A dynamic and entertaining speaker and a critically acclaimed, bestselling author, Bill Murphy Jr. uses a unique blend of storytelling and data-driven research to inspire and educate aspiring entrepreneurs.  Murphy has addressed employees at Google and other major companies, and he has spoken onentrepreneurship at the Harvard Business School, the Yale School of Management, and many other colleges, business schools and law schools.  Best known for his books, he is the coauthor of Breakthrough Entrepreneurship (Farallon, 2012), with Jon Burgstone, founder of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology at the University of California at Berkeley. (“This is Seven Habits for Highly Effective Entrepreneurs. If you want to succeed in business, read Breakthrough Entrepreneurship.” — Ray Bingham, Managing Director, General Atlantic Partners).  Murphy’s previous book, The Intelligent Entrepreneur (Holt, 2010), about Harvard Business School alumni and entrepreneurship, was heralded by Princeton University Professor Ed Zschau (also a former U.S. Congressman representing Silicon Valley) as “brilliant” and “the single best book about entrepreneurship and life that I have ever read.”Based in Washington, D.C., Murphy writes the “D.C. Bill” column on government and innovation for Inc.com, and is working on an as-yet untitled book about best practices for entrepreneurs who want to achieve lucrative exits and capture value for their investors and themselves.  Previously, Murphy wrote In a Time of War (Holt, 2008), about West Point and the war on terror, served as the chief assistant to Bob Woodward at The Washington Post, reported from Iraq for the Post, tried civil tax cases as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, and served as an appellate prosecutor in the U.S. Army JAG Corps.  He is represented by Esther Newberg of ICM Partners in New York.

Michelle formerly worked at Pegasus Capital Management in wealth management and technology. She was formerly a consultant to the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. Earlier in her career in Boston, she managed international sales consulting for Thomson Reuter’s portfolio management technology, and was employed at Fidelity Investments.

Michelle is Vice Chair at Truman Medical Center Charitable Foundation and former Treasurer, a board member at MOCSA, and Literacy Kansas City and former member of the Starlight Theatre board.

Rachel Hack is Google’s Community Manager where she serves as a liaison between organizations and leaders in Kansas City with an interest in the ultra high-speed Google Fiber project and the Google Fiber team. She also oversees community affairs efforts in the community.
Rachel is a lifelong Kansas Citian. Among many volunteer activities, Rachel serves on the Boards of Directors of the Central Exchange, Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association, Guadalupe Centers, and Advisory Board of the University of Missouri – Kansas City Women’s Center. Rachel’s accomplishments have earned her the acknowledgment as a “Rising Star” by KC Business Magazine, a recognition of Kansas City leaders under the age of 40.

Martin leads KCADC’s marketing efforts with 30 years of experience in place branding. Martin and his team manage national marketing, publicity, advertising and online promotional efforts to recruit new corporate investment and top talent to the 18-county KC region.

KCADC’s newest national brand marketing platform, “America’s Creative Crossroads,” showcases KC’s top talent and creative culture—within area corporations, among local entrepreneurs and throughout an expanding bi-state arts community. The “Creative Crossroads” campaign is placing a national spotlight on Kansas City to draw more business investment, position the KC region as a top lifestyle destination and bring the best and brightest workers to the area.

Martin has a B.S. in Advertising and Journalism from Southern Illinois University, and a M.S. in Marketing Communication from Illinois State University. He lives in Fairway, Kansas.

Tyler Prochnow has significant and varied business interests around the country. Since 2008, Prochnow has been senior partner and co-founder of Think Big Partners providing the company’s clients with insight, consulting and advice on the difficult issues facing entrepreneurs. With a legal background and as the founder and operator of multiple business ventures, Prochnow draws upon his own personal experiences to assist TBP clients through the difficult stages of their business lifecycle. Prochnow also serves as President and CEO of Connexsus, LLC, one of the nation’s premier direct marketing service companies, providing telephony, data management, data consulting, call center and e-commerce services for domestic and international marketers.

In 1995 Tyler graduated from the University of Denver College of Law and began a successful law practice with Patton Boggs, LP in Denver. In 1997, he moved to Kansas City as an associate with the Lathrop & Gage law firm. Specializing in marketing and advertising law, Mr. Prochnow has been called to testify as an expert before congressional committees, federal agencies, state legislatures and in private litigation. He has also negotiated and managed complex commercial transactions worth more than $500 million dollars. While practicing law, Mr. Prochnow was a frequent lecturer to national groups on marketing issues and a guest columnist for several trade publications.

In 2003, on the night he was elected partner at Lathrop & Gage, Prochnow left the practice of law and founded Golden Peak Sports, a full service sports representation agency that counted among its clients such notable athletes as Deion Sanders, Amy Van Dyken, and Ed McCaffrey. Prochnow served as President of Golden Peak and was actively involved in managing the careers of the firm’s clients, until selling the firm in 2010.

He also currently serves as President and Managing Member of ACS Properties, LLC where he manages the company’s varied business ventures, including its interest in Q Masters BBQ, Grade Genie.com and multiple real estate projects nationwide.

Until 2007, Prochnow was the principal owner and President of the Kansas City Brigade (Arena Football League) and still serves as the Managing Partner of KC Arena Sports & Entertainment (“KCASE”).

Born in Port Chester, New York, Prochnow’s family moved to Atlanta, Georgia when he was one and he lived there until he left for college. Prochnow was a scholar-athlete, playing soccer while attending the University of Richmond and Oglethorpe University where he graduated with a degree in political science. He used that degree immediately upon graduation, working on various political campaigns around the country with a short stint in the White House. In addition to his work on the national level, Mr. Prochnow also served as an assistant with the Appropriations Committee of the Colorado House of Representatives.

Tyler is married to Ann Tierney Prochnow, a native Kansas Citian, and they live in Kansas City with their children Connor and Sophia and their golden retriever, Bode.