Leadership
Leadership
Cheryl Aufdemberge
President
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Cheryl is passionate about digital marketing and in helping her clients grow their online presence. She has a decade or more of experience in the areas of website, blog and CRM administration, social media management, e-marketing, online research and event planning/onsite management. Cheryl is a lifelong learner and serves on several Boards and Committees for local nonprofit organizations.
Doug Lay
Vice President
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Doug Lay is an expert with 21 years of experience in SEO, web data analysis, and online marketing strategy. He is also a contributing editor of Search and Social: The Definitive Guide to Real-Time Marketing, a detailed, hands-on guide to building a successful real-time content marketing platform. Doug’s passion for research and strategy-driven results permeates into SEMPO as an active member, KCSEM as a founding member/treasurer of DFWSEM, The Freelance Exchange as Vice-President, and as an Johnson County Community College data science advisory board member. Throughout his career, Doug’s clients consistently rank high in search engines, which results in more traffic, higher conversion rates and increased profits. Currently Doug’s clients average 137 top 10 ranked keywords in Google, with one client having 523 top 10 ranked keywords in Google. Doug’s award-winning work attests to his skills and high-quality work in the digital analytics industry. Some notable awards including one Gold AMBIT award, and three Silver AMBIT awards from KCDMA, along with a Fountain Award from BMAKC. Doug received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Kansas, which allows him to understand and optimize for how online users think and shop. He holds three certifications from Richland Community College in internet communications, multimedia technology, and visual design. His online certifications include: Ecommerce Analytics, Analytics Platform Principles, Digital Analytics Fundamentals, AdWords Advanced and AdWords Professional from Google. When not analyzing and researching website data, Doug can be found on one of his fishing trips or enjoying the weekend at the park with his dog, Daisy. Contact Doug at (913) 893-1467 or via email at [email protected]Ashley McCarter
Secretary
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Ashley is a Kansas City-based graphic designer. She's worked on brands in healthcare, the wine and beverage industry, consumer packaged goods category, education, and has won two Gold Addy awards for her digital media work on social media content. Ashley has rescued canine family members that she loves posting photos of on Instagram.
Chad McAtee
Treasurer
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Chad “of all trades,” master of some. With experience in creative strategy, art direction, photo direction, and illustration within the digital and print mediums he’s produced award-winning art at the local level (Omni’s) as well as national recognition (AAF). In addition, Chad is an adjunct professor of over 15 years at Johnson County Community College instructing classes in Adobe Software, Microsoft Software and digital marketing concepts including Social Media, SEO, Google Analytics, YouTube, WordPress and Email marketing. In his younger years he served as the social director for the Ad2 Club of KC. Still young at heart, he’s been entrusted a leadership role and financial responsibilities in the FX of KC. Perhaps you’ll see him cruising on his Harley towards the next FX event or snowboarding down the peaks of Colorado in a social media post.
Julie Cortés
Founder
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Julie Cortés is an award-winning freelance advertising/marketing copywriter and proofreader, who works in all mediums and most industries. Her client and account lists run the gamut, from ad agencies and design shops to corporations and small businesses. Cortés has dedicated her 20+ year career to helping other freelancers be successful as well. She is the founder of The Freelance Exchange of KC, an adjunct professor at the KC Art Institute where she created her own course, Freelancing 101, and a professional speaker and business coach targeting both freelancers and the people who hire them.
Cami Travis-Groves
Past President
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A seasoned graphic designer with more than 25 years of experience, Cami is also a design strategist, an author, a business consultant, a good-juju spreader, and a speaker who’s given talks all over the country. She's the founder of The Freelancer PRO, an online coaching program helping people build wildly successful freelance businesses. Her experience includes designing in all forms and working for all types of clients, from a multi-million-dollar investment firm to one-person startups, from independent publishers to international recording artists. Cami enjoys giving back to her creative community—she's a serial volunteer.Board of Directors
Cathy Mores
Communications
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Cathy wants to live in a world filled with captivating design and Swedish Fish. As an art director and print designer for almost 20 years, Cathy spent time in agencies winning Addys and elevating brand voices across the Midwest before launching on her own, over ten years ago. Now she works with nonprofits, small businesses and agencies to do the same, bringing the same prowess to the communications team at FX of KC. When she’s not immersed in ink and paper, you’ll find her running (literally) around Kansas City, rummaging through the West Bottoms or cheering on her favorite teams.
Elizabeth Dunn-Hall
Membership
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Elizabeth was FX's very first Membership Director and she is excited to put her 25+ years of entrepreneurial experience to work! A Texas transplant, avid coffee lover, proud mother of two, survivor of divorce and a true creative visionary. Her passion and strategic ability to adapt to the client’s needs and create from the business owner’s shoes – whether by pixel or print – is phenomenal. Elizabeth is a dynamic communicator who will keep it real, make you laugh, empower you to soar to new heights and realize your strengths.
Matt Nichols
Outreach
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Matt Nichols celebrated his 16th year anniversary as a freelance photographer in July, and has been creating dynamic images for over 22 years. Specializing in commercial and fashion photography. Matt works out of his custom-built 3000 square foot studio in the old Italian neighborhood of Columbus Park in downtown Kansas City, MO. Matt believes in "No BIG egos, just BIG pictures."
Hamama Bushra
Social
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Hamama Bushra is an enthusiastic traditional illustrator and graphic designer, who enjoys the unique hands-on process that analog offers. She also makes a mean cup of tea. She plans all the coffee meet-ups and the happy hours that members and non-members alike can enjoy.
Ben Lee
Social Media
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After over a decade on the agency & client side, Ben found himself without a clear direction in his life. In 2015, Ben resigned his position as a Creative Director, and chose to build his own path in the freelance and entrepreneurial communities in Kansas City. Since 2015, Ben has worked with businesses from the local to national level. At the same time he built a business creating and self-publishing comic books, with an eye on providing opportunities for other creators to get their books into the marketplace.