Van Shotwell

An enterprising businesswoman, Ms. Shotwell bridged the divide from being a simple hair salon owner to being a skilled makeup artist and hairstylist in Houston. As a sales and product educator for hair care product manufacturer Sebastian International, Van has honed her own skills at public speaking as well. Her attention to client detail and genuine love to help others achieve their dreams, made the switch from hair stylist to talent manager an easy transition.

Van’s extensive network within the entertainment industry over the past 25 years has earned her the trust of local, regional, national and international models, actors, producers, directors and screenwriters seeking personalized representation. She gained momentum in the entertainment industry when her company Forte’ Talent Management was acquired by DKM Management. Van went on to help create a new company, Duke and Sterling, with a few of her partners from DKM Management. Duke and Sterling manages the in-front and behind-the-camera business of a very select group of producers, directors, actors and writers.

Van’s talents are not confined to operating behind-the-scenes. This talented woman created "Aluzions - A Performance Company" in 1986 where she was both principal choreographer and on-stage performer. Her performance company won the 1989 Sammy Awards for 'Best Dance Group' and was one of the opening acts for the comedian 'Sinbad.' The group also performed for various charity organization events such as SPCA and Special Olympics. Seeking to provide a much needed source of inspiration for youth performers, Van created "Kidz Crew 2000"; a kid’s dance group that performed at local malls and events. Her love for dancing and performing started when she was a professional cheerleader for the Houston Gamblers and the Houston Oilers, and performed in front of huge crowds and small gatherings to promote each respective team.

Van Shotwell holds a BA in Communication from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Van is also bi-lingual, she fluently speaks Vietnamese.