Our Team
Sam Landers ~ Partner, Editor & Publisher
Sam believes strongly that beautiful and thoughtful books have a place in the world today. After working in advertising and design for over two decades, Sam Landers launched Trope as an integrated publishing platform for books, periodicals and films. Previously, he held various management positions with WPP, one of the world’s leading global marketing communication companies. During his time there, Sam worked in Chicago, New York and San Francisco ~ and traveled frequently throughout Europe, Asia and Africa (always taking his notebook & camera).
Michelle Fitzgerald ~ Associate Publisher, Director of Marketing & Operations
Michelle brings two decades of book publishing experience to Trope, where she spearheads marketing and publicity and oversees publishing operations. Before joining Trope, she ran the global marketing and publicity teams for Palgrave Macmillan/St. Martin’s Press, was Marketing Project Director at Chronicle Books, and worked in the editorial and marketing departments at Wiley. Michelle is a fierce advocate for books and authors and is passionate about sharing their work with the widest audience possible.
Michelle O'Sullivan ~ Director of Operations & Gallery
Director of Trope Gallery & Events and overseer of business operations, Michelle makes beautiful and near-impossible things happen. Prior to Trope, she ran experiential events and strategies for ABInBev and Pernod Ricard, was the SVP of Operations and Client Service at Designkitchen (WPP) and helped develop Goldman Sachs’ interactive presence. Michelle loves a good challenge and thrives on turning creative ideas into smart, tangible and lasting experiences.
Tom Maday ~ Partner, Editor & Publisher
Tom is a photographer whose assignments take him to every corner of the globe including Africa, the Middle East, the India subcontinent, Latin America, Europe and throughout Asia for clients such as ESPN, Abbott, Sappi Paper, Motorola and TD Ameritrade. His Tri-X and T-Max film pictures appear in the books Great Chicago Stories and After the Fall: Srebrenica Survivors in St. Louis. Over the years, his shooting gear has become lighter and lighter which helps him focus on the most important matter — the subject.
Scott Yanzy ~ Partner, Creative Director
Always pushing for simplicity, craft and flawless execution, Scott oversees Trope’s creative operations and is responsible for spearheading the concept and design across all disciplines. Scott has worked with countless Fortune 500 and global brands — serving as the Executive Creative Director and creative lead for many proven agencies which include, The Office of Experience, Blast Radius (WPP), Designkitchen (WPP), Arc Worldwide (Leo Burnett) and Razorfish (Publicis Groupe).
Terry Maday ~ Director of Film & Production
An Emmy and Graphis-winning director, cinematographer and owner of Maday Productions, Terry is our resident director of Film & Production. He has extensive global production experience shooting on location in Africa, China, Iceland, Jordan, Mexico and throughout the UK for agencies and clients such as 50,000Feet, Bank of America, ESPN, FCB, Kohler, Uber, VSA Partners and more. Perfecting his craft for over 25 years, Terry harnesses the power of video to tell meaningful and authentic stories.
