Cami Travis-Groves

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. Recently, she's founded The Freelance CEO, an online program that helps freelancers think like CEOs to 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 who feels honored to hold the title of president.

Jason Dailey

Vice President

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Jason has over 20 years’ experience in photography and has owned his own business since 2002. The creative field is all about problem solving. Collaboration is key, and Jason appreciates working with other creatives in all phases of the creative process: concept to delivery. As a photographer, Jason creates quietly dynamic images photographing portrait and portrait moments, and lifestyle images, emphasizing transition moments. He does this for graphic design firms needing collateral material, direct corporate clients wanting to make a visual statement, editorial publications to illustrate stories, and for small- to medium-sized advertising agencies who are looking to do portrait and lifestyle oriented campaigns. Jason communicates with photo editors, art directors and graphic designers in order to create the most effective imagery.

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.

Ted Tronnes

Treasurer

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Ted is an advertising creative director with 21 years of agency experience from Philadelphia to Kansas City with his own KC creative firm for the last decade. Ted provides marketing ideas/execution of print advertising, site UI-UX, identity systems and logos and general graphic design solutions. Ted has a BA from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia and studied Art Direction/Graphic Design at the Portfolio Center in Atlanta, GA. Larger clients include American Century, Bayer Crop Science, Boerhinger Ingelheim, Danisco, Intervet Schering-Plough, John Deere, Monsanto, Hallmark, Pfizer Animal Health, Sprint and The Salvation Army.

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. In addition to serving her clients, Cortés has dedicated her 20+ year career to helping others be successful as well. She is the founder and past president of The Freelance Exchange of KC—an industry organization that serves both self-employed professionals as well as the businesses that hire them. She is also an adjunct professor at the KC Art Institute, where she created her own course, Freelancing 101. Cortés is regularly sought out for mentoring, speaking engagements and media interviews.

Diane Schmidt

Past President

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Diane Schmidt is a seasoned project manager and proofreader with more than 30 years of experience. Diane’s background is in direct marketing and print production management with companies such as Sprint and Harte-Hanks. She has been an entrepreneur since 1999—solopreneur, contractor, freelancer, whatever you want to call it. Her experience includes proofreading and managing projects on national and local levels, from small businesses to large firms, advertising and design agencies, etc. She remains actively involved on The Freelance Exchange Board as Immediate Past President and always has her fingers in numerous FX activities.

Kendra Meek

Marketing

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Kendra is a senior graphic designer with 13+ years of experience ranging from small one-person start-ups to large global corporations. She's done it all, and has the t-shirt to prove it. Specializing in both print and web design with a concentration in social media communications and a passion for hand-drawn lettering, she loves to collaborate with teams and other creatives to achieve the best results.

Bill McConnell

Membership

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Bill McConnell brings years of graphic design expertise to the table. As a new transplant to Kansas City from Denver, he's excited to meet new people, and experience all Kansas City has to offer.

Byron Ginsburg

Programs

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Byron provides content writing, media outreach and marketing consulting services to individuals and organizations seeking to raise their visibility, recognition and revenue. Through interviews and collaboration, he helps clients develop their brand messaging and tell their stories. Byron writes articles, records testimonials, polishes business plans and creates professional profiles – both bio and LinkedIn-style – for digital and print channels.  His media placements have helped clients boost their public perception, event attendance and fundraising. Byron volunteers at arts, entrepreneurial and philanthropic organizations. He holds a Journalism degree from the University of Kansas, and a Master’s in Marketing from Avila University.

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.

Tasha Vockrodt & Hamama Bushra

Social

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Alexis Ceule

Social Media

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Alexis has the unique ability to speaking with your brand’s distinct voice online, and has been doing so for more than ten years. She's a social crafter, brand ambassador & social evolver and self-proclaimed and enthusiastic "Mamapreneur." She's a parade commentator, a Jayhawk, Kansas City proud, a fan of solar- and wind-power and, hell yes, she runs with scissors.

Cheryl Aufdemberge

Special Events

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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. When not engaged in the B2B community, Cheryl spends most of her time caring for her fur baby, Layla.

Adam Ziles

Web

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Super tall. Super friendly. Super talented. Adam has spent the past 15+ years in a variety of creative and business roles, including working partner of a Southern California retail brand and owner of his own creative agency. He knows firsthand the challenges of stretching a marketing budget, connecting with customers, and growing a business. Rumor has it his first word was “pencil.”