About Arnett & Associates
Arnett & Associates – Premier Speakers, Talent and Leadership International, is
a full-service accredited international speakers bureau. With more than 30 years
experience hiring speakers, managing award-winning conferences and orchestrating
large events, we understand the process of selecting just the right speaker for
the job.
Our mission statement:
Our mission, plain and simple, is to help you achieve yours.
When your reputation is on the line, we put ours there as well. With so many speakers
and so much talent to choose from, it can be difficult to know whether you are making
the right choice in selecting the perfect speaker for your group.
Arnett & Associates has been in your shoes. We know the burden meeting and event
planners have in making sure their event is a success. Our goal is to make you a
hero. That's why we listen. By listening to our clients, we help you rest assured
that the speaker we send you will help to achieve your mission and goals and leave
the audience wanting more. A successful and memorable event is always our top priority.
We welcome the opportunity to serve you by bringing our expertise, creativity and
unlimited access to any speaker - including those listed exclusively elsewhere.
It would be our honor to work with you and it is a relationship we would not take
lightly. Let us help you become a hero.
Patsy Arnett,
President and Founder
Meet the A&A Team
Patsy Arnett
President and Founder
Over thirty years of experience in Public Relations and Marketing, A&A Founder have made President Patsy Arnett an expert in business of connecting people in the speaking market. Through her years as a PR consultant Patsy has done and seen it all: From the health care and railroad industry, to managing a political campaign, a Washington lobbyist, and a newspaper reporter. As a public relations and marketing consultant Patsy began helping connect speakers with clients in 1997 at the request of professional speakers seeking assistance with their development. Ten years later, A&A has grown into a full-service accredited Speaker's Bureau designed to help businesses, professional organizations, meeting planners and the community connect with the right speaker for their meeting or event.
In her spare time, Patsy, a passionate foodie and aspiring chef, loves to cook, read and travel.
Alex Arnett
Associate, Sales and Client Services
A Richmond, Virginia native, Alex is a 2008 graduate of University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where he majored in English. Alex joined the company as a full time employee in October 2008 but has been working with Arnett & Associates for the last two years while completing his education. He has proven to be a valuable asset in promoting and marketing our speakers’ talent and in developing the Talent & Entertainment division of Arnett & Associates. In his spare time Alex enjoys listening to live music, playing the guitar, watching his favorite teams play, especially the UNC Tarheels and the Washington Redskins.
Pete Brooks
AVP Sales and Development
Louis “Pete” Brooks is Assistant Vice President of Sales and Business Development to Arnett & Associates. Former Sales Manager at the Boars Head Inn in Charlottesville, Pete brings with him 20 years of experience in the meeting and hospitality industry. His hospitality career began in 1989 with the Sheraton Hotel Golf & Conference Center. He later joined Canaan Valley Resort, the Hidden Valley Resort and most recently was the Sales Manager at the Boars Head Inn in Charlottesville. Pete brings with him a valued knowledge of the meeting planning industry, a focused and diligent work ethic and expertise is a great value added benefit to clients.
Pete was born and raised in Waynesboro, Virginia. He attended the University of Virginia. He is married and has three children. Their son Daniel is a college student in Colorado, and twin daughters are senior in high school. They reside in Waynesboro with 4 dogs, 3 cats and a horse. Pete will have offices in Richmond and in Waynesboro, Virginia.
Patrick Holmes
Sales and Development Associate, Education
After moving to Richmond in 1992, and graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2007 with a degree in history, Patrick considers Richmond to be his home. With a passion for history and to teach others, Arnett and Associate is a perfect fit. Our Living History division seeks to educate students from kindergarten to those who are still seeking knowledge well beyond their school years. Patrick’s passion is teaching history but he also enjoys sports, the beach, being outdoors and spending time with family, friends and of course his dog Otis.
Hatcher Overton
Assistant Vice President for Speaker and Client Services
Hatcher Overton came on board with the agency as a Business Development Associate. Hatcher, a Richmond native, graduated from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee as a Theater major. As an actor, Hatcher has a firsthand perspective of working with talent and entertainers. As a bar manager at a hot restaurant in downtown Richmond, Hatcher honed his organization and people skills (and counseling skills!) even more. When the HBO mini-series John Adams, came to Virginia, Hatcher joined the cast. As the AVP of Speaker and Client Services, Hatcher quickly earned the respect of speakers and clients for his due diligence and attention to detail. He continues to assist in sales and business development and works with the agency’s speakers and clients each day. In his spare time, he watches sports on TV, old movies, reads and does stand-up comedy.
