Yanique DaCosta is a formally trained Graphic Designer and Fine Artist who owns a graphic design agency headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. DaCosta’s agency leverages data-driven graphic design and digital marketing strategies to get amplified product and marketing results. Her 12+ years of Brand Development and Advertising experience has translated to the evolution of member-centric initiatives with the Graphic Artists Guild since 2016. Some of these initiatives include but are not limited to Guild Chat, Guild Chat LIVE, and Monthly Member Spotlights.

Yanique has served the Graphic Artists Guild in the roles of Southern Regional Representative 2016-2019, At-Large Representative 2019-2021, Treasurer 2021-2023, and ICoD Delegate 2018-Present.

DaCosta was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and came to the United States to pursue her education. She received an Associate Degree in Graphic Design, a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Arts, and a Master’s Degree in Media Design. To work with DaCosta’s Agency, visit https://theykmd.com/

president@graphicartistsguild.org

Rachel is a Freelance Associate Creative Director | Art Director in the advertising industry. In her career she’s worked on broadcast, social activations, and branding for clients such as eBay | Sneakers, eBay | Trading Cards, Bojangles, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Puma, Hallmark, Lenovo, Bolt, Samsung, Tempurpedic and Edward Jones.

She’s a founding member of an AI, Tech & Art Collective called CRIMEBABIES, and a Co-Director of Mograph Meetup, a Networking Group for animators and other working creatives in the region. With these skills and expertise she has been appointed Secretary and Executive Board member of the Graphic Artists Guild, with a focus on advocacy initiatives around AI.

Ean has worked as a small business consultant, specializing in non-profits and creative
entrepreneurs, for over 20 years – almost all of them while living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
She moved back to my home state of California at the end of 2019 but still come back to visit NYC.

Over her career, Ean has worked with more than ten thousand organizations, ranging from
solopreneurs earning less than $100k per year up to non-profits that manage $40M in revenue.

Ean has also taught the basics of bookkeeping and money management through organizations such as the Workshop In Business Opportunities (wibo.works), 3rd Ward, Focus on Women, The Center for NonProfit Leadership, the Sierra Business Development Council, and have done workshops with the Graphic Artists Guild. She has also written session curriculum and content for Santa Clara University’s online My Own Business Institute.

Ean built her own business from a freelance concern to a 10 person $1M organization, which I sold this year. That business, Moxie Bookkeeping & Coaching, Inc. won “best of Brooklyn” three years in a row. Ean is a certified business coach, certified Profit First Professional, and Quickbooks ProAdvisor. She currently serves as Treasurer on two other boards: ABC No Rio in NYC and Sierra Commons in Nevada City, California and is qualified to speak to non-profit financial management.

With a film arts background, Ean was a member of a Brooklyn film collective and has worked on camera in corporate, documentary, and narrative films and is the daughter of a jazz musician – so a lot of my business metaphors relate to music.

Ean’s mantra is “it is time to make radically kind people comfortable with money”. I don’t think shame or judgment has any place in how we think about money.

Liz has traveled a varied, winding path into creative professionalism. She graduated from Alfred University in 2011 with a BFA, then unexpectedly pivoted into the great wide world of association management.

Early in her career she began volunteering for the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) and re-established their New York chapter. When she later transitioned to being the Community Manager for the AWI, she supported chapters across the country, completed association executive training with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and built a lasting vibrant community for their membership to grow in.

Though her career steered her more down the path of membership coordination and social media management, Liz knew her passion for illustration needed its time to shine. In 2018 Liz took the leap and became a full-time freelance illustrator, specializing in children’s books. The Graphic Artists Guild, and other professional associations, have been instrumental in helping Liz develop and grow Her business. Liz hopes to pass on the goodwill and knowledge her time here has brought.

Delanie West is a multi-disciplinary creative strategist and doer, driving consistent success in creating revenue, profit, and business growth.

