PRINCIPAL BIOGRAPHY

Clay W. Cone, President and Founder of Cone Communications Company, has more than 30 years of professional experience in Southwest Florida.

Prior to forming Cone Communications in 2006, Cone served as Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Communications for TIB Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: TIBB), the Naples-based parent company of TIB Bank. Before that, he was Vice President and Director of Corporate Communications for First National Bankshares of Florida (NYSE: FLB), a $5.6 billion financial services company headquartered in Naples.

Prior to his career in public relations, Cone was a Senior Business Writer for the Naples Daily News. While with the newspaper, he earned numerous state and national awards in recognition of his reporting. Before that, he was a Business and Government Reporter for the Clearwater Sun.

Cone earned his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and is a proud member and supporter of the Indiana University Alumni Association.

Cone has been actively involved in many local civic and charitable organizations, including the Naples Children & Education Foundation, founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival; Champions for Learning; and Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. He is a Past Director and Past President of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Gulf Coast Chapter and is a graduate of the Leadership Collier program.

Cone also was appointed by the Board of Collier County Commissioners to serve on the Educational Facilities Authority and served many years on the Junior Achievement, Southwest Florida Hall of Fame Advisory Board. In 2004, he was honored among Gulfshore Business’ 40-under-40 professionals.