ORGANIZATIONS
Ally on Hand How NAMIC is helping Atlanta area communications professionals find their groove By Mi chae l J . Pa l l e r i no
I n 2012, Turner Broadcasting System (now WarnerMedia) set its sights on an ambitious reorganization initiative — a move designed to help strengthen the media giant’s strategic playbook into the end of the decade. From 2012-2014, scores of TBS employees across myriad departments were transitioned out of their jobs. Among the professionals caught up in the layoffs were members of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC). Recognizing (and experiencing firsthand) the upheaval to these professionals’ lives, the NAMIC team stepped in. In November 2014, they created and hosted an event featuring HR professionals, recruiters, and coaches. The sessions focused on resumé building, enhancing interviewing skills, and bolstering your personal brand. In a time when it seemed like a seasoned group of communications professionals would be caught in the crossfire, NAMIC provided them with the tools they needed to move forward. “Being a member gives you the opportunity for personal and professional development and growth,” says Atlanta Chapter President Lynnette Smith. “We provide an outlet to get professional development, an opportunity to be a mentor or mentee, continued leadership training and education, and access to peers and industry leaders.” Founded in 1980, NAMIC educates, advocates, and empowers multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry. Its ability to help cultivate individual careers is a godsend in an industry where fortunes can change in a quick. Today, NAMIC has 18 chapters nationwide and boasts 4,000-plus professionals from the business and creative sides of the industry. Members range from entry-level to the C-Suite, and everywhere in between; drawing from the ranks of the cable telecommunications, broadcast, digital, film, and print media sectors. With behemoth communication companies like WarnerMedia, Comcast, Cox, and The Weather Channel, Atlanta has a large pool of diverse companies and ethnicities to work with. The Atlanta Chapter offers four programming tracks vital for local members, including Leadership/Career Development, Technology, Networking, and Multiculturalism. The Leadership/Career Development track provides training and tools on how to be an effective leader, with sessions like creating and building your personal brand. The Technology track showcases emerging industry technology, including vendor and supplier demos. In the
The Executive team of NAMIC Atlanta: Charles Neal, Cox Communications; Lynnette Smith, The Weather Channel, Entertain- ment Studios; Cea Mosley, WarnerMedia; and Robert Wade, Jr., Comcast Communications
Networking track, members can mix and mingle with peers and senior leaders, while the Multiculturalism track offers programs that celebrate different cultures. “Because our membership has a vast amount of resources, our programs can offer different perspectives on the same topic,” Smith says. One of the organization’s premier programs is the NAMIC Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP), which is designed to nurture visionary and transformational leaders of color in the media and communications industry. The Atlanta area features more than 30 ELDP alumni who still are involved with the chapter. Past honorees include James Anderson, Senior VP, Communications, Warner Media; Chelsye Burrows, Communications Strategist, 22 West Media; Joiava Philpott, VP, Regulatory Affairs, Cox Communications; Coleman Olgesbee, VP, Customer Experience, Comcast; and Joyclan Sumter, Billing Analyst, The Weather Channel (IBM); to name a few. “NAMIC is an outlet for professional development, where you have an opportunity to be a mentor or mentee, continue leadership training and education, and get access to peers and industry leaders,” Smith says. “By
volunteering on a committee, you get an opportunity to learn and/or teach a new skillset.” For example, a professional may join the marketing team to get experience with social media marketing. “The committee gives you the opportunity to learn how something was done successfully,” Smith says. “Others may want to learn how to lead a team. What better way to enhance your skills than to work on a committee for a successful outcome.” All the time, effort and work continue to pay off. Over the past 20 years, NAMIC Atlanta has been a model of consistency and excellence, winning the “Chapter of the Year Award” four times. This award is given to the chapter that helps advance NAMIC’s mission and vision through execution of a developed chapter strategy. “We achieve this goal by hosting exceptional quarterly events that are customized for our market and membership,” Smith says. “We strive to serve our members with the best content available in the industry. We have an amazing board and great succession plan that allows us to build upon our success each year.”
For more information, go to www.namic.com and www.namicatlanta.com.
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