, The Harry Potter movies, and pretty much any documentary.
What do you like to eat?
Food. Especially things I bake.
Anything else to add?
Now that I am thinking about baking – I’m hungry. Go to www.tastespotting.com to change your world and if you like twitface as much as I do – @chadpearson.
Melissa Becerra // Marketing & Promotions Manager
How long have you been at Hopeless?
I started at Hopeless back in 2004!
What do you actually do?
Help to make our bands awesome.
Where are you from?
The Valley…haha nuff said
What are you listening to lately?
Besides Hopeless bands…Metric, Manchester Orchestra, Paramore, The Maine…the list goes on
Favorite movies?
That’s a hard one. Empire Records, Garden State, Superbad, Juno, Knocked Up, (500) Days of Summer, Mean Girls
What do you like to eat?
Lots of things. Pizza, fries (sweet potato or animal style haha), burgers (veggie to be exact), caramelized onions (make everything so much better), oh yeah grilled cheese is a must (with tomato of course), and veggie works burritos! yumm
Anything else to add?
If you’re the lurking type… @hopelessmelissa
Erin Choi // Licensing, Operations & Finance Manager
How long have you been at Hopeless?
I started as in intern in November 2004 and started working at Hopeless in June 2005.
What do you actually do?
I’m the Licensing, Operations & Finance Manager. My main job is pitching our bands/music to Film, TV, Video Games and Commercials and putting together our compilations.
Where are you from?
Torrance, CA
What are you listening to lately?
I love listening to our bands, but I’m also listening to Metric, We Were Promised Jet Packs, and Manchester Orchestra
Favorite movies?
Okay, so I love movies, these are a few that I really love: Garden State, The Notebook, Superbad, Once, The Shawshank Redemption, Adventureland, The Hangover
What do you like to eat?
Pizza with Tomatoes, BBQ Chicken Salads, and Tacos
Anything else to add?
Twitter: @erinchoi
Edwin Figueroa // Sales & Artist Development
How long have you been at Hopeless?
I started here Summer 2006
What do you actually do?
I work to make sure our bands music where people want to buy it, online at iTunes or in actual stores. Retail marketing, sales, distribution stuff.
Also, new bands, hit me up! I check out new music.
Where are you from?
Los Angeles, but I don’t like the Dodgers (or sports at all, really…)
What are you listening to lately?
Loving the new Set Your Goals album right now. Always listening to a lot of Blink, Thrice, Jimmy Eat World, Say Anything, Paramore, Foo Fighters…
Favorite movies?
The Hitcherhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, Donnie Darko, Anchorman
What do you like to eat?
Anything on the menu I don’t recognize with a name I can’t pronounce. And carne asada nachos!
Anything else to add?
@edwinisradd
Erik Jr Manning // Shipping / Receiving & Operations Coordinator
How long have you been at Hopeless?
6 months I believe…
What do you actually do?
Shipping/Receiving & Operations Coordination
Where are you from?
The Bay Area, Nor Cal, Under your bed haha
What are you listening to lately?
Lets see… A Day To Remember, Greeley Estates, Blink 182, Thrice, As Cities Burn, All Time Low
Favorite movies?
Ha I’m a man’s man, therefore The Notebook 
What do you like to eat?
Anything in Burrito or Sandwich form with a even mixture of pizza!
Anything else to add?
I love the beach and the lake! Wakeboarding is my sport of choice even.
@erikmanning
Jaddan Comerford // Label Manager – Australia
How long have you been at Hopeless?
About 2 and a half amazing years now
What do you actually do?
I oversee Australia and New Zealand for Australia.
Where are you from?
AUSTRALIA!
What are you listening to lately?
All Time Low, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, The Gaslight Anthem, Rancid, Young Heretics
Favorite movies?
The Burbs, The Goonies
What do you like to eat?
Anything but I particularly enjoy anything that involve potatoes
Anything else to add?
