Barney T. Bishop, III
President & CEO
Associated Industries of Florida

Barney Bishop is a native Floridian and was one of the youngest Eagle Scouts ever. He was an accomplished high school debater, and attended both Miami Dade Community College and Emerson College in Boston, MA, on debate scholarships. After studying his last semester in Italy, he graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political & Judicial Communication, and in History.

Returning to Florida after college, Barney spent ten years as a private investigator, eventually owning his own firm in Orlando. He then moved to Tallahassee to work for Florida’s Treasurer & Insurance Commissioner, Bill Gunter. Four years after moving to the state capital, he began working for the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and eventually for Florida Lawyers Action Group (FLAG). In 1991, he was selected as the executive director of the Florida Democratic Party.

A year later Barney started his second company – The Windsor Group, a strategic public affairs and governmental consulting firm in Tallahassee which specialized in appropriations work. He grew the firm into a million dollar-a-year business, then sold it to join Associated Industries of Florida, “The Voice of Florida Business Since 1920,” full-time in January of 2005 as president. The following year he added CEO to his title. In the past four years, Barney has helped AIF to grow exponentially; he has overhauled its governance structure, improved its legislative and political clout and pushed them into new policy arenas such as education and economic development.

Barney’s volunteer services includes serving currently in many different capacities to the following organizations: the Governors Club, Emerson College Board of Overseers, Volunteer USA Foundation, BSA Suwannee River Council, Florida TaxWatch, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, American Association of Physician Specialists, Miccosukee Youth Education Foundation, Florida Juvenile Justice Foundation, Jobs for Florida Graduates, and the advisory board of Superior Bank.

His honors include induction into the Miami Dade College Hall of Fame, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders in America and the Leadership Orlando program. He was appointed to the Florida Commission on Community Service, the Florida A & M University Board of Trustees, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophic Fund Advisory Council, the Airport Advisory Committee and to the Solicitations Review Board.

He is married to the former Shelby Lynn Stinson, who works as the executive assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State.

 

Sheila Chapman
Executive Director, Marketing
PMSI, Inc.

Shelia Chapman is a Senior-Marketing Executive with over 15 years of experience in B2B, B2C and B2E capacities for global professional services and consumer product companies. She is a recognized marketing and branding expert known for leading one of the IT industry’s largest, most complex re-branding efforts, the transition from KPMG Consulting to BearingPoint. This award-winning, 130-country effort, encompassed brand development and implementation, media relations, analyst and investor relations and employee communications. Also, Shelia has held senior-level marketing and business development positions in health care and regional areas. Additionally, Shelia served several years in the consumer markets industry with Kraft Foods.

As an active member of the marketing industry, Shelia has held a number of positions in membership organizations including Information Technology Services Marketing Association, CMO Inner Circle, CMO Council and TBTF. She has received numerous industry awards and recognition including the Advertising Excellence Award, ITSMA’s Marketing and Branding Excellence Awards, LACP Silver Award, Innovation Award: George Washington University Center, ITSMA Diamond Award for Services Marketing. Her published works have appeared throughout the B2B trades, online journals and industry-related associations. Shelia studied Business Commerce and Marketing at the University of Memphis College of Business and Economics.

Brenda Freeman
Chief Marketing Officer for Turner Media - Young Adults & Kids Media
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Brenda Freeman is chief marketing officer for Turner Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media, responsible for providing overall vision and leadership to all areas of marketing, on-air and trade creative services that support the cable television networks Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang, along with their on-line businesses, and the digital enterprises GameTap and Super Deluxe.  Her duties include developing the strategic marketing plans directed at building these businesses among key constituencies—viewers, users, ad sales clients, promotional partners, affiliates and industry trade communities.

