About
Elite Talent Agency was founded by music industry veteran Mark Claassen. We are unique in that we are able to be a full-service agency, focused on more than booking concerts, we have strategic partnerships with agents in the film/TV, literary, commercial/sponsorship areas. We also have an in-house tour marketing agent that walks alongside of the buyer to maximize each individual show’s potential.
Mark Claassen, Owner, Agent
Mark Claassen is Owner, President, and Agent at Elite Talent Agency. He opened the doors at Elite after working nine years at the William Morris Agency. Since graduating from Florida Christian College and The Recording Workshop, Mark has worked professionally for over 15 years in the Nashville music industry. Over that period of time Mark has worn a lot of hats including agent, A&R, artist development, engineer, producer, radio promoter, live audio engineer, studio manager and now business owner. Mark has dedicated his career to helping facilitate the careers of artists that have a desire to not just entertain, but make a difference, and that is the mission he has set forth for Elite Talent Agency.
Andy Goerlich, Agent / West Coast
With Elite Talent Agency from its inception, Andy Goerlich, helped launch the company with Mark Claassen after spending the previous three years at the William Morris Agency. The six years prior to that, Andy managed a variety of major label Christian music artists. Originally from the wine country in California, Andy moved to Las Vegas at the age of 18 and became a Christian there a year later. He started a Christian radio program at UNLV’s radio station, KUNV and started promoting concerts. From there he enrolled back in school, going to college at California Baptist College in Riverside, CA where he started managing artists. In 2003, he made the move to Nashville where he now lives with his wife and daughter.
Jamie Warden, Agent / Southeast
A 20-year music industry veteran, Jamie Warden, has been with Elite Talent Agency since 2009. Before coming to Elite, Jamie worked at Central South Distribution for the previous nine years and was involved the careers of numerous Christian and Gospel music artists, helping launch the careers of artists ranging from LeCrae, Martha Munizzi, Juanita Bynum to Disciple and DecemberRadio. Jamie’s lifelong passion for music led him to get a Music Entertainment Management degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta before going on to work at Platinum Entertainment, Ichaban Records, and PolyGram Group Distribution.
Matt Fleming, Agent / Northeast
Originally from the Dayton, OH area, Matt has worked as a booking agent, church worship leader, and part-time musician before joining the Elite Talent Agency team in 2010. Matt plays guitar, piano, sings, and has been involved with music his entire life. He has released several independent albums with his former band and has shared the stage with a number of major label Christian recording-artists. Matt attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL where he studied Mass Communications and Public Relations.
Jordan Cocklin, Agent / Midwest
Jordan Cocklin joined Elite Talent Agency after graduating from Texas A&M University in 2010. Jordan comes from a military family and has lived all over the world, but now calls Nashville home. In addition to his passion for Christian music, Jordan loves snowboarding, wakeboarding, mountain biking and a variety of other extreme sports.
Keith Richards, Junior Agent
Unlike the other Keith Richards, our Keith Richards is originally from Atlanta Georgia and grew up a big Atlanta Braves fan. Keith moved to Nashville in 2004 and graduated from Belmont University in 2008 with a Degree in Music Business. Music has always been a part of Keith's life, playing in various bands and leading worship at his church. While at Belmont, Keith toured with a hardcore band called Sophia which released two independent albums and gave him an inside look into the day to day of the music industry. After college, Keith worked in the Philadelphia area to help support his wife's ambitions of graduate school. In 2011, Keith and his wife moved back to Nashville and Keith joined the Elite Talent Agency family.
Jacqueline Forte-Gimenez, Administrator
Jacqueline came to Elite Talent Agency from the William Morris Agency’s Beverly Hills office where she worked for 5 years in the area of Music Tour Marketing and Legal / Business Affairs. A graduate from Emerson College in Boston, MA with a degree in Media/Entertainment Management, Jacqueline worked for Radar Pictures and Radar Records before pursuing her career with William Morris Agency. While with Radar Pictures Jacqueline had the opportunity to work on such films as Jumanji, The Last Samurai and Le Divorce. She now lives with her husband in Nashville, TN.
Aaron Chambers , General Manager