DJGTEAM
Staffed by 26 communications professionals, the Devin James Group provides expertise and knowledge in a wide range of brand management, development and public relations disciplines, and executes award-winning programs.
 Devin James - Founder/CEO
Devin possesses remarkable innovation experience in brand and web development and public relations and has created memorable regional, national and international programs for celebrities, corporations and governments alike including this short list of clients: Americare Home Health, AutoHood Media, Benjamin L. Hooks Job Corps Center/Dept. of Labor, Burger King/Liberty Restaurant Group, Bridgestone of Americas, Drake Incorporated Construction, Global Products Inc. (global Harley Davidson exclusive licensee and distributor), Hamilton Lane, North Delta Hospice , Optimist International Foundation, Osceola County Health Department/Tobacco Free Florida and many more.
Regarded as a branding and public relations expert by the media, Devin has been featured in the Memphis Business Quarterly, the Memphis Regional Chambers' "Crossroads" magazine, the Memphis Flyer, the cover story of the Commercial Appeal business section, numerous features in the Memphis Business Journal while also appearing on WREG News Channel 3 "Live at 9" with Marybeth Conley and WHBQ MyFox Memphis, "Money Matters" with Mearl Purvis and Scott Maddus.
Devin's national media credits include features in; USA Today, CNN, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, Flame Magazine, The Network Journal, Atlanta Post, Who's Who of Black St. Louis, the St. Louis American Newspaper, the Dallas Weekly, African American Golfer's Digest magazine, Hotel & Motel Management Magazine as well as mainstream internet sites NFIB.com, CBS MoneyWatch.com, Yahoo News, BlackNews.com and Huffington Post/AOL's Black Voices.
 Ivonne Kinser - Chief Marketing Officer
Ivonne brings more than 15 years of experience in international marketing and advertising including multicultural and multi-location marketing. Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela she moved to Dallas, Texas in 2001 and joined T:M Advertising, where for 5 years she managed the American Airlines' advertising efforts in 19 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Five years later she became part of the largest independent advertising agency nationwide, The Richards Groups, and led the multicultural efforts for brands such as: Greyhound Bus Lines, MetroPCS, Comcast and Time Warner Cable, among others, as well as the Hispanic strategy for the agency's new business efforts, which resulted in the acquisition of a handful of new accounts within a two-year period.
 Vilma Otazo - Chief Creative Officer
Vilma's experience encompasses 20 years in the advertising, TV, and entertainment industry in the U.S and Latin America. Her capabilities include creative strategy development and execution, creative writing, production, post production, PR, events organization and management, corporate videos, development of new TV formal programs and more. Her resume includes high-profile projects such as: Project Runway Latin America, successful "novelas" such as Nickelodeon and Grachi among others.
 Eli Stein – Creative Director
Eli received degrees in commercial art from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston MA and holds several awards for his art including 2012 Distric 2 Silver Addy for the Gatorade Fit 2011 IDEA World Exhibit, the 2012 Rochester Gold Addy for the Gatorade Fit 2011 IDEA World Exhibit and the 2010 Rochester Addy for the Gatorade NATA 2009 Exhibit.
As an award-winning Art Director of trade show programs for international companies such as Gatorade, Pepsi, and Mars, Eli ensured that their branding came through in the entire booth experience, from graphics, to furnishings, to entertainment. Eli's background includes both science and art, giving him a unique point-of-view that mixes creativity with analytics.
 Bill Oates- Creative Director
While employed by The Sherrill Company, a Dallas-based Advertising agency Bill Oates graduated with a BFA at Southern Methodist University in 1980. Opportunity knocked again and he was hired to develop creative for Unigraphics, Inc. in 1982 and worked there until 1987, when he returned to his hometown to launch his own agency.
Since joining the Devin James Group, Bill has been spearheading the design process of creating and applying new ideas. Bill has a unique combination of expertise in creative media, which contributes to a thorough understanding of all phases of a project life cycle, from conception to launch.
 Allison Wollam - Senior Copywriter
Allison is an accomplished writer that has provided the corporate language for competitive solicitations/RFP, training manuals for field staff and copy for our non-profit and state government campaigns. Prior to joining our team she was an award-winning reporter/writer for various publications including the Houston Business Journal.
As a senior writer on our copy team she manages the writing, editing, and proofreading of creative concept language and ensures the messaging resonates with target audiences. She also assist in the general need for developing talking points/presentations and campaign theme copy.
Don Proctor - KC Market Manager/Media Buyer
Since joining the agency, Don has been responsible for our rapid growth in the Kansas City, Mo. market. He received a B.A. degree in business management and began his media career on Valentine's Day in 1992 in Kansas City, Mo. at the oldest Black-owned radio station in the U.S. For over 20 years, Don has developed and launched regional and national promotions for major consumer brands like Wal-Mart, Taco Bell, Sprint, Crown Royal and McDonald's.
In addition to working with large corporations, he also created several local multi-cultural community programs and events that continue to thrive in the Kansas City metro area today. He is vice president of the board at Urban Community Leadership Academy Charter School and is a devoted community activist.
Samuel McQueen - Agency Producer, Director and Screen Writer
Sam's film and television career has spanned over a decade. With more than 75 produced and directed projects under his belt, Samuel brings his talents from television to the silver screen. Most recently McQueen produced the short film, Let Old Ghosts Rest. The film is currently playing film festivals and has won a Gold Remi Award for best short drama at the Houston Worldfest Film Festival.
