Michael Riley

Michael D. Riley says he hates to write. Despite his aversion, he is the author of a best-selling book on romantic recovery — "How to Heal a Broken Heart in 30 Days." He is also the author of the first "Dictionary of Advertising Terms" as well as the first book-length treatment on municipal marketing — "$ave Your City". He just published his first novel, an award-winning historical romance named simply "Gifts".

Riley prepared for his career by earning BSJ and MSJ degrees in marketing communications from Northwestern University's Medill School. He then worked his way up the executive ranks of major advertising agencies in Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. There, as a senior partner and officer, he prepared marketing plans for brands of such distinguished clients as Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Miles Laboratories, and Dole Foods.

Next, Riley became an entrepreneur. He helped to found half a dozen successful companies in Southern California, which have collectively generated over $100 Million in sales to date. He has served on eight Boards of Directors, earned six U.S. utility patents, and now volunteers as a business mentor for the Greater Phoenix chapter of SCORE.