A veteran brand marketing and promotion executive, Freeman previously was senior vice president of integrated marketing and promotions for Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group.  In this position, she oversaw development and execution of all promotions marketing efforts for the media brands Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Noggin, The N, NickToons Network, and Nick at Nite, as well as Nickelodeon magazines and Nick Digital businesses. Prior to that, Freeman served as vice president of consumer marketing for VH1, where she oversaw all consumer and off-channel marketing for the company as well as digital marketing for the network, and the digital networks VH1 Classic and VH1 Soul.  Her promotional partners included premier companies such as Starbucks, SWATCH, American Airlines, the NBA and the NFL.  Freeman also previously worked as vice president, affiliate marketing, Entertainment Group for MTV Networks, implementing marketing strategy around affiliate efforts in brand promotion, distribution support, and local ad sales promotional support for Spike TV, Nickelodeon, Noggin, Nick GAS, NickToons, Nick at Nite and TVLand.

Before joining MTV Networks, Freeman was executive director of marketing and special events for ABC Radio Networks, where she was responsible for the total Urban business in the company, positioning the organization to capitalize on the significant impact of Urban consumers.  Previously, Freeman held a number of significant strategic consumer marketing and product development management positions for Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola, both divisions of PepsiCo.  Preceding that tenure, she was a marketing, operations and financial executive for Mobil Oil in its consumer retail and distribution businesses.

Freeman earned a bachelor’s of science degree in chemical engineering and a MBA degree in marketing and finance, both from the University of Maryland.  She is a board member of Women in Cable and Television (WICT) and serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Maryland College of Engineering.

 

Lisa Kranc
Senior Vice President of Marketing
AutoZone, Inc.

Lisa Kranc is the Senior Vice President of Marketing at AutoZone, Inc.  Lisa was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in Plainfield, Connecticut. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in American Studies in 1975 from Brandeis University and an MBA from Columbia University in 1977, majoring in Marketing and Finance.

Lisa began her Marketing career in brand management in 1977 at The Clorox Company in Oakland, CA, where she rose to Group Marketing Director. She continued to work in the consumer packaged goods industry—at Cadbury Schweppes, Jacobs Suchard and Alberto Culver— until 1992. Lisa switched to the retail grocery sector in 1992, holding executive marketing positions at Giant Eagle, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA, Bruno’s in Birmingham, AL, and at Hannaford Brothers in Scarsborough, ME until 2001. She became Senior Vice President of Marketing at AutoZone, Inc., her current position, in 2001.

As one of the thirteen-member AutoZone, Inc. Executive Committee team, led by CEO/President, Lisa oversees business/marketing strategy development and implementation and development of all advertising and media plans, as well as leads consumer research efforts and private label branding development.

Lisa also serves on the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association Board of Directors, is a Vice President of the Brandeis University Alumni Association, and is a Board member/Marketing Committee Chairman of ArtsMemphis.

Lisa has ten nieces and nephews in New York and Israel. Lisa enjoys traveling, golf, reading and theatre.

 

Greg Merritt
Vice President, Global Marketing
Cree, Inc.

Greg is the Vice President of Corporate Marketing at Cree, Inc., a leading innovator and supplier of energy efficient LED chips, components and lighting solutions.  Greg leads Cree’s corporate marketing efforts, including initiatives such as the LED City and LED University programs, as well as advertising, events, PR and corporate communications.  Greg also serves as a Board Member of the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA). Prior to joining Cree, Greg was Vice President of Marketing at Nortel, Inc., and led the market introductions of several new and innovative products and technologies.  He has a MS, Operations Research from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BS, Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia.

 

Wes Moore
Director of Product Marketing
Aprimo

In his role as Director of Product Marketing for MRM at Aprimo, Wes Moore is responsible for reinforcing Aprimo’s position as the marketing resource management (MRM) leader in the enterprise marketing management (EMM) software market.  Moore provides thought leadership to Aprimo’s MRM product, corporate and field marketing initiatives, including public relations and analyst relations.  Moore brings to the position deep knowledge of customer challenges in the marketing domain and a demonstrated track record of implementing MRM applications for marketing organizations across the globe.

Prior to joining Aprimo, Moore was Director of Product Management of the MRM product line at DoubleClick, where he oversaw the product direction for MRM on a global basis.  Preceding his tenure at DoubleClick, Moore performed multiple roles at SmartPath, helping shape the MRM space from inception.