Sam recently co-directed and lensed a short documentary entitled, The Power of One.. The documentary was shot on-location in Masaka and Kamapala, Uganda and won a Gold Remi for best short documentary; and a Bronze Telly Award.
Before joining the Devin James Group, Sam worked in television for the last 17 years with Harpo Productions on The Oprah Winfrey Show where he shot and produced numerous segments, promos and interviews.
Lisa Robinson - Account Manager
Over the last year with Devin James Group, she has overseen the development of integrated campaigns for clients in fields ranging from education and healthcare to finance.
Lisa oversees accounts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, has a keen eye for detail, a PR writing background and a warm, personable attitude that makes her a favorite of Devin James Group clients. As part of her work, she conducts presentations as needed and represents clients' at high-traffic events alongside selected spokespeople.
Anny Mishra - Director of Online Marketing
Anny, a 2009 B.Tech graduate (CSE), specializing Web Technology & Network Security from BPUT, India, along with certifications from Google, Cisco & Checkpoint, has been a member of the Devin James Group since early 2011.
As director of online marketing, Anny develops and manages internal and client-based online marketing strategies including specific tactics like email marketing, online advertising & promotions, SEO, and SMM with specific emphasis on web-based optimizations, site analysis, and security related queries over OSI layers and on-page website modifications.
 Sam Trivedi - Agency Account Coordinator
Trivedi acts as the bridge between the client and the agency's creative and management teams and provides administrative and customer support. He responds to client needs and requests to ensure project coordination meets the scheduled timelines and budgets.
Trivedi, a global accounts veteran has handled international corporate and government accounts since joining the agency in 2009 and brings the highest-level of quality customer care to the agency. He also oversees the rest of the client services team as they implement the full range of web, advertising and direct marketing tactics.
 Sharon Thomas - Senior Account Executive
A team member at DJG since 2009, Sharon has been involved in the client relations side of the business since she graduated from the University of Memphis. She is fluent in English, Spanish and Hindi and has become one of the most dynamic account team members at the agency.
As an account executive she manages DJG clients and helps develop advertising strategies; media plans; and solutions to creative, logistical, and technical problems. Responsible for estimating costs and monitoring project timelines of new business. Oh and she spends a lot of time loving on the company mascot, Rags.
 Collin Preciado - Marketing Assistant
Collin is a St. Louis native who started off as an intern from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville and is now a marketing assistant. Collin is an award-winning artist and musician who understands the importance of a strong and consistent messaging campaign and has assisted in account strategies for many of our non-profit organization clients like the Breast Cancer Awareness Association of Minnesota, Kansas City's Aim4Peace Violence Prevention program and many others. He is based out of our Midwest office.
Jake Finch - Senior Graphic Designer
Jake is a 20-year highly skilled creative and marketing veteran with proven experience in developing creative for brand identity, websites, OOH (out-of-home) and vehicle/mobile campaigns and marketing materials. Jake works under the direction of Bill Oates and Devin James as part of the DJG Innovation team.
 Bryan Ascabano - Video Producer/Motion Graphic Artist
Bryan is our agency video producer, motion graphic artist, video editor and a graphic designer who has been creative lead on videos projects for over 2 years. Bryan has over 4 years of experience in video editing and graphic designing with tools such as Adobe AfterEffects, Premiere, Flash, Photoshop and Illustrator. Bryan works under the direction of Jake Finch, Bill Oates and Devin James as part of the DJG Innovation team to develop animation, characters, illustration or video.
 Rags James, Director of Lunch Breaks
Rescued from a shelter in St. Louis, Rags is the mascot and "cute factor" of the agency; always able to make clients and team members smile, laugh and feed him.
Since joining the agency in 2010, he has inspired the CEO to take on more pet related projects that resulted in discounted toys and treats, long walks in the part, pet insurance policies for all pet owners in the company and longer lunch breaks.
Board of Advisors
 Ann Balsamo - Strategic Counsel, Public Relations
Ann Balsamo is a seasoned and strategic communications professional with a depth of expertise engaging diverse audiences. Her agency work has spanned everything from telecom, financial, food, consumer products, and government initiatives.
During her tenure at Weber Shandwick, Ann oversaw the development and execution of Energizer's "Plan.Prepare.Protect" program. This award-winning educational initiative provided disaster preparedness information and supplies to Americans, urging them to create a preparedness plan before disasters happen.
 John Griffin - Strategic Counsel, Operations and Business Development
The term "Entrepreneur" is synonymous to John Griffin. Throughout his professional career he has been a pioneer and an innovator. He grew up in a family owned business and upon graduation from college in 1976 he began to carve his own niche. In the fall of 1976 he received his Real Estate License and began the first chapter in his professional life. Over the next 15 years his firm had constructed, built and developed over $65 million in residential and commercial properties. In 1989 his firm, Griffin Contractors, was listed as the 18th most active builder in the Greater Nashville, TN area as ranked in the "Nashville Book of Lists".
In 1992, combining his passion for NASCAR and Motorsports and his foresight that the Motorsports fan was as dedicated to their sport as fans were to the other sports, Griffin founded, Music City Motorsports in Nashville TN as a collectable and souvenir business. As the popularity of NASCAR grew over the decade that followed, Music City Motorsports became a force in the distribution of licensed sports and Motorsports apparel, souvenirs and memorabilia becoming one of the largest distributors in the US, successfully marketing and distributing over $80 million in merchandise from their 46,000 square foot distribution facility in Nashville.
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