Who We Are

LIZ SALAPATAS

It was in the mid 90’s that Liz Salapatas first stepped foot in Gevery Chambertin, in the Cote du Nuit in Burgundy. She toured the grand cru vineyards of Northern Burgundy and descended into the cellars of the likes of Jean Marie Fourrier and Dujac, and caught the wine bug. Tasting wines from this ancient and most mystical wine region in the world sparked an inspiration to embark on an enological vocation. After completing her formal education at Rutgers College and the University of London, she embarked on a self-directed program of learning about wines and the wine business. Thoroughly smitten after extensive travel through the wine regions of France and Italy, Liz focused on reading the works of wine historians and how they viewed wine culture vis-à-vis civilizations, commerce, community, politics, and agricultural trends.

For the past ten years, Liz has been selling and representing wines and wine regions from around the world. She has created wine buying and marketing programs for importers, wholesalers, retailers, and restaurateurs in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. She has conducted countless wine events and dinners, where she taught courses on the historical context of wineries, regions, winemaking techniques, grape varietals, marketing trends, and food pairing. Liz is certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers and is a Sommelier Guild member. Liz’s experience with media work includes: wine and food copy, catalog publishing, marketing and advertising, and writing for various importers, distributors, and retailers. In 2000, her skill in pairing wine with food led her to a 20 episode filming as the wine expert on Bobby Flay’s Hot Off The Grill With Bobby Flay on the Food TV Network.

Liz’s love of wine, books, and knowledge led her to create LS Media by partnering with Levi McConnell and the bookselling division of Levi McConnell Multimedia. The resultant company connects together her marketing expertise and extensive contacts with the art of author lectures, education, book sales, and event planning. She is thrilled to be bringing books, wine, and people together in an atmosphere that stimulates thought, discussion, and creativity.

LEVI MCCONNELL

Levi McConnell has a rich history in bookselling and promotions. Beginning with Joseph-Beth Booksellers in the early 90s, Levi developed a love of author events, playing host to such notable authors as Mary Higgins Clark, Stephen King, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Anne Rice among many others.

After working in Florida in advertising for a few years, he moved to New York City in 2001 where he became the Office Manager of The Lenox Hill Bookstore, working alongside Jeannette Watson, of Books & Co. fame.

In 2004, Levi started his own company, Levi McConnell Multimedia, which offered Book Events planning and bookselling services all over the New York City area. Now he has partnered with Liz Salapatas of LS Media, who will eventually take over the entire book events / bookselling component of the company.

Levi is still running the multimedia (audio & video) production side of Levi McConnell Multimedia, and is also currently working for the New York office of BridgerConway, an advertising agency and branding firm based in Buenos Aries, Argentina.