Kerri Lyon

Kerri Lyon oversees communications and media strategy for corporate and nonprofit clients seeking to raise their profiles, sway public opinion and manage major crises. From education to technology to economic development, Kerri works across many sectors and media channels to help her clients reach their target audiences and achieve their goals. Whether she is helping New York’s craft brewers restore a much-needed tax incentive, protecting reproductive rights at the U.S. Supreme Court, empowering teachers to advocate for their profession or launching the nation’s first major solar mobile-charging initiative, Kerri brings a laser-like focus and intensity to every challenge.

Kerri has a unique understanding of the current media landscape having worked on both sides of the profession. As a former television news reporter for NY1 and WCBS-TV, she knows what it takes to create and place a compelling news story. And as a former communications director at the New York City Department of Education, she knows how to distill complicated policy issues to build public awareness and support.

Kerri was recently named one of the PR News’ Top Women in PR for 2017. During her reporting days, she was nominated for two Emmy Awards and won a New York Broadcaster’s Association award for in-depth reporting. She is active on several nonprofit boards and advisory boards in her home borough of Brooklyn.

Rami S. Yanni

Rami is an attorney with more than 23 years of experience advising multinational companies, emerging growth companies and individuals. His expertise comprises intellectual property transactions, licensing, portfolio strategy and management, enforcement and anti-piracy matters. He also has experience advising clients on consumer products licensing, entertainment transactions, content acquisition, licensing and distribution, FTC/consumer protection matters, multi-platform celebrity endorsement agreements, COPPA/CARU compliance and leading due diligence for mergers and acquisitions. Over the course of his career he has negotiated hundreds of license, distribution, purchase and sale agreements for clients from a wide range of industries, including motion picture, television, music, e-commerce, apparel, footwear, cosmetics, consumer electronics, food and beverage, software, video game, publishing, toys, theme park and sporting goods, and has represented major motion picture studios and television networks in copyright and trademark matters.

Rami is an Adjunct Professor of Law at USC Gould School of Law and Whittier Law School and is often tapped to speak on intellectual property issues to various universities and professional organizations. He has published numerous articles on U.S. intellectual property law in legal, trade and consumer publications. Rami is a member of the International Trademark Association and sits on the Executive Committee of the Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He also sits on the Board of Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles and his J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.

Richard Wobbekind

Richard L. Wobbekind is Executive Director of the Business Research Division, Associate Professor of Business Economics and Finance, and Associate Dean for MBA and Executive Programs at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He joined the faculty at the College of Business in the fall of 1985. He assumed his current position as associate dean in July of 2007.

He participates annually in the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Regional Economic Roundtable and is a contributor to the Western Blue Chip forecast newsletter. He is a member of the Governor’s Revenue Estimating Advisory Committee, the Colorado Tourism Office Education and Research Committee, the Boulder Economic Council, and the Boulder Redevelopment Authority. In August 2009 he was elected Vice President of the National Association of Business Economics.

For his efforts in community development and outreach, Rich Wobbekind was awarded the 1997 University of Colorado Community Outreach Award. In 2002 he was named a Member of Distinction by the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. In 2006 he received the Robert L. Stearns Award from the University of Colorado Alumni Association for career achievement in teaching, research and service. In 2008 he received the Thayne Robsen award from the Association for University Business and Economics Research for career achievement in applied regional economic analysis.

Dr. Wobbekind teaches MBA students in macroeconomics, public policy, and entrepreneurship. He has received four awards for teaching excellence from the students of the Leeds School of Business.

Wobbekind has lived in Colorado for over 33 years and has spent much of his time studying the development of the Colorado and regional economies. Dr. Wobbekind received a BA in Economics from Bucknell University and an MA and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Colorado-Boulder.