Moore holds a BS in mathematics with honors from the University of North Carolina.

 

Tom O'Toole
Principal, O'Toole Associates
and
Adviser, Diamond Management and Technology Consultants, Inc.

Thomas F. O’Toole provides business leadership and practical engagement, as O’Toole Associates, at the intersection of marketing and information, for companies in the travel, consulting, marketing communication/systems and a range of other businesses.  He served until December, 2008, as both the Chief Marketing Officer and the Chief Information Officer of Global Hyatt Corporation.  He is unique in serving in this dual role.  He was responsible for all brand strategy, marketing, distribution, reservations and information technology for all of Hyatt’s operating companies and brands worldwide.  His specific responsibilities included all: marketing communication, loyalty programs (including Hyatt Gold Passport), electronic commerce, customer data systems and analytics, marketing research and enterprise information systems.

Mr. O’Toole was responsible for all brand marketing and marketing programs at Hyatt in North America since 1995 and, worldwide, since 2004.  He has led and managed all forms of marketing, including: national and international media advertising, database marketing, direct marketing, Internet marketing, promotional programs, trade marketing, public relations and related practices.  He is particularly strong in information-driven, analytic-based marketing methods.

At Hyatt, Mr. O’Toole built electronic commerce revenue from $0 to just under $1 billion.  He grew Hyatt.com and was responsible for Hyatt’s ecommerce strategy since its origins, in addition to leading Hyatt’s relationships with all Internet distributors (e.g., Expedia) and other electronic distribution intermediaries.

Mr. O’Toole was a founding director of Travelweb, LLC (the hotel industry electronic commerce venture) and played a key role in its successful development and sale to Priceline in 2004.  He has been a director of Pegasus Solutions, Inc. (the world leader in electronic hotel bookings and related functions/systems), since 1998.

Prior to serving as CMO and CIO, Mr. O’Toole was senior vice president, strategy and systems for Global Hyatt Corporation.  He joined Hyatt as vice president, marketing in 1995.  Previously, Mr. O’Toole served as vice president, marketing for Renaissance Hotels International (Americas).  Mr. O’Toole began his career doing marketing research methodology and statistical analysis for Wyse Advertising.

Mr. O’Toole was named the 2008 Conrad N. Hilton Distinguished Chair Lecturer at the University of Houston.  He has been featured as a role model for the new CMO position and the new CIO position (most recently by Bearing Point).  In 1998, he was named by Advertising Age to the “Marketing 100” top marketers for his marketing leadership of Hyatt Resorts.

Mr. O’Toole is a director of the Travel Industry Association.  He also serves as a director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Mr. O’Toole earned his graduate and undergraduate degrees in applied communication theory and methodology from Cleveland State University.  He and his family reside in Wilmette, Illinois.

 

Emilio Pardo
Executive Vice President & Chief Brand Officer
AARP

Executive Vice President & Chief Brand Officer, Brand Management, AARP.  Emilio is a senior executive with over 17 years of development and management experience with non-profit, corporate and governmental organizations. As Chief Brand Officer, he is currently responsible for all creating, coordinating and integrating brand–related plans from across the enterprise.

Prior to his new appointment, he was the Senior Vice President, Business Development at AARP Services.  At AARP Services, he was responsible for all product development, product licensing, new market channel development, and joint ventures for AARP Services, Inc.  He also managed all strategic alliances and corporate partnerships efforts for AARP, which included working with organizations like The Home Depot, United Health Care, The Hartford Group, Proctor & Gamble and Travelocity.

Most recently, he served as one of the senior executives for Discovery Communications, Inc., where he was responsible for special projects and development spanning of all 14 broadcast networks, including Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, and FitTV.