Otis
Honorary Vice President, Morale
Otis has endeared himself to the company and, not only is considered our mascot but, has earned the title of Honorary VP of Morale! Otis’ favorite pastimes are playing at the river, riding with his head out of the window, walking, begging for food and sleeping. He also enjoys howling with sirens and Jack Johnson songs.
Want to know more?
A&A Team: Patsy Arnett
| My hometown: | Richmond, VA ; Born in Clinton, NC |
| Favorite place I’ve visited: | Florence, Italy; Paris, France |
| My idea of a perfect vacation: | Beach, sun, good book, large kitchen for cooking; spending time with my family and friends OR treapsing through the countryside of a foreign country |
| One word that describes me: | Tenacious |
| Favorite quote: | “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” |
| Favorite band or singer: | Joni Mitchell, Neil Young |
| Favorite book: | Sarum by Edward Rutherford |
| Favorite movie: | Whale Rider. It resonated with me. |
| Favorite thing to do in my spare time: | Cook and throw dinner parties; read, read, read |
| Something most people do not know about me: | At age 16 I won the state knife fighting championship in karate |
A&A Team: Alex Arnett
| My hometown: | Richmond, VA |
| Favorite place I’ve visited: | Hawaii |
| My idea of a perfect vacation: | Going to the beach with friends and family |
| One word that describes me: | Outgoing |
| Favorite quote: | “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” – John Lennon |
| Favorite band or singer: | The Grateful Dead |
| Favorite book: | “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway |
| Favorite movie: | The Big Lebowski |
| Favorite thing to do in my spare time: | Spend time with friends, listen to live music |
| Something most people do not know about me: | I play the guitar |
A&A Team: Pete Brooks
| My hometown: | Waynesboro, Va. |
| Favorite place I’ve visited: | Carmen de Playa |
| My idea of a perfect vacation: | No phones, a beach, a mountain cabin & my family |
| One word that describes me: | Adventerous |
| Favorite quote: | Judge no man until you have walked in their shoes. |
| Favorite band or singer: | Rolling Stones |
| Favorite book: | To Kill A Mockingbird |
| Favorite movie: | To Kill A Mockingbird |
| Favorite thing to do in my spare time: | Golf, fish, hike, spend time with my family |
| Something most people do not know about me: | I have a fasination with the paranormal or unexplained events. |
A&A Team: Patrick Holmes
| My hometown: | Richmond, Virginia |
| Favorite place I’ve visited: | Barbados |
| My idea of a perfect vacation: | Topsail Island with family and friends |
| One word that describes me: | Genuine |
| Favorite quote: | “Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.” Benjamin Franklin |
| Favorite band or singer: | Dave Matthews Band |
| Favorite book: | “The Alchemist,” -Paulo Coelho. An oversimplified version of new-age philosophy and mysticism, but as Coelho says, “Simple things are the most valuable and only wise people appreciate them.” |
| Favorite movie: | Caddyshack |
| Favorite thing to do in my spare time: | Spend time with family, friends and my dog Otis, preferably outdoors at the river |
| Something most people do not know about me: | I speak Spanish |
A&A Team: Hatcher Overton
| My hometown: | Richmond, Virginia |
| Favorite place I’ve visited: | Segovia, Spain |
| My idea of a perfect vacation: | A reunion with old friends on a mountaintop in Tennessee |
| One word that describes me: | Affable |
| Favorite quote: | “I believe in Sewanee with all my heart.” – Teddy Roosevelt |
| Favorite band or singer: | Van Morrison, The Band |
| Favorite book: | A Million Little Pieces by James Frey |
| Favorite movie: | High Fidelity |
| Favorite thing to do in my spare time: | See live music, watch sports, catch up |
A&A Team: Otis
| My hometown: | Richmond, Virginia |
| Favorite place I’ve visited: | The James River |
| My idea of a perfect vacation: | Being outdoors near water and food |
| One word that describes me: | Loveable |
| Favorite quote: | “You want to go for a walk!” |
| Favorite band or singer: | Jack Johnson and Fire trucks… I enjoy howling along to both |
| Favorite book: | n/a Can’t read |
| Favorite movie: | Otis and Milo – when I can stay awake |
| Favorite thing to do in my spare time: | Eat, sleep & play… in that order. |
| Something most people do not know about me: | I survived Parvo when I was 3 months old. |
What our clients have to say about our speakers...
