ABOUT US
ImagineIt!: A Learning Company
A central principle within any creative process is to keep looking for the next right answers. From the
stories on this website, one can see that our team practices this mantra through interaction with our target
audiences, interviewing international thought leaders in the field of creativity and innovation and keeping
abreast of the latest research and developments in this arena. In other words, ImagineIt! practices what it
preaches, continuously looking for that next right answer which improves our capacity to help our clients
meet their creative goals.
The Team
Dr. Joseph A. Kayne, CEO
Dr. Kayne joined the ImagineIt! team in 2009 as vice-president for education and curriculum development. He
became CEO in April 2012.
He is also a partner in Exit Strategies, Inc., a consulting firm with national and international experience helping
entrepreneurs understand the rewards and challenges of entrepreneurship and providing support to public sector
and non-profit entities on the development and execution of entrepreneurship strategies
From 2003 to 2011, Dr. Kayne was the Cintas Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Richard T. Farmer School of
Business at Miami University and served as director of the Miami University Institute for Entrepreneurship from
2004 through 2010.
Previously, Dr. Kayne served as vice president for community and policy at the Kauffman Center for
Entrepreneurial Leadership, during which time he coordinated the development of KCCatalyst, a partnership to
encourage and support the emergence of new technology and life sciences companies in the greater Kansas City
area, initiated a Governors’ Academy on Entrepreneurship with the National Governors Association, and
partnered with the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) to develop the Entrepreneurial Effect:
Entrepreneurship for the Economic Development Professional. He joined the Kauffman Center after previously
holding the position of Manager of Public Affairs for the Kauffman Foundation.
For the eight years preceding his joining the Foundation, Dr. Kayne was Director of Economic Development and
Commerce policy studies at the National Governors Association (NGA) in Washington, D.C. In this capacity he
provided guidance to the nation’s governors in the areas of general economic development, science and
technology, rural development, transportation, telecommunications, information technology, and taxation. Much
of Dr. Kayne’s activities focused on collaboration between the states and the federal government. He served as
lead NGA staff in the development of the National Rural Development Partnership and the U.S. Innovation
Partnership. He has worked for four governors serving as the Director of Development Planning for the State of
Maryland and Deputy Executive Director of the Economic Development Agency for the State of Texas.
Dr. Kayne received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Government at the University of Virginia in
Charlottesville and a Masters of Arts and Ph.D. in Political Science from The Johns Hopkins University in
Baltimore, Maryland.
Currently, Dr. Kayne sits on the Board of Directors of the National Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, the United
Way of Oxford, Ohio, Island Village Homeowners Association and is treasurer of the Fernandina Beach, Florida
Rotary Club.
Dr. Kayne resides in Fernandina Beach, FL with his wife Brenda and rescue dog "Bucky." He enjoys golf, biking,
theater, photography, and sailing.
Richard Tavener, Co-Founder
I believe “You Get What You Give.” Over the years this philosophy has made all the difference, from helping
people to start a business to transforming education.
Along with a terrific crew, I ventured ‘on the road’ for “The Tour of America,” a nationally syndicated radio and
webcast program. The Tour has traveled over 150,000 miles to 48 states, 120 cities conducting live interviews with
over 2,500 of America’s visionaries. I tried my hand writing a book called Just Say YES! which looking back was
one of those “good experiences” that helped me I write my second book “Integration of Media, Entrepreneurship &
Education.”
I was executive producer of the documentary film “Mr. K: A Common Man with Uncommon Vision,” the story of
entrepreneur and Major League Baseball team owner Ewing Marion Kauffman. Mr. Kauffman owned the Kansas
City Royals, founded Marion Laboratories and endowed The Kauffman Foundation. The film is hosted by
Academy Award-winning actor Chris Cooper and has won two Emmys®.
I am co-founder and executive producer of The imagine It! Project an educational initiative about how people can
change the world through creativity, imagination and innovation.
Originally from Toronto, Canada, I am a graduate of Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences in
Journalism and Communications.
Rudy Poe, Co-Founder and Media Consultant
After graduating from college, Ruby Poe joined the sports-oriented advertising agency Creative Impact. In his
capacity as Creative Director, Poe served as in-house producer, director and writer for the agency’s print and
television productions.
Two years later, Poe served as Line Producer and Post Supervisor for the feature documentary, “In Search of Dr.
Seuss” (starring Robin Williams, Christopher Lloyd, Patrick Stewart and Billy Crystal) which was nominated for
seven Primetime Emmy Awards in 1995.
He then formed Eleventh Day Entertainment with producer/director Frank Martin. Since its inception, Eleventh
Day has been an Award winning and critically acclaimed, multi-faceted production company having produced
numerous corporate, commercial, government and interactive productions as well as over 100 hours of primetime
network and cable broadcast programs. Among them are the two-hour Tiffany Network special, CBS: The First
Fifty Years, the six-part documentary series Sex, Censorship & the Silver Screen which was hosted by Raquel
Welch, and the one-hour TBS special hosted by Billy Crystal, Warner Bros: 75 Years of Laughter. Eleventh Day
recently completed production of a four-hour production, For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black
Patriots. Hosted by Academy Award Winner, Halle Berry and introduced by former Secretary of State Colin
Powell.
In 2007, Poe co-founded the ImagineIt! project with colleague Richard Tavener and continues to serve as media
consultant.
Poe is currently working with True Foods LLC to establish the company brand and website (truefoodfordogs.com),
produce video content and integrate their point of sale and e-commerce solution.
Poe holds a B.F.A in Design from the California College of the Arts and an M.F.A. from the Department of
Theater, Film and Television at the University of California, Los Angeles.
To learn more about Rudy Poe's career and media achievements, CLICK HERE.
