meet the team
JoceLYn Rivera
THE CEO & FOUNDER
Jocelyn is the 26 year old powerhouse-in-the-making that brought PressPlay to life. What started as her hustle of helping artists to create and promote their music has evolved into a full blown branding agency at the forefront of NYC culture. A proven executor with a powerful network and unmatched vision, Jocelyn is the real deal. She’s worked with popular artists like Don Q, Sheff G, and Sleepy Hallow and created partnerships with a long list of big time brands and labels including DefJam, Empire, Live Nation, Sony, Atlantic, SiriusXM, RocNation, Hot97, Power 105, and more. She’s also been featured in the Nike Women’s Campaign, The Hype Magazine, and been the subject of a REVOLT for Brands: Hip Hop Influencer Profile. Jocelyn is no stranger to the big leagues - and with experience beyond her years in PR, branding, and artist management - she knows better than most what it takes to succeed on both the independent and industry sides of the music business. Today, Jocelyn has her sights set on growing PressPlay in order to create a bigger impact for our artists, our partners, and our larger community.
@jocelynarivera
Virginia “Steph” Donalds
@_stvph
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Role: Director of Member Success & Special Projects
Skills: Networking, A&R, Project Management, Administration
Virginia “Steph” Donalds is our Director of Member Success & Special Projects - and the glue that holds it all together. A natural born hustler and creative, Steph plays a key role in discovering talent, creating partnerships, and generally keeping the ship running smoothly. At just 24 years old, she’s an entrepreneur, a cofounder, and has a production partnership with a major label - and somehow has time to attend just about every workshop and industry event NYC has to offer. Steph ensures our members and clients get the most out of our work together - and takes pride in building strong relationships and equipping talented young artists with the tools they need to navigate the music industry. She is a fierce advocate, a valued team member, and a star PressPlay brand ambassador - and we’re happy we found her first!
Aidan C Werder
@aidantheasset
Hometown: New Jersey
Role: Director of Communications & Business Development
Skills: Writing, Editing, Marketing, Project Mgmt, Business Development
Aidan is our resident copywriter, editor, notetaker, and Jersey boy. He’s a skilled writer and communicator with an eye for branding and an inexplicable amount of hip hop knowledge - all being put to good use building up the PressPlay brand and our artists’. Coming from the startup world with a business school background, he has a unique perspective on the business landscape, bringing the lessons learned from helping to grow venture-backed tech companies to the world of music and entertainment. Aidan brings to the table a powerful combination of strategy and creativity, helping to bring concepts to life and elevate the stories of artists and brands. If you need to get your point across in written form - whether it’s an article, a bio, a press release, an email, or even a DM - Aidan is your go-to asset.
D’Rand Jones
@miamdjones
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Role: Director of Brand Management
Skills: Brand Management, Merchandising, Graphic Design, Event Management
D’Rand “D.Jones” Jones is our branding secret weapon. An experienced brand manager, D’Rand brings to the table years of experience working with top-tier talent: managing brands in several verticals, touring with high profile artists, creating brand activations, and building merchandising operations from the ground up. Over his career, he’s helped to sell over 500K units for various entertainment, lifestyle, streetwear, tobacco, and beverage brands - generating $6M+ in sales. D’Rand has managed Grammy-nominated artists and award-winning designers - and worked with some of the biggest brands and publications in the country. Originally from Cleveland before honing his craft and hustle in Atlanta, D’Rand now brings his talents to NYC to help build the PressPlay brand and those of our partners.
Sash Witter
@ayo_sash
Hometown: The Bronx, NY
Role: Head of Artist Services
Skills: Public Relations, Copywriting, Event Curation
Sash Witter is a multi-talented creative with an ear for what’s hot. From public relations, to content creation, to event curation, to hosting/producing her podcast - she is a Queen of all trades intent on making her mark on the culture. Over the last year, Sash has worked to successfully raise the profiles of artists such as Capella Grey, Doley Bernays, 03 Greedo, Tee Grizzley, Yxng K.A, Lil Muk, Nailah Blackman, Vina Love, Fergie Baby, and more. Sash has coordinated everything from brand strategy, social media campaigns, press runs, celebrity outreach, product placement, and more. Overall, Sash is a capable, results-driven writer, a fierce hustler, and a valuable addition to any artist or brand’s marketing efforts.