"Rare is the opportunity to be part of a class that truly provides both form and
substance to the selling process. You clearly delivered the best sales seminar I
have ever attended by cutting through all the clutter that exists. I unequivocally
recommend your program to anyone interested in improving their approach. They would
not gain a mere inch, but several miles over the competition, we certainly have."
Victor Lue-Yat,
CEO - DocuGreen.com
"You truly have a unique profession and are good at what you do. What a joy it must
be making people laugh. I know I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. It has
been a pleasure working with you and I hope that your year goes well. If I can ever
be a reference to what an incredible job you do with your act please call me."
Maggie Roche,
Johnson & Johnson / Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
"The comedic methods you used to coach our staff were attention grabbing as well
as entertaining."
Jan Eberle
Director of Guest Services & Event Management / Buffalo Bills
“A thousand attendees were thrilled by his powerful, engaging voice…and he didn’t
miss a beat when asked tough questions from the audience.”
Mark Skousen
Producer, FreedomFest
"In the years that I have worked numerous shows for Anheuser-Busch, I have never
had such favorable, positve feedback from our customers as I have received about
you."
Anheuser-Busch
“Some who have attended a number of conferences over the years told us this was the
best they had ever seen. Your participation helped make the conference what it was.”
IBM
“Your presentation was so timely, informative and well delivered.”
AIG Financial Group
“Your speaker was truly an asset to our event. Professional, educational, and entertaining!”
Liberty Property Trust
"No tuve tiempo de felicitarte por tu platica motivacional que hace unos dias impartiste
a todo el grupo de Latinoamerica de Citrix Systems, por lo que aprovecho este medio
para hacerlo. Me gusto bastante tu presentacion y me gustaria poder compartirla
con el personal de mi empresa por lo que te agradeceria mucho si me la puedes enviar."
Carlos Calderon Gonzalez
RedEx
Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico
"Your message was compelling and your delivery was moving! Our members clearly enjoyed
your talk. One member called me shortly after the lunch to tell me that you were
quite possibly the best speaker ever to address our club. I agree!"
Scot P. McRoberts
Executive Director, Virginia Council of CEOs
"...your presentation was the best presentation we’ve ever witnessed. This was a
very sophisticated audience, consisting almost entirely of attorneys and judges.
They used words like “engaging”, “dramatic”, and “fabulous” to describe your talk.
… I wanted you to know that I’m a hero because of you. Thanks for your superb presentation."
Terry Perkins
Dunn-Blount American Inn of Court - Daytona Beach, FL
“Each and every time we ask you to speak to our group you “bring it” – and once again,
you did not disappoint! As always, during your presentation, you could hear a pin
drop throughout the room, thanks to your compelling story and your gripping presentation
style. Some of the evaluation comments were ‘Inspiring’, ‘Outstanding’, ‘Real’ –
just a small testament, not only to your presentation style, but also to you as
a person.”
Susan R. Taylor
Vice President, CMP
"The reviews are coming in fast and furious this morning and everyone loved you!
Really, you made our celebration truly special and I can't thank you enough. Your
table tour last night put the cherry on top of a great evening."
Laurel M. Hayward
Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship, University of Richmond
“A thoroughly delightful addition to the program… a great change of pace, and completely
engaging. Polished, informative and great fun."
Bob Smith
Convention Chairman, Minnesota Libertarian Party
"You proved to be the highlight of the evening. It was just the right balance of
entertainment and information for the event."
Mark R. Warner
Virginia Governor
"...everyone thought that you did a very good job of linking situations that were
faced in colonial times with those that our business is approaching.”
Greg Williams
President CCA Financial
"...a flood of good memories of the extraordinary Welcome Reception at which you
entertained and which has been rightly dubbed the best in history by Red Crossers
from across the country."
Phyllis De Maurizi
Red Cross National Convention Chairperson
