Brian Barquilla

Brian Barquilla, founder and publisher of Jacksonville Small Business Advantage: the Handbook for Small Business, is an expert in privately owned small businesses. In addition to being publisher of Advantage, he also is the chief facilitator of Executive Advantage, a professional- and business-development group for area CEOs. The Executive Advantage provides a forum for growth through coordinated discussion and exposure to expert speakers.

To further help business owners and presidents achieve maximum business and personal success, Brian has also developed the BMLS (Business Metrics Learning System), a user-friendly, peer-reviewed roadmap for success.

Because of his expertise in small business, Brian has been asked to serve on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Florida District Advisory Council. He was also a judge to select the SBA’s 2010 Small Business Week Awards.

Brian taps into his expertise to speak at many events and has been featured in a number of business publications. An entrepreneur with a drive for success, his forte is starting companies from scratch, refining business models, recruiting top talent, and ultimately executing his exit plan. To date, all of the businesses Brian has created are still thriving.

A self-made entrepreneur with more than 15 years of business CEO experience, Brian is excited to be sharing his passion for business building with others. He holds degrees in marketing and management from Jacksonville University. He lives in North Florida with his wife Robin and their two children. In his leisure time, he enjoys boating, fishing, and personal fitness.

George Biastre Jr.

George Biastre Jr., brings more than 25 years of business experience and loves to create business connections that count.

George calls himself an Opportunity Creator and gets a thrill out of finding and encouraging interaction between people and companies. He has a knack for seeing through the forest and finding out-of-the-ordinary opportunites. His broad range of skills allows him to walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk within a multitude of disciplines.

Small business is where George grew up. During high school, he worked in family-owned bike shops and hardware stores. Through college, he was a general contractor’s assistant, helped build his parent’s house, then hopped into the car rental business and worked his way up to Shift Supervisor. He earned his AA from FCCJ and BA from UNF.

After graduation, George joined a local travel agency and then spent 10 years in the travel and tourism industry. Traveling throughout the country, he worked with local, state and regional tourist destinations to help them attract visitors. He became Director of New Business Development Marketing before breaking out to form his own successful real estate investment company.

George loves Jacksonville. He is (nearly) a lifetime resident and has watched this city and its business community grow into a dynamic and enriching place to do business and raise a family.

Ken Wright

Ken Wright, in his position as Director of Digital Strategy, serves as Advantage’s lead interactive strategist and producer, supervising all digital strategy and playing an instrumental role in the development of online creative and production. He previously worked as a Director of Interactive Services at a national advertising agency in Milwaukee, Wisc., and was a consultant for several design firms throughout Florida.

Wright led the digital marketing and creative efforts for Miller Coors, Sargento Cheese and Mercury Marine and developed interactive initiatives for local businesses, such as Rayonier and Baptist Beaches. He also served as a brand/product manager for Timex in Middlebury, Conn., where he influenced product positioning and helped develop concepts for new watch designs. Additionally, Wright worked as an industrial designer for data storage and electronics company 3M/Imation.

Throughout his career, Wright has earned many awards and honors, including regional and local ADDYs in Jacksonville, Healthcare Advertising Awards, Golden Web Awards and WWW Health Awards.

Wendy Bautista

Wendy Bautista is the editor of Jacksonville Small Business Advantage: The Resource for Small Business. She received her Bachelor of Art degree in journalism with a minor in speech from the University of Hawaii.

Prior to joining Jacksonville Advantage: The Resource for Small Business, she was a radio and television newscaster in Hawaii and editor of and writer for several trade and consumer magazines for publishing companies in San Diego, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Jacksonville. She was also a public relations coordinator, freelance writer and editor while living abroad in Iceland.

Dixie Davidson Baker

Dixie Davidson Baker is the Marketing Manager of Jacksonville Small Business Advantage: The Resource for Small Business. Originally from South Carolina, she moved to Florida to attend college at Jacksonville University. There she received her Bachelor of Science degree in both Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Marketing.

She took a study abroad opportunity in South Africa working with Cheetahs and was previously employed by the Zoo.