SPEAKERS

Linda Hill
President, Hill & Company Integrated Marketing & Advertising

Linda is President of Hill & Company, a Colorado based marketing firm located in Edwards, Colorado. Specializing in the hospitality and tourism industries, Hill & Company has assisted destinations, resorts, attractions, convention and visitor bureaus and Chambers throughout the Rocky Mountain region with their marketing and interactive needs. 

With over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, Linda began her career in hospitality sales in San Diego.  After moving to Vail she managed an activities company turning it into one of the largest transportation providers between Vail and Denver.  She then turned her sites to the Vail Resort Association as national Sales Manager.  Linda joined ad agency, Tashiro Marketing & Advertising in 1984 culminating with the purchase of the agency in 1997.

She is a graduate of San Diego State University, is a regular guest lecturer for Johnson Wales University, School of Hospitality.    She is a Board Member of Foresight Ski Guides, a challenge recreation/ski program for the visually impaired and past president of the Edwards Rotary Club.   An avid skier, Linda lives in the Vail Valley with her husband and two children.

As a strategist, Linda has lead Hill & Company’s clients through the maze of interactive marketing solutions.  Hill & Company’s team of eleven, each specializes in marketing, research, and branding and digital communications strategies for their clients delivering high impact and a solid return on investment. 

Karen Ruby
President, Signature Advertising 

With over nineteen years of expertise in marketing and advertising, Karen Ruby develops strategies, grows brands and positions clients as leaders in their industry.   Her early career began at Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide and subsequent positions have taught Karen the advertising business from every angle, including from the client side during her experience as marketing director for Adam’s Mark Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel chain.  As the owner of Signature Advertising, a nine year old company, Karen works hands-on with clients, providing marketing, PR, advertising, web development and interactive solutions through innovative strategies and co-operative partnering.  Successful results are the hallmark of the work Karen has provided for many of Signature’s clients including Telluride Tourism Board, Eldora Mountain Resort, Omni Interlocken Resort, Subaru, Sun Microsystems John Elway Celebrity Classic, Grand County Colorado Tourism, Destinations West and Trammell Crow Residential.  Between 2005 and 2007, Karen was an invaluable member of the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade’s branding team, which is dedicated to creating and promoting a new statewide branding initiative.   

Gaylene F. Ore
President, Ore Communications

In 1999, Gaylene started Ore Communications, a Colorado-based agency
specializing in public relations, branding and strategic marketing in the
lifestyle, leisure travel, non-profit and small-business sectors.

With more than 18 years of experience in public relations, Gaylene's primary
focus is to achieve results for clients by first determining their audiences
and business goals, then developing a target plan for success.

In 2008, Ore Communications' public relations equivalency for known story
placement (the PR value of articles in relation to the same-size paid
advertisements) for current clients efforts was $5 million.

Gaylene holds a BA in Human Resources, Recreation and Psychology from
Hastings College. She is an active member of Public Relations Society of
America, Society of American Travel Writers and Denver Women's Press Club.
She also teaches several marketing and public relations classes in Colorado.

Jackie Noble
Founder, Noble Erikcson, Inc.

Jackie Noble, founding partner of the award-winning design studio,
Noble Erickson Inc is passionate about research, storytelling and design. She focuses her energies on discovering the inherent character of a community, then translates these elements into a “kit-of-parts” in order to achieve authentic destination branding. Supported by strategic marketing, she moves the kit-of-parts seamlessly across media—from graphics and web design, interpretive plans and exhibits, signs and way-finding to revenue-generating products and posters—to connect locals and visitors to the meaning and significance of heritage resources. This brand clarity delivers a visual message which resonates with both locals and visitors.

Her recent branding and collective marketing for cultural heritage projects include:

• City of Denver/Historic Denver - Denver Story Trek
• Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund - Colorado’s Home, Denver
• City of Steamboat Springs Cultural Heritage Interpretive Plan and Cultural Heritage Trail Markers, CO
• City of Steamboat Springs Stockbridge Park Interpretive Master Plan and Ranching Heritage interpretive exhibit, CO
• Icons, Mapping and Illustrations for the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial - Destination: The Pacific, OR/WA
• Branded Icons for the collective marketability of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, Chesapeake Bay Program / National Park Service, MD
• Trio of Tours: Walking the Golden Triangle Neighborhood, Denver, CO
• Life on Capital Hill articles highlighting Broadway’s Automobile Row, Denver, CO

Stefan Ramsbot
Founder and Director of Business Development, 303 Software

Stefan Ramsbot, is a founding partner of 303 Software in Denver. The studio specializes in custom web development, multimedia web and CD-ROM based applications. With a solid background in developing large-scale enterprise solutions, Stefan partners with clients to create full-scale solutions which include FLASH animation and eCommerce online shopping capabilities.

His clients include non-profits to large enterprises:

• Philanthropy Fund of America
• National Youth Involvement Board
• Sony/BMG
• Microsoft
• First Data Corporation
• Kaiser Permanente
• Pepsi Bottling Group