As Founder and CEO of Forward Progress, Dean leads his core team to provide digital influencer marketing solutions, serving over 2,000 corporate clients for the past 15 years. In 2015 Dean created and released a Social “Team Based” Education platform known as Social Jack™, and they have successfully trained over 100,000 professionals on Social Selling and B2B Influencer Marketing. Their curriculum is used globally by Fortune 500 companies, Associations, Conferences and Universities to instill best practices related to the effective use of social networks. Dean enjoys time with his family, and yes, some of that family time is spent in the dōjō: Dean and his son are both 3rd degree black belts in Tae Kwon Do. He and his family also enjoy supporting community.

"It's Kind of fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney

Rick Sherman has spent his 25 year career in the graphic arts and marketing, and he has successfully blended entrepreneurial ingenuity with corporate practicality. He effectively created a campaign for both B2C and B2B models across multiple industries: Education, Real Estate, Technology, Finance, and Manufacturing. With Forward Progress, Rick has helped develop and execute the integrated Rapid Launch Plan, designed to achieve rapid sales growth and response, and he has seen it successfully implemented across multiple business sectors. Rick’s experience encompasses every aspect of the marketing and production process.

Joe is a serial entrepreneur leveraging over 12 years of web development and business experience to help clients achieve their goals and build their business.  In joining the Forward Progress team of professional visionaries Joe specializes in web development, online advertising, and search engine marketing.  Joe takes great pride in being a part of an exceptional team helping clients reach their sales and marketing goals.  In his free time Joe enjoys being outdoors, boating, and traveling.  Joe is an avid consumer of technology news and loves the newest gadgets. 

"Where there's a will, there's a way."

Jackson has been using social media marketing in business for over 6 years. He is a College student who shows great dedication to everything he does. As a third degree black belt and instructor in martial arts, he applies disciplinary skills in all of the work that he does. He has experience with marketing, social media, business development, coaching, teaching as well as speaking in front of audiences.

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrific, and most of all, love of what you are doing.”  - Pele

Holly A. DeLisle is the Senior Manager at Forward Progress in charge of all financial aspects of the company. Holly has been involved in accounting and customer service with two key companies over the last 20 years. She first started her role at Delcom Systems Group Inc. as an owner involved in accounting and customer service, and she managed 22 employees.

In 2005 Holly made the move to Forward Progress to head up the accounting and human resource functions. She currently has set up the systems for the company that involves the following: Accounting, Invoicing, Accounts Payable, Benefit Analysis, Recruiting, Human Resoources, and Customer Service. She also coordinates all the key events for the company. She currently is also the PTA President for her sons Middle School in Indiana.

Paul has over 15 years of experience in providing design, development, and implementation of customized CRM applications, integrated web applications, and online marketing systems to medium and enterprise level businesses. He has been involved in managing all aspects of various projects from concept to delivery as well as hands on application development on a wide variety of platforms, mainly involving client/server architecture. He has managed specialties including systems/data integration, workflow automation, reporting services via extensive experience in database server administration, third party API utilization, and various reporting platforms. He is the lead developer on several multi-million dollar custom online payment web applications, requiring in-depth understanding of online data validation, integrity, and security. Other duties include end user technical support and training on all custom solutions.

Brett has used social media throughout his life and is excited take it to the next step by using it for business. He studies at DePaul University as a hard-working and determined student. He also loves working with people and learning new things every day. On his free time, Brett can be found at a movie theater, playing tennis, or relaxing at the local coffee shop.

“Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positive.”

Cait came home to Chicago and joined the Forward Progress Team after spending the last half of her life in Georgia. She is a graduate of Valdosta State University where she studied Media and Communication Arts with emphasis in public speech and radio broadcasting. After working in the radio and marketing fields in Valdosta, GA for a few years, she decided it was time for a change and uprooted herself (and her dog and cat!) back home to the Chicagoland area. Cait is a lover of people, collaborating ideas, and good coffee. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and entertaining, traveling, and binge-watching TV shows on Netflix. Cait has a passion for nurturing others and an ongoing thirst to learn and grow.

“The Greeks didn’t write obituaries, they only asked one question when a man died: did he have passion?” –Serendipity

Jen is a Social Media Intern for Forward Progress/Social Jack. She just recently joined our team in December! She is also a Junior at DePaul University studying Marketing and Spanish; Jen serves on the executive board of her business fraternity, Pi Sigma Epsilon, where she found her passion for start-up culture and social media marketing. She strives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and believes that there is no better way to get the job done. In her free time, you can catch her trying new cuisines at Chicago’s tastiest spots. You may also find her hiding out in the Harold Washington Library jamming out in the piano practice rooms.

"If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude" -Maya Angelou

Parker is a hardworking individual and plays a big part in the Scouting ad drafting process as well as the Influence Factory.  He is attending Purdue University Northwest and majoring in Computer Information Systems.  Parker is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done right.  When not at school or in the office, Parker likes to go see local theater groups perform. 

