Joe is a leader in implementing truly integrated marketing communications (IMC). He has made it work by abolishing all agency departments (silos) and organizing in self-directed, client-centered, cross-functional teams. These teams, draw on feedback from the entire agency, approach marcom challenges from a media neutral POV and focus on generating immediate results while building the brand.

The Phelps Group is the only agency in SoCal listed on both the Advertising and PR agency charts. Its success is partly due to Joe's ongoing commitment to finding the right people and providing the resources needed to serve their clients.

Before founding the agency in 1981, Joe worked on global brands with Ayer and Grey. Prior to that he was a recording engineer and a musician. Joe lectures at graduate levels at numerous universities. His book, Pyramids Are Tombs, is recommended by America's most recognized IMC professors.

Michael C. Taylor founded Cedarcrest Capital LLC, a finance company specializing in unusual situations, in 2004. Cedarcrest is frequently a creditor when a bank or other investment company is unwilling or unable to provide capital. Michael previously worked as a bond salesman on Wall Street before founding Cedarcrest.

Andy Kruse is the co-founder of Southwest Windpower , the world’s leading producer of small (400-3000 watt) wind generators. In a garage over 20 years ago, an idea blossomed into a company that has produced over 100,000 small-scale wind machines, today found in over 120 countries.

Susan Schwake-Larochelle, owner, artist and artistic director for Artstream Studios . Their mission is to promote the visual arts in downtown Rochester and on the web through exhibition of emerging and established artists, arts education, media and graphic design, and community partnerships. In 2003 she opened artstream with two partners in a restored 100 year old building housing a full fine arts gallery promoting emerging and established artists, media/graphic design studio, and art academy in beautiful downtown Rochester right on the Cocheco river.

David Buscher is the owner of a home furnishings store located near the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, and on the web at www.bluehouseLIFE.com. The store sells furniture, home décor, eco-friendly hardwood and bamboo flooring and more. . . all of it conforming to their strict guidelines for health and sustainability. The store's café is thriving much of the time, and the furniture showroom has won two “Best of Baltimore” awards from local publications during our first year of operation.

Derrick Daye is founder and Managing Partner of The Blake Project, a leading
brand consultancy. He has spent the past 17 years helping small and large companies design, manage and build brands that drive revenue growth through differentiated customer experiences.

Prior to launching The Blake Project, Derrick held rewarding leadership roles at Saatchi & Saatchi as well as at three other respected advertising agencies. He credits his focus on brand strategy formulation and business development experiences with his ability to align organizations with unmet customer needs.

Early in his career he spent five years sharpening his communication skills in Europe and Asia as a network radio and television broadcast journalist and host. In this role he consistently earned awards and recognition for penetrating cultural barriers and influencing the clarity of key issues with target audiences through news and entertainment programs.

His thirst for greater understanding of other robust, strategic and creative outlets led him to a public relations position with the Department of Defense in 1995 where he was involved in crisis management strategy and media relations. This experience led to his first leadership role in advertising in 1997.

Derrick co-authors the popular branding blog Branding Strategy Insider, is quoted in the business press and writes on various marketing topics for a range of industry-specific publications.

He is a member of the International Economic Development Council, has served on a number of not-for-profit boards and is the proud founder of Marketers For Charity, an organization rallying professionals for the benefit of breast cancer research and other causes. Most notably, he has worked with The White House Press Corps, the National Basketball Association, Johnson & Johnson and the United Nations.

Derrick makes his home in Tampa, Florida and Rochester, New York. He attributes his small town upbringing in the State of Maine for his strong moral compass. Derrick's passion for people, business and the brands they create has rendered him a life-long student and frequent teacher in the conversion of big ideas into real world implementation.

He can be reached at ddaye@theblakeproject.com or (888) 706-5489.