I love Hopeless Records!
Luke Logemann // Marketing Manager – Australia
How long have you been at Hopeless?
Roughly two and a half years ago we came on board
What do you actually do?
Marketing and label management for Hopeless Records Australia.
Where are you from?
Melbourne
What are you listening to lately?
According to my iTunes…. Rancid, Alexisonfire, Set Your Goals, All Time Low, Lil Wayne, Manchester Orchestra, Passion Pit, Friendly Fires, Young Heretics, We are the Ocean
Favorite movies?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Adaptation, Being John Malcovich…
What do you like to eat?
Salad!
Anything else to add?
I <3 Eric Tobin
Seam Lam // Marketing Manager – Australia
How long have you been at Hopeless?
Since mid 2007
What do you actually do?
As Marketing manager, I create the overall marketing plan for every record the label is releasing and ensure that effective strategies are being used to market and sell an artist/band’s record in Australia & New Zealand
Where are you from?
Thailand at birth. Melbourne, Australia at 2 years old until now
What are you listening to lately?
Top 10: Manchester Orchestra, All Time Low, Young Heretics, The Dangerous
Summer, The Academy Is, Taking Back Sunday, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Brand New, Keri Hilson, and The Amity Affliction
Favorite movies?
Top 10: Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, A Nightmare Before Christmas, Stranger In Fiction, The Royal Tenenbaums, Grease, Suddenly 30, The Fifth Element, Stand By Me, My Girl, and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
What do you like to eat?
Pizza, candy, fries, and the sour kind
Anything else to add?
It’s good to be creepy sometimes, follow me @seamalam
Lauren Acker // Marketing Intern
How long have you been at Hopeless?
I started interning at Hopeless the second week of July!
What do you actually do?
I work mainly on different marketing projects and contests and street team campaigns, but I also get to bounce around and help different departments with whatever it is that they’re working on. I love it because there’s always something new to do and learn everyday and everyone in the office is really helpful and entertaining to work with.
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and went to college in Orlando, Florida. Then I moved to Los Angeles to work here about a week before I started.
What are you listening to lately?
Well, my favorite musician is Andrew McMahon so I regulary listen to Something Corporate and Jacks Mannequin. The Rocket Summer, The Academy Is… and The Format are also pretty much a weekly must. But lately I’ve been listening to MGMT, Treaty of Paris, Everybody Else, Envy on the Coast, The Spill Canvas, Reuben’s Accomplice, Self Against City, My Favorite Highway….and the list goes on. Oooh and it’s apparently the season for amazing new records because I’ve also been listening to the new Fun album and of course the new All Time Low and There for Tomorrow albums.
Favorite movies?
I adore the movie Almost Famous. I’m also a Peter Pan addict so every movie involving that story, especially Hook and Finding Neverland, are ones that I will never get sick of.
What do you like to eat?
I’m a vegetarian and have a minor obsession with Jamba Juice. I’m also rather addicted to beverages that contain excessive amounts of caffeine.
Anything else to add?
I have an awesome rescue dog named Mozart who’s practically like my child. (If no one else has an anything else you can leave this out it was just all I could think of)
Hillary // Sales & Artist Development Intern
How long have you been at Hopeless?
Started here September 8, 2009!
What do you actually do?
I track album sales and help with whatever is needed!
Where are you from?
The valley! Chatsworth.
What are you listening to lately?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Paramore, Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, Chiodos, The Spill Canvas, Meg and Dia, Blackout101, Lady Gaga, Taking Back Sunday, Push Play, Blueskyreality, The Maine, and Mayday Parade.
Favorite movies?
The Hangover, The Ugly Truth, and Pineapple Express.
What do you like to eat?
Veggie burgers! Chipotle, Grilled cheese from In n Out are the best ever. Vegetable Tempura Rolls are pretty bomb.
Anything else to add?
Uh…follow me on twitter! @xohillary
