Paul W. Davis — President
Paul Davis, who is President of First Trace Communications, has amassed over 25 years experience in public relations and journalism. Mr. Davis served as the vice president of Danielle Ashley Communications, a full-service public relations, advertising and integrated marketing agency. He is the Immediate Past President of the Black Public Relations Society of Chicago (BPRS) and established the longest existing affiliate of the National Black Public Relations Society. He also has served as vice president of communications/government relations for HRDI, a leading non-profit mental-health and social service agency. Davis’ extensive political experience includes major roles in campaigns for Congress, the Governor of Illinois, Mayor of Chicago, the Illinois State Legislature, Cook County Board President and in an array of aldermanic campaigns. He was also formerly the congressional press secretary for Harold Washington, who later as mayor of Chicago appointed Davis as the youngest General Superintendent in the Department of Streets and Sanitation. Mr. Davis earned a B.A. Degree from Simpson College in Iowa. Darryl Dennard — Vice President
Darryl W. Dennard is a face and voice familiar to television viewers and radio listeners. With more than two decades experience, he’s interviewed everyone from a former U.S. president to Oprah Winfrey. His producing and on-camera talents have been viewed regularly in millions of homes via “The Black Enterprise Report.” He was also host/producer of “The Minority Business Report,” the nation’s longest running television program devoted to minority business. Mr. Dennard can be heard delivering the news and traffic on the “Tom Joyner Morning Show” on WVAZ (V103) in Chicago. Mr. Dennard earned his degree in broadcast journalism from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. He began his career as a reporter at WGRZ-TV the NBC affiliate in Buffalo. He then went on to serve as co-host of the nationally syndicated “Ebony-Jet Showcase.” Ajana Boone

For as long as she can remember, Ajana Boone has been using her personality and sunny disposition to disarm, and bring people and ideas together. A small-town girl living in the big city, Ajana's 10-year journey has taken her from journalism and social activism to financial services management and event planning to public relations. For three years, Ajana worked in the City of Chicago Mayor's Press Office. Before that, she started her own event planning business,  The Guest List.  Currently Ajana is building her integrated marketing career to help small business, not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and cause-related activities. Truly, in everything she does, she gives her heart and soul. Ajana earned an M.S. degree in Integrated Marketing Communication from Roosevelt University and her B.S. from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. As part of the First Trace Communications team, Ajana Boone strives to inject her personal style and professionalism into her projects, and learn everything she can about being a phenomenal communicator.

Lehia Franklin Acox
Lehia Franklin Acox is an accomplished marketing communications expert with more than 12 years of experience in building brand equity for corporate and non-profit organizations. Her strengths include crafting and implementing strategic and creative communications plans that take an integrated approach to engage, inform and inspire people to action. Ms. Franklin Acox has managed successful media, marketing and community outreach campaigns for The Chicago Community Trust, HSBC North America, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Chicago Investment Corporation, Logan Square Neighborhood Association and Shorebank. She also served in communications roles with The Night Ministry and Josephinum High School in Chicago. Ms. Franklin Acox earned a master’s of science in integrated marketing communications from Roosevelt University in Chicago as well as a bachelor’s of arts in history from the University of Notre Dame. A.C. McLean

Alfred Christopher "A.C." McLean hails from a background as magazine editor and journalist (Savoir Faire, Rush Street Media, and Reggae Trade). He was also the marketing director/manager for publications: ShopTalk magazine (1995-1998), Visions in Black (1995-1998), and Savoir Faire. A.C.'s work in media relations as garnered publicity for, Winnie Mandela, Cuba Gooding, Sr., Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Larry Wilcox, CBI Education Network, TCB360, and former Chicago Bulls small forward Jeff Sanders to name a few. A.C. was born and educated in London, England, where he studied electrical engineering at Tottenham Technical College.