About Us

Hofstetter, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee for his charitable work amidst the pandemic, is the founder of Steel City AF. A comedian with over half a billion views on YouTube and Facebook, Hofstetter is also the host of Finding Babe Ruth on FS1. His book (Ginger Kid) is a top 5 pick on Amazon and debuted at number one in its category. Hofstetter was the host and executive producer of season one of Laughs (FOX) and he has been on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and E! True Hollywood Story, Comics Unleashed, Comedy All-Stars, Quite Frankly, White Boyz in the Hood, Countdown, and more. His third movie debuted this year, and he has had two top 20 comedy albums (including one that hit number 1 on iTunes comedy charts). He is a former columnist for Sports Illustrated and the NHL, and has also written for Maxim and the New York Times, among others.

Ben Penigar is a live events expert. From running The Rex Theater in Pittsburgh’s historic South Side neighborhood for over a decade, to helping to re-open the Roxian Theater, to booking talent for smaller venues like Thunderbird Music Hall, to managing stages at music festivals across the country, and to producing festivals for local non-profit organizations, Ben has done it all. He brings a lifetime of experience booking talent, running venues and box offices, marketing events, and handling day-of-show responsibilities as a production manager. He’s been lauded as the “people’s champ” of concert promoters in Pittsburgh and is known and loved by artists around the country.

Marty Schiff’s passion for production began in community and regional theaters in Pittsburgh as a teenager. He would have over 30 credits on his resume by his 21st birthday. Since those early days, Marty has spent over 35 years in every aspect of the entertainment industry and has over 200 credits to his name in film, television, theater, online, and radio. His film career started by killing zombies in a mall in George A. Romero’s, DAWN OF THE DEAD. This project would lead to roles in Romero’s KNIGHTRIDERS, CREEPSHOW and DEAD TIME STORIES which Marty also produced. DAWN would foster a friendship and professional relationship with George that lasted over four decades until George’s untimely passing. In Hollywood, Marty began working in television with the CBS series, THE BOOK OF LISTS with Bill Bixby. Although the series was short-lived, it got Marty the attention needed to put him on the path to a lucrative television career. Marty would work on shows with every major network and studio. His 17 years there included DALLAS, KNIGHTRIDER, PERFECT STRANGERS, and NEWHART. As cable television was emerging as a viable viewing competitor, Marty would pioneer the Nickelodeon network with the groundbreaking series, OUT OF CONTROL. It was the very first series produced by Nick for Nick and would set the stage for the network’s style and success. Once again Marty would find himself on the cutting edge of the entertainment industry by working with The Gold Company as the Director of Development. Their project, IN LIVING COLOR, would change television forever and would launch the careers of some of today’s most prominent talent. After returning to Pennsylvania due to the Northridge Earthquake, Marty would continue his work in the broadcast and content arena. He found a home in the growing independent television market by launching The NATIONAL SHOPPING NETWORK, BE WELL TV, and THE GOLDEN SPORTS NETWORK. He also achieved worldwide distribution for his project GEORGE A. ROMERO PRESENTS DEADTIME STORIES. Today, as Vice President of Jeffrey Martin Global Media, Marty continues to develop content and find broadcast outlets for Indy television content. Currently, he is working on children’s, horror, and sports-related programming.  Marty has a BA in Theater and an MFA in writing for Film and Television.

Ali Spagnola is an internet artist. She is best known for her clever, innovative and over-the-top artwork and music that fans watch unfold on her Outrageous YouTube channel. Ali also leads a not-so-secret second life as a fitness fanatic on her Fitness Outrageous channel.

One of the true legends of comedy, Elayne is known for both her giving nature and for her success in doing things her way. When networks turned her down for a special, she self-funded it – and the success of that special led to sold out theatre tours and command performances for presidents and royalty. Seven specials later, Elayne has done everything from host a game show to host a presidential debate.

Costaki appeared in a New York Times article describing the different types of comedians and how they make a living. He was chosen to represent the “road comic” in the article, and they nailed it. He’s been crisscrossing America and beyond full-time for almost 30 years. Buoyed by his 14-year stint with a regular segment on the Bob & Tom Radio Show, he has built a following, particularly in the Midwest, where the show is a mainstay. He is also the proprietor of the podcast and football comedy brand All Pro Lines. Along the way, he has also written jokes for everyone from Jay Leno and Bette Midler, to BET and MTV.

Adam is an award-winning educator in New York, where he teaches high school English, Journalism, and Creative Writing in addition to other roles. Among various accolades local and national, he is most proud of having been honored by the Brooklyn Borough President in 2016 for his teaching excellence. Prior to his education career, Hofstetter worked in journalism and publishing; he has authored several books and written for publications including Sports Illustrated and The Atlantic.

Sharon Hofstetter has more than 20 years of hospitality and event planning experience, with a specific focus on learning and development as well as site expansion. Sharon has extensive and varied experience in several roles at some of NYC’s most famed eateries, including celebrity-loved Nobu 57 and Danny Brown’s, the first restaurant in the borough of Queens to receive a Michelin star. As Operations Manager at Oxmyx Hospitality Group, Sharon helps to achieve company objectives by forecasting, training, and providing market analytics and advanced CRM for multiple restaurant locations. Other pursuits include a (brief) stint in stand-up comedy, dance, modeling, and acting in independent films.

You may know Ryan Niemiller as the disarmingly handsome comedian and 3rd place finalist from America’s Got Talent Season 14. Despite being born with a disability in both arms, Ryan, the self-proclaimed “Cripple Threat of Comedy,” shares his views of the world from the perspective of the handicapped (and very handsome). Ryan began his comedy career in Los Angeles, California and hasn’t looked back since. He’s a favorite performer in clubs and colleges across the country. His comedy covers topics such as dating, trying to find employment, and attempting to find acceptance in a world not designed for him. With his quick wit, good looks, great timing, and a gimmick that only he can exploit, Ryan hopes to prove to the comedy world that he may be unarmed, but he is dangerous. And handsome – in case you missed it the first three times.

Brooklyn native Dwayne Perkins is a vet in the comedy game. His one-hour comedy special Dwayne Perkins: Take Note debuted on Netflix to rave reviews and instantly became a fan favorite. It showcases his unique way of looking at life and his unparalleled ability to convey it in a hilarious manner. Take Note was already in the top 50 Netflix comedy specials of all time only 2 months after being released. Dwayne has earned a spot in today’s elite class of standup comics with several appearances on Comedy Central and Conan. Dwayne is the author of the book Hot Chocolate For The Mind, a collection of humorous essays. Dwayne co-wrote and starred in the feature suspense film Dying To Kill, now on Amazon, where he plays a stand-up comic who has to get laughs or die trying. His recurring piece on The Jay Leno Show, Great White Moments in Black History, was a viewer favorite. Dwayne’s Comedy Central half-hour special was voted one of the top 25 Comedy Central specials of all time. His comedic instincts and acting skills shine through in the indie film Target Audience 9.1 where he offers much of the comic relief as the funny likable geek.