 

Faith Taylor
Vice President Sustainability and Innovation
Wyndham Worldwide

Faith Taylor currently oversees Wyndham’s worldwide sustainability program across all divisions which includes 30,000 employees and +7,000 sites.  She oversees the development of the company’s corporate policy, strategies and key initiatives. She also co-developed Clear Air by Pure, an allergy free program for Wyndham as well as the first to market green uniform program with Cintas. She is Vice Chair of the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s Environmental and Engineering Committee in Washington D.C. and frequently speaks on innovation and sustainability around the country.

As Vice President of Innovation and Product development she worked with the architectural firm of Michael Graves & Associates to develop their new brand positioning, interior designs, in-room products and hotel prototype initiatives that have been launched for the Wyndham hotel and resorts brand worldwide.  She also worked with Wolfgang Puck to develop a new coffee program, DMI to launch a new Wyn-tune music concept and Wyndham’s Café called Eat. Refresh. Live. to distinguish their brand.  She led the development and launch of Wyndham’s Worldwide Blue Harmony TM, a turn-key spa and fitness program that incorporates a green strategy to promote environmental awareness.

She joined the company in January 2003 as senior director of marketing for the Ramada® brand, responsible for its strategic planning and repositioning programs, marketing budgets and advertising and media commitments.

From 1997 to 2003, she served as a marketing consultant for International Home Foods Inc. in Parsippany and Idamar Enterprise, a spa and travel network company in Newark and was a founding member of Hookt.com Inc., an e-commerce company in New York.

Taylor worked for Avon Products Inc. in New York for 10 years in a variety of global brand marketing and management positions and was a recipient of their Chairman’s award for continued outstanding performance.  She led the development of several new profitable businesses that generated over $60 million in annual sales. She began her career with Time Warner Inc. in New York as a marketing executive for People and Sports Illustrated magazines.

Taylor was named one of the top African American executives in the lodging industry by Black Meetings and Tourism magazine in 2008.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif., and her master’s degree in business administration from the Wharton School of Business, Philadelphia. She is based in Wyndham Hotel Group’s Parsippany, N.J., offices.

 

Farnaz Wallace
Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
Church's Chicken

Farnaz Wallace, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer, serves as the chief brand protector and accelerator of performance for Church’s Chicken.  She is also responsible for all aspects of brand positioning and global marketing.  Utilizing 23 years of expertise in QSR marketing & advertising, to analyze all internal & external factors affecting sales & traffic, Ms. Wallace ultimately develops brand strategies which deliver on both short and long term objectives.  In addition to leading all global branding initiatives, corporate & field marketing, managing one national and two regional advertising agencies, she also oversees all R&D and Q&A functions.

In her 5 years as CMO, Farnaz Wallace has led the brand in 5 consecutive years of positive same store sales growth through successful new product introductions & innovative, break-through advertising.  An expert in multi-cultural and cross-generational branding and marketing, she solidified brand’s core value proposition, and successfully moving the brand beyond price/value, and re-positioning it as real, authentic high quality fried chicken at a great value.  In doing so, she ensures alignment with value delivery systems in all disciplines, consistently re-designing and refreshing the visual look & feel of the brand in all aspects of consumer communication & touch points, from advertising to in-store, recruitment, store design, etc.  She has created a highly talented, multi-cultural team, and is passionate about celebrating diversity and cultural understanding, and finding and coaching future leaders.

Wallace began her 15-year career at Church’s Chicken as a Field Marketing Manager.  Since then, she has had the opportunity to serve as Field Marketing Director, Regional Marketing Director, National Director of Field Marketing, and as Vice President of Field Marketing….leading to her current role as CMO.  Prior to joining Church’s, she had 5 years experience on the agency side in media planning/buying and account service, and 2 years at KFC.  Her extensive hands-on & supervisory experience affords her a macro view of the industry that encompasses various marketing aspects from brand positioning & strategic planning to creative development, consumer insight & innovation, customer segmentation, menu creation, promotion/P&L analysis, PR/consumer promotion, web marketing, and media management.

Farnaz Wallace earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, LA, a Graduate Marketing Certificate from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, and an Executive Management Certificate from Stanford University in CA.