Delanie formerly led Product Development and Design divisions at Wilton Brands and Faber-Castell / Creativity for Kids. She earned her Bachelors in Art in Graphic Design at Hampton University and is currently a candidate for an MBA at Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management, with a dual specialty in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. In early 2022, Delanie was the presenting lecturer at Columbia University Business School in the areas of Product Development, Packing Design and Supply Chain and Operations.

Delanie is President of Black Creatives, the first digital community for Black creators and has been a member since 2011. She’s serves as Board Director and is founding chair of Women in Toys, Licensing and Entertainment Foundation’s, Diversity and Inclusion committee.

Delanie has always used a creative problem-solving foundation in her approach to business and brand development, she’s super hands-on and works collaboratively with her clients and teams.

You can contact Delanie at: advocacy@graphicartistsguild.org

Leanne Bowers, a dedicated Board member of the Graphic Artists Guild, brings a wealth of experience to the organization. She became a Guild member in 2019, driven by her deep appreciation for the creative essence of our industry. In 2020, she took on the role of East Region Associate Representative, where she quickly became a steadfast advocate for the Guild’s mission.

During her tenure, Leanne initiated and contributed to projects including “The Lone Artist,” a monthly event for lone artists to come together, and the Coloring Book Fundraiser, whose goal is to support fundraising and member promotion.

In addition to her Guild involvement, Leanne is the Founder/Creative Director of Creative Cete, a dynamic graphic design studio established in 2023.

With over 13 years of experience in corporate design, two American InHouse Design Awards from Graphic Design USA, and a specialization in regulatory fields like finance and cybersecurity, Leanne is dedicated to advancing the interests of fellow artists and designers.

As a Board member, she envisions a future where the Graphic Artists Guild continues to evolve and thrive. Leanne is committed to advocating for the diverse needs of Guild members, fostering an inclusive environment, collaborating with fellow Board Members to elevate industry standards, and ensuring the Guild remains a symbol of creativity, innovation, and professionalism for graphic artists nationwide.

If you are interested in the Member Engagement Chair position, contact Paula at: admin@graphicartistsguild.org.

If you are interested in the Communications Chair position, contact Paula at: admin@graphicartistsguild.org.

If you are interested in the At Large Director position, contact Paula at: admin@graphicartistsguild.org.

Michele has over 20 years of experience practicing intellectual property law. She’s doing
what she can to drag the legal profession into the 21st century. In 2015, she launched
Beeline Legal, a web-based expert system that delivers legal services to help clients
protect the trademarks they love at a price they can afford.

Links and Handles
Beeline website: https://beelinelegal.com/
The Bee Blog: beelinelegal.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Beeline Legal NYC
Tweets by BeelineLegalNYC
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/micheleberdinis
Instagram: @beeline_legal
https://www.instagram.com/beeline_legal/

Linda Secondari is the Publisher for the Graphic Artists Guild, overseeing the development of the 17th edition of the “Handbook for Pricing + Ethical Guidelines.”

When she’s not working on the Handbook, Linda is also Principal and Creative Director of Studiolo Secondari, a design firm in NYC focusing on Book Development and Digital Communications.

Before establishing Studiolo, she was the Creative Director at Oxford University Press, where she managed an international design team of 40 Designers and Art Directors split between the Oxford, New York, Toronto, and Delhi offices with a yearly output of 3,000+ titles.

Linda Secondari is an award-winning Designer and Creative Director. Linda’s work has been recognized by the AIGA, ICP, NY Book Show, the Stiftung Buchkunst Competition of the Frankfurt Book Fair, and the AUP Book, Jacket, and Journal Show.

Paula Hinkle has worked in the Graphic Arts field since receiving her degree from the University of Akron more than 30 years ago. Her experience has been in various capacities; as a production artist, a print shop supervisor/manager & designer, and as a business owner. She enjoys learning new things and makes it a priority.

Paula joined the Graphic Artists Guild in 2001, working as a volunteer for the At-Large Chapter before becoming a Regional Administrator for the Guild. She has served as assistant webinar coordinator since 2011. From 2003 – 2016, Paula  updated the chapter and regional websites & created weekly regional e-communications. She maintained the National web site from 2006-2016.

