With over 20 years of experience in the direct marketing industry, Raul Vazquez is a proven business expert. He was an early pioneer in the infomercial business—prompting explosive sales growth for clients such as the Juiceman, the Sonicare Toothbrush, Carleton Sheets, the Ab Roller and Tiger Direct. He also launched the George Foreman Grill media campaign, catapulting Salton's bottom line from $75 million annually, to $900 million today.

Now the co-founder and CEO of Focus Inc, a direct marketing agency based in Tampa, Florida, Raul oversees long-term planning and business and marketing strategies for the company. He has established Focus Inc as an advertising leader in the automotive industry, revolutionizing the way dealers market to customers. Today, Focus Inc is a leading sales force in over 80 markets across the country and accounts for more auto sales in a given month than any dealership in the country, generating over $2.5 billion in car sales per year.

Over the past five years, Raul has contributed a monthly column for World of Special Finance magazine, including articles such as: “How to Make Your Sales Grow When Business is Slow,” “Building a Business” and “How to be Your Own Competitor.” And, he recently began writing for Special Finance Insider. In addition to Focus, he also launched LivingWithBadCredit.com in 2005, a free educational website that offers consumers counsel on how to live with (and survive) bad credit.

Raul earned his BSBA (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration) degree in Marketing from the University of Central Florida and is an active member of the Young Presidents' Organization.

Back to top Michael Vazquez
President

Michael Vazquez, president of Focus Inc, has over 15 years of operations management experience in the marketing and advertising industry. He helped launched a successful marketing agency in 1993 where he refined his knowledge of Business Process Reengineering (BPR) and flourished into an expert operations manager.

Michael then joined Focus Inc in 2001 as vice president of operations and was appointed to chief operating officer in March 2008, and then appointed to president in July 2009. At Focus, Michael oversees all day-to-day operations of the company and is instrumental in creating procedures that consistently improve the agency's daily functions. Michael graduated from the University of South Florida in 1990 with Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing. In his free time, he volunteers as a coach for youth league baseball teams in Tampa and spends quality time with his wife and two sons.

Back to top Timothy S. Delikat
Chief Financial Officer

Timothy S. Delikat has over 18 years of progressive Accounting and Management experience and has been a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida since May 1990. He is an active member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Timothy joined Focus Inc as CFO in September 2001. He is responsible for managing the accounting, financial reporting, financial planning, accounts receivable and accounts payable functions at Focus. He also manages relationships with banking and other lending institutions. Prior to joining Focus Inc, Delikat was employed as Director, Accounting and Financial Reporting for a large healthcare organization.

Timothy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Florida Southern College and received his M.B.A. with a concentration in Accounting and Finance from the University of South Florida.

Back to top Eric Yaverbaum
Ericho Direct Public Relations

Eric Yaverbaum founded Jericho Communications in 1985. After the agency completed its merger in 2005 (a year in which it was rated 11th “Best Agency in the Country to Work For”), he founded Ericho Communications in 2007 and currently serves as its president. He brings more than 25 years of experience to the practice of public relations and has earned a reputation for his unique expertise in strategic media relations, crisis communications and media training.

Eric has amassed extensive experience in counseling a wide range of clients in corporate, consumer, direct marketing, retail, technology and professional services markets; all while helping to build brands in the United States such as IKEA, Domino's Pizza, TCBY, Progressive Insurance, Subway Sandwiches, Tae Bo, Trillium Health Products, Bell Atlantic, American Express and Sony, among many others.

He's also a recognized national expert in media relations, crisis communications and communications training specialties. A hands-on manager and strategist, Eric is regularly called upon by the nation's most prominent chief executive officers and presidents for his counsel on all aspects of strategic planning, media relations and crisis planning.

Eric became an industry spokesperson after he wrote Public Relations for Dummies (first edition-2001 and second edition-2005). He's also the co-author of the best-selling book, I'll Get Back to You (McGraw Hill-1998). Eric wrote Leadership Secrets of the World's Most Successful CEOs (Dearborn-2004). His latest book, Everything Leadership (Adams), was published in May 2008. He's also written many articles for trade journals on creative public relations and media strategy.

At the age of 24, Eric graced the cover of USA Today, while on his way to acting as corporate spokesperson on behalf of dozens of clients including Domino's Pizza, Hain Celestial Group, Prince Tennis, and Camp Beverly Hills Clothing, to name a few.

A regular on the lecture circuit, Eric speaks to professional organizations across the country on the art of public relations. He's also a frequent talk-show guest on national and regional television and radio programs, including Fox and Friends, CBS This Morning, The Today Show, CNN, and Larry King Live.

A graduate of The American University, Eric was an active member of the highly selective Young Presidents' Organization, both locally and around the world for over a decade. His last three years in YPO, he served as Chapter Chairman (NYC).

Eric currently sits on the Board of Advisors for Accelerated Cure, a national non-profit dedicated to curing Multiple Sclerosis by determining its causes.

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