CEO / Creative Director

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Honors and Awards:

PRWeek Exceptional Public Relations Campaign Award for Fight Colorectal Cancer “One Million Strong” March 2013 National Awareness Campaign,2013 Rising Star of Kansas City Award by KC Business Magazine, Who’s Who in Black St. Louis, Black Kansas City and Black Atlanta Recognitions, as well as recognized by the Memphis Business Journal as one of the Top Advertising/PR Agency CEO’s in West Tennessee.

Experience and Qualifications:

As a result of his father’s recent near fatal battle with colon cancer, and the loss of his closest cousin to breast cancer, Devin increased our agency investment into disease prevention, public health equity and social leadership issues. In 2012-3 he led our national campaign for the leading national advocacy organization on colon and rectal cancers, Fight Colorectal Cancer, by providing creative direction, celebrity endorsements and appearing on TV as the national spokesperson.

Regarded as a branding and public relations expert he speaks as a keynote at conferences around the world and his national media credits include features in; PR Week, USA Today, CNN, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, Flame Magazine (a Burger King/ National Franchise Association Publication), The Network Journal, Atlanta Post, 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, Huffington Post and AOL’s Black Voices.

Strategic Counsel / Operations and Business Development

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Experience and Qualifications:

The term “Entrepreneurb” 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.

Senior Web Developer

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Experience and Qualifications:

Amit has been with our agency 7 years and possesses combined experience in web design, web development and digital business development. Amit is a true techy with experience in ecommerce web design, internet marketing and large scale enterprise web design having led our team in the development of over 300 websites and digital media initiatives so far in various platforms like WordPress, PhP, Drupal, Amazon Webstore, Volusion and Magento.

Director of Communications / Public Relations

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Honors and Awards:

As well-respected member of Chicago’s public relations community, Amy has served on the board of the Weisman Fund at Columbia College, and has received numerous awards, among them the Publicity Club of Chicago “Edwin J. Shaughnessy Quality of Life” Award, a Silver Trumpet Award and recognition as part of “Outstanding Young Women of America.”

Experience and Qualifications:

Amy specializes in media strategy, copywriting and media relations and is a subject matter expert on disability communications. Amy has represented several organizations that serve disabled communities’ and is currently assigned to our statewide marketing account with the Oregon Council of Developmental Disabilities and the Libenu Foundation which provides opportunities for Jewish adults with developmental disabilities to live independent, meaningful lives as respected members of the Chicagoland Jewish community. She’s not only our expert, she’s a super mom who has first-hand experience as the mother of a daughter with a developmental disability.

Regional Vice President / Healthy Lifestyle Specialist

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Experience and Qualifications:

Christine Heggestad is the Vice President of The Devin James Group’s Midwest agency.  In this role Heggestad leads the brand’s offices in St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri.  She also implements business development initiatives in Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Christine works directly with CEO and founder Devin James, in the development of a visionary road map that will help transform “traditional” community events with healthy living innovations to increase participation across diverse communities.  Through Christine’s initiatives, these communities will have access to programs and events that promote healthy eating habits, the important of being active, and other critical knowledge.

Christine is a nationally recognized lifestyle contributor for leading print/digital magazines, with specialties in Clean Living, Cooking, and Event Planning.  Over the past 15 years, she has executed and designed corporate and social events with clients that include high-profile celebrities, Fortune 500 corporations, and the Midwest’s most celebrated leaders in politics, business, and community service.

In addition to her new role at The Devin James Group, Christine is also an entrepreneur, with a fitness facility in the local Kansas City area.  She holds her BA in Business Administration from Wichita State University.

Senior Web Developer

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Experience and Qualifications:

Ruchika has been with DJG over the last 4 years and possesses combined experience in web development and digital business development. Ruchika has senior-level experience in web developement and large scale enterprise web design having led our team in the development of over 200 websites in various platforms like WordPress, PHP, Drupal, Amazon Webstore, Volusion and Magento.

Senior Account Executive

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Experience and Qualifications:

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.

KC Market Manager / Media Buyer

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Experience and Qualifications:

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.

Agency Account Coordinator

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Experience and Qualifications:

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.