Alex is enthusiastic to be apart of the Social Jack team as an intern.  He is a dedicated student and employee who plays an active role in his high school’s theater program.  Alex displays leadership through his acting and directing experience.  He also enjoys helping the community by volunteering as a member of The National Honor Society.  In the future Alex hopes to attend Purdue University and earn a degree in Education, but for now he spends his free time writing stories and hanging out with friends. 

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take -Wayne Gretzky”   -Michael Scott

Justice is a dedicated and team oriented individual who loves to help others. He is a Hudson and Holland scholar at Indiana University Bloomington studying Sport Marketing and Management. He is on the executive board of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, and is a member of the club: Oasis for Orphans, where he founded his passion of helping others. He has grown up with social media and has used it for the better part of his life. He is very excited to be apart of the Social Jack Team. When he’s not in school or working, he enjoys watching hockey and enjoys television shows like Billions, Big Brother, and Suits.

"I'd rather regret the things I did, than the things I never tried"
-Ryan Serhant

Tracy has been a creative leader for several initiatives throughout her career while managing projects for businesses in several different industries, including creating and implementing sales processes and promotions, process management, brand development and advertising. Her specialties include business development, account and process management and implementation. She leveraged her education in business and design by selling advertising to small and medium-sized businesses such as Donnelly RHD, Ameritech, and SBC, where she handled more than $1 million in sales annually. In her spare time, she enjoys exercising – and can occasionally be talked into training and running half marathons.  She also loves spending time with her friends and family, especially her husband and three children – often at lacrosse tournaments – traveling anywhere, and Chicago Sports.

“There is no such thing as luck. Luck is about taking advantage of your opportunities.” – My Dad

Sam is a sophomore at Iowa State University studying public relations. On campus, she is involved with the Student Union Board, Rotaract Club, Revival Magazine, and is a proud member of Alpha Gamma Delta Women's Fraternity. She is a firm supporter of authenticity, boldness and paying attention to detail. Sam is also an avid dog lover, candy aficionado, and believer that Ikea is the greatest store on earth.

"I believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being, just as you are--or, at all events, that I must try and become one." -Henrik Ibsen

Developing a love for creating content in her undergraduate years, Taneya is a diligent, passionate marketer who enjoys curating content through various mediums. She has had the pleasure of creating visual and written content for various organizations and has incorporated this love into her own personal projects. Taneya graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in Marketing. Shortly after her graduation in May, Taneya received the ability to come back home to Chicago and do what she loves best: Creating valuable content. As an advocator of self-development and emotional intellect, Taneya takes joy in sharpening her skillset and learning new, not so comfortable skills. She also has a heart for helping others, and inspiring others to be their best selves. In her spare time, she enjoys attending spoken word events throughout the city, live music, and creating art.

“Become who you are by learning who you are.”

― Robert Greene, Mastery

Jamie Barnes is a Social Media Content Writer for Social Jack and Forward Progress and a Senior at DePaul University, studying Marketing. She is also an active member of her business fraternity, Pi Sigma Epsilon. She strives in a work environment that sets goals, isn’t afraid to fail, and has fun. Jamie is a religious Chai Tea drinker and has watched every season of “Friends” three times through. If she’s not in the library or at work, she is exploring Chicago and all of the amazing things it has to offer, but mainly seeking out the best Chai in the Chi. 

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today”

-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Morgan Fentress is a Customer Service Representative for Forward Progress & Social Jack. She developed her stellar communication and interpersonal skills from her 7 years within the hotel industry. Combined with her communication and interpersonal skills, her 10 years of social media expertise made her well-versed in professional and personal dialogue. These skills have lead to her plunging into the ultimate social experience by providing support to inbound influencers within Social Jack. Aside from work, she enjoys the outdoors, spending time with her loved ones, and is a huge animal lover that enjoys making yummy vegetarian meals. Morgan has a passion for assisting others and is driven to continually learn new skills.

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
Confucius - a Chinese philosopher

Emily is a social media content writer for Social Jack and a senior at Iowa State University majoring in marketing and minoring in event management. At Iowa State, she is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Women’s Fraternity, a writer for Trend Magazine, and an avid Cyclones athletics supporter. She has a love for travel, Chicago sports teams, photography, and overpriced iced coffee. She is passionate about using creativity to connect and communicate with people and views social media as a creative and fun, yet essential way. to stay connected to the fast-paced, digital world.

 “Limitations live only in our minds.  But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless”. –Jamie Paolinetti

Erica joined Social Jack in 2019 as an Account Executive and Influencer. Erica has 30 years of experience in PR, Advertising and Marketing Communications as an Account Executive and Producer. She has done voice over work for business video productions as well as print ad work. She has worked as an Account Executive for both Profit and Not-for-Profit companies.  Erica is a writer and a published author of LOOK AND FIND SHARI LEWIS' LAMBCHOP AND FRIENDS.  She has authored many letters to the editor and articles of local interest which influenced the adoption of ordinances.

“I merely took the energy it took to pout and wrote some blues” Duke Ellington