Paula began working as Administrative Director for the Graphic Artists Guild in January 2017.

Sofia is a content creator, filmmaker and video editor with a background in developing engaging content for various international brands. She has worked at a digital marketing agency, where she collaborated with creative teams to plan and execute successful advertising campaigns, managing budgets and analyzing metrics to deliver impactful results.

As a filmmaker and video editor, she has produced a range of projects, from commercials to award-winning short films showcased at international festivals.

Currently, Sofia is the Administrator’s Assistant at the Graphic Artist Guild, where she continues to pursue new opportunities for growth and creativity.

I’ve been creating my whole life. Growing up with an art teacher/watercolor artist mother gave me a great head start on my art career.

I have been a graphic designer for over 35 years. For the majority of that time, I was an in-house designer for large high-tech corporations. I worked on everything from brand identity to booth displays, infographics to explainer videos, web design to animated annual reports. The past few years I have been transitioning to a freelance designer/illustrator/cartoonist and have found the Guild a great resource for all the information I didn’t know I needed to know to be an independent artist.

neweng-rep@graphicartistsguild.org

Carl Cleanthes is a creative entrepreneur who, in 2006, founded Epic Made, a team of millennial gamer-nerds who live and breathe advertising, digital art, and storytelling.

Over the years Carl and his team have created powerful and eye-catching creative assets for some of the most notable brands in the world, including USA Network, Nickelodeon, SyFy, WWE, Shopify, and many others. Carl aka “Colorful Carl” has a YouTube channel and Twitch live art stream where he promotes and inspires creativity in his community.  He is an avid proponent of web3 technology and understands the potential it has to empower the creators for generations to come.  In addition to his professional endeavors, he is an urban homesteader, believing that a sustainable lifestyle is practiced in all aspects. He shares his knowledge of growing, heirlooms, seed harvesting, and the art of self-reliance. He is a husband of 17+ years to his inspiring wife Alden and father to his semi-feral, wild-child gamer son… they are both the light of his life.

Carl is on a mission to inspire as much creativity in humanity as he can while on this short journey we call life.  Reach out at www.colorfulcarl.com.

If you are interested in the Midwest Rep. position, contact Paula at: admin@graphicartistsguild.org

Brittany Lewis, is a freelance Graphic Artist, Illustrator and Entrepreneur based in Memphis, TN.  Since joining the Guild in fall 2022, my business and career have made great strides by utilizing the available information.

Being in Memphis, Brittany has seen the need for more awareness and access to the resources provided by the Graphic Artists Guild. She would like to increase awareness of the possibility of having a successful career in the arts in southern communities.

Brittany has been a freelancer for many years. She believes that as the South Regional Representative, she can help bridge the knowledge gap in southern communities and ensure that more people benefit from the incredible work the Guild does.

Junru (Jennie) Xu stands out as an exceptional global award-winning product designer and UX lead, boasting eight years of rich experience in product design, user experience, and human-computer interaction. After graduated from Columbia University, she currently serve as a senior product designer at DirecTV in Seattle. (https://www.junruxu.com/)

Junru’s remarkable UX design initiatives, particularly those focusing on social impact, have earned her multiple global awards gold winner, including The Red Dot Award, A’ Design Award & Competition, the Indigo Design Awards, the ADC Awards, the Muse Design Awards, the London Design Awards, Asia Design PRIZE, and the first prize from Chicago Women in Architecture. She is also a jury member for international design awards including World Brand Design Society, the Muse Design Awards, London Design Awards, Titan property awards(2025), Rome Design Awards (2025), Orpetron Web Design Awards, and the American Business Awards.

As the West Region Representative, Junru takes on significant responsibility and contributes greatly to the mission of the Graphic Artists Guild. Her efforts strengthen the Guild’s influence and ensure that the voices of artists in the West Region are effectively represented.