The Experts

Jennifer Fortney, President, Cascade Communications

Jennifer Fortney is owner of Cascade Communications a boutique public relations firm specializing in small business and not-for-profits. She spent years working for an impressive list of Fortune 500 companies, including Jim Bean Brands, Motorola, Maytag, Milk – Got Milk?, and Kraft, radio and sports marketing. With over 13 years in marketing, Jennifer opened her business in 2001 with the goal to show small businesses how they can achieve the same kind of quality PR as the big boys do, but more affordably and efficiently. As a journalist, she enjoys the ability to tell the truly great stories of small businesses across the country, and creating the awareness they need to blossom into highly successful businesses. She has achieved media placements in The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Reuters, The New York Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, LA Times, Shape, Bon Appetit, Esquire, Fast Company, CNN, MarketWatch, “Today”, “Good Morning America”, and Food Network amongst hundreds of placements in newspapers, TV, radio, blogs and websites across the country. Jennifer is a graduate of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas. www.cascadecomms.com, http://cascadeeffect.blogspot.com

Brian Fons, President Corporate Creations Chicago, LLC. -

Brian R. Fons is an attorney and President of Corporate Creations Chicago LLC, an incorporation and trademark service company.  Brian has been published in the Chicago Bar Association’s CBA Record, and speaks regularly at the CBA and many Small business development centers.  Corporate Creations handles all types of legal paperwork filing, from forming business entities, to annual reports, to mergers, for any type of business entity in any state.  Their clients range from small businesses, to fortune 500 companies, to law firms that out source their corporate document needs.  Brian open the Chicago office in 1997.  www.corporatecreations.com/chicago

Michael Shapiro, President, Dynamic Management Solutions, Inc.

Michael Shapiro is a Management Consultant and Business Coach with over 25 years of business experience. His practice focuses on helping entrepreneurs and their companies build, manage and grow their businesses. He provides leadership development advice consults on organizational structure and offers rookie-manager training. Michael also founded and facilitates The Entrepreneurs Group – a facilitated, peer-support group for individuals in a business, professional services practice, or organizational leadership role. Michael earned a Bachelors degree in Small Business Management and a Masters degree in Technological Consulting and Management from DePaul University’s School for New Learning where he also teaches a course called Entrepreneurship – From Start-Up to Success. He also participates in and gained leadership training in organizational dynamics and group relations programs sponsored by Northwestern University, the Institute of Management Transformation, the A.K. Rice Institute, and Chicago Center for the Study of Groups and Organizations. www.dmscoach.com

Clayton Moulynox, General Manager, Evolve IT

 

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Clayton was half way through a journalism degree in 1996 when he decided to pursue his passion for technology.  He began with a relatively new small IT business, Evolve IT Australia, at the start of 1997 in a technical capacity. Soon, he identified a passion for small businesses and realized what an important part technology would play in their future success. In January 2000 he left Evolve IT, moving interstate to work with an International computer franchise company. His position there involved advising, supporting and training business owners in best practice business management both nationally and internationally – with a focus on technology.  Returning to Melbourne in 2003, Clayton returned to Evolve IT as BDM, using the skills he acquired in his previous role to drive the company forward through assisting clients in using technology to grow their business. In 2006 Evolve IT Australia opened its WA office and appointed Clayton Group General Manager, basing him in the Perth office to drive the new operation. Clayton’s problem solving skills and ability to see “the big picture” have made him a valuable asset to both Evolve IT and many clients, giving him strong knowledge in business development on all fronts. Highly regarded as an expert in the SME IT space, Clayton has often been quoted in industry magazines and newspapers.  www.evolveit.com.au

 

Chris Nastav, Owner, KC Web Specialists, LLC.

Chris Nastav is the owner of KC Web Specialists. They are experts in how small business gets done on the Internet. His company helps small business owners with all their Web site needs Chris Nastav has established his expertise over the last 14 years as a Web development and small business applications instructor for Johnson County Community College. He has been nominated twice for the Lieberman Teaching Excellence award. This award recognizes outstanding teaching skills combined with real world experience His company specializes in helping small businesses who want inexpensive but professional Web sites services in the following areas:

• Understanding how the Web can help a small business
• Explanation of the costs associated with doing business on the Internet New Web site development
• Maintenance on existing Web sites
• Search Engine Optimization
• Effective sales messaging for Web sites
• Web page content development

www.kcwebspecialists.com

Rosemary Peavler, TheWriteScribe and BizFinance.About.com

Rosemary Carlson Peavler spent 26 years as a college professor of Business Administration and Finance and still teaches part-time. During her career as a college professor, she has consulted for small businesses and has served as an expert witness in federal court cases for business. She was the first college professor in the state of Kentucky to teach graduate business finance courses online. She developed the first online Master’s degree program in Business Administration in Kentucky and one of the first in the U.S. She has written and researched for academic journals during her career as a professor.   Rosemary owns a freelance writing, editing, and research business, The WriteScribe. She writes extensively in the area of business finance. She writes and produces a website on small business finance for About.com, a New York Times company. She also writes in the areas of education, politics, retirement planning, and many other areas of business. Rosemary has a doctoral degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance from the University of Kentucky. She also has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky.  BizFinance.About.com