Maria Cronley is the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Austin Peay State University. She earned her BSBA in marketing from Bowling Green State University and her PhD in marketing from the University of Cincinnati. Her research interests center on consumer judgment and decision processes, with specific emphasis in the areas of consumer inference and biased processing, and persuasion.

Dr. Thomas Cline is professor of business and statistics in the Alex G. McKenna School at Saint Vincent College. He is a recipient of the International Teaching Excellence Award from the Association of College Business Schools and Programs. He earned a PhD at the University of Cincinnati, an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School and a BS in architecture from UVA. Dr.

Susan Powell Mantel is a Professor of Marketing at the University of Cincinnati. She has also served in university leadership as a Department Chair (six years) and as Associate Dean (three years).  Her research focuses on social media marketing, consumer information processing, consumer behavior, and the infl uences of affect on consumer responses.  Dr.

Frank R. Kardes is the Donald E.

Dr. Taryn VanderPyl is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Sciences at Western Oregon University. She has been working with and learning directly from people impacted by the criminal justice system for over a decade. Dr. VanderPyl’s research focuses on interventions within and legislation concerning juvenile and adult corrections that affect reentry and recidivism, as well as addressing social hostility toward those with justice system involvement.

Rico Bruce Wade is an actor, writer, producer, and comic and is part of one of North America's richest comedy traditions, the Second City. As a mainstage cast member of the Second City-Detroit, Rico co-wrote and performed in six revues, including Computer Chips and Salsa and One Nation Undecided. He also directed the Second City-Detroit touring company. Rico eventually completed his Second City resume by becoming producer of the Detroit venue. He was also co-producer of the television series Film Fest 7 with the Second City.

Gary Shields is an Assistant Professor of Teaching at Wayne State University's Mike Ilitch School of Business in the heart of Detroit, Michigan. After earning his MBA from Wayne State, Gary has taught a variety of management courses for Detroit's Business School during the last 30-plus years, including a graduate course in improvisation for business that he currently teaches with this book's co-author Rico Bruce Wade. He and Rico also teach several student-focused improv workshops at the university.