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Jen Derks

CEO, Creative Director of Four Fin Creative
Jen Derks is an award-winning branding and design expert who leads the team at Four Fin Creative.
 
Four Fin focuses on supporting climate tech and sustainable companies with brand strategy, design, and messaging—which helps these important companies build the trust and credibility needed to succeed in today’s competitive landscape and turn their world-saving solutions into reality. Four Fin has helped over 100 businesses secure additional funding, land key partnership deals, and attract top talent. 
 
Jen is fueled by her and her teams work, both professionally and personally, as she knows the power of what good branding can do for the planet. An inspiring brand moves people to feel things, and ultimately change things. Sharing her insights with the world is part of this work, and she welcomes speaking and panel engagements for planet-forward organizations. Jen is also a mom, an avid surfer and a community volunteer and activist.
 
Let's Make Waves
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Speaking Engagements

2018: American Marketing Association, Panelist: Breaking through the noise Panelist 

2018: Design Forward Business Camp, Presenter: Graphic Design

2020: Connect San Diego, Webinar: Building a strong brand: Not as daunting as you think 

2020: VC Comms Con, Speaker: Branding: Who, How and the 5 questions your portfolio companies should ask

2022: VC Comms Con, Speaker: Keep your website redesign from flying off the rails. 

2022: Cause Conference, Panelist: Capture the Hearts, Minds, and Engage the Next Generation

2023: VC Comms Con, Speaker: Lead a Brand Refresh

2023: University Club of San Diego, Speaker: Business Development Series. Topic: Branding

2023: Burnt Island Ventures, Webinar: Nailing Brand with Jen Derks from Four Fin

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Awards

2012 AIGA Alaska “The Big One” Silver Award; Branding, BBNC Logo

2012 AIGA Alaska “The Big One” People’s Choice Award, BBNC Logo

2011 Telly Award – Give 5 Tell 5. United Way of Anchorage, Walsh Sheppard

2011 PRSA Alaska Aurora Award: Integrated Communications, 2nd Place – Give 5 Tell 5. Sandy McClintock, Beth Johnson, Jen Derks, John Conn. United Way of Anchorage, Walsh Sheppard, Stage 2 Studios.

2011 PRSA Alaska Awards of Excellence: Integrated Communications, 1st place – Personal Computer Banking, for Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union, Ryan Mudd, Keith Fernandez, Walsh Sheppard. Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union.

2010 AIGA Alaska “The Big One”, Silver Award; Promotional Design, NANA Regional Corporation 2010 Shareholder Calendar

2007 IFEA (International Festivals & Events Assoc.) Pinnacle Award, Silver – Best Event Program (Budget $250,000-749,999; 4 or more colors), Anchorage Fur Rendezvous

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Carly DeMento

Carly DeMento

Content Strategist + Copywriter

Wordsmith, strategist, and overall language ninja.

Enneagram:

5

Curious & Inventive
Theme song:

Americans

Janelle Monae
  • Give her a snack and she’ll love you forever. This is one extremely food motivated human. Tacos, cheese n crackers, and dark chocolate are all accepted forms of currency.
  • She once traveled around the world by herself in less than three months. Her favorite places on the planet (so far) are Chiapas and Sicily. 
  • Her first word was moon.

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Evan Shulman

Evan Shulman

Brand Strategist

In order to make big waves (and have fun riding them!), helps craft a solid, substantive, (super bad) soul of a brand.

Enneagram:

7

Fun-loving & versatile
Theme song:
Rüfüs du Sol (Lane 8 Remix)
  • Proud 90’s U.S. Space Camp Graduate where I got as close as I was gonna get to my kid aspirations of being an astronaut. Now super happy to be an Earthonaut (like you).
  • For fun I read wikipedia articles, watch youtube explainers, and look up the etymology of words, often leading to waaayyyy too many tabs open in my browser.
  • I’ve DJed on an art car at Burning Man. My “theme song” is what got the vibe going. 

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