Title: Communication Business Partner for IT and Technology (R&D)

Company: Phillips 66 in Bartlesville, Okla.
 
Why do you love your job? I enjoy digging into details and learning about new things for my writing, but what I love are the people. The organizations I support are global, and their work touches everyone in the company. By default, that allows me to work with colleagues from Bartlesville to Great Britain and everywhere in between. What’s so interesting is the wide range in diversity of thought and experience. Yet they are the same in that they’re extremely intelligent, driven and focused on the higher good of the company as well as one another. Who doesn’t want to be a part of that kind of energy?

How long have you been a member of IABC? I’ve been a member since February 2005 – this year is lucky 13!

Have you ever served on an IABC Board? Yes. Two terms from 2011-2015 as co-VP of Membership.

What is the best IABC meeting/conference you have attended? Why? I really enjoyed all aspects of the 2012 Southern Region Conference: Real People Talk, in Charleston, South Carolina. What stood out to me the most was Tim Cleary’s keynote on building engagement through understanding and ownership. We worked in teams to design a shoe that would help children learn how to tie their laces. Getting people using their hands frees up their minds to be more creative and feel more engaged. And as a group activity it gets people talking, and involves them in the process, which ultimately helps the individuals move themselves through change. Rob Oddi has a similar exercise using Legos to build a change management plan. Very impactful!
 
How has IABC played a part in your professional development? The Tulsa IABC board is another group of diverse thinkers and experts from varied vocations. Working with them was both personally and professionally enriching.  IABC’s continued learning series has also been beneficial. Ann Wylie’s sessions are some of my favorites because I always come away with actionable principles to tighten up my writing and draw in the reader.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? Travel; I love exploring new places, experiencing new things, eating new foods. And travel photography is one of my passions. Check it out on Instagram @sumascenes.

What’s your favorite vacation spot? It’s hard to pick just one, so I’ll pick three: Scotland, Ireland and China, so far.

Who is your favorite musical artist? Ugh…what’s with picking just one? ? I’ll narrow it down to categories:

• Top female – lately I’ve been re-listening to Eva Cassidy (but I also love Nora Jones, Nina Simone, Patsy Cline, and SO many more).
• Top male – lately it’s been Bob Marley. I also like Van Morrison, Jack Johnson, Sting…you get me – variety is the spice of life.
• Top bands – lately I’ve been obsessed with the Beatles Channel on Sirius XM. I’m surprised there are so many songs I’ve not heard, because I’ve been a fan since my teens. I also love the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and many, many more.
• And Christmas music? I won’t even go there – okay just one, the all-time great BING CROSBY.

Which website or app do you visit daily? My company intra and internet for research; Apps – Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Weather Underground (can’t get dressed or pack for a trip without it). ?

What is your favorite restaurant? Hmmm – in Bartlesville, it’s Senor Salsas – love the comfortable atmosphere, and the staff all know us and try to teach us Spanish. Much like the rest of my life, I like variety in my meals too. In Tulsa my husband and friends and I frequent Yokozuna, Lana Thai, and we love Kilkenny’s weekend brunch. I recently visited San Diego, and I now have a lot of favorites there too!

How will we recognize you at the next IABC function? The next one will be the first one I’ve had the chance to attend in a LONG time. So, I’ll be the person working the room to introduce myself to all the new faces.

Complete the following: The future of the field of communications is…even more important than ever. With the speed of change continuing to increase exponentially in the digital age, clear communication and a strong focus on change management is so needed. Without out it you lose understanding, engagement and ultimately the support of your target audience.

What advice would you give to new communications professionals? If after two written exchanges (email, texts, etc.) you still don’t have clarity or understanding with the recipient, pick up the phone or meet with the other person and talk things through. This simple practice will save you and the other person a lot of time and frustration. It also works wonders in keeping misunderstandings from escalating.

We all love a good copy editing session, but how are your spelling skills without a red pen in hand?

How about with a drink in hand? Find out at IABC/Tulsa’s third annual Adult Spelling Bee(r).

Join us at Fassler Hall in downtown Tulsa for a night of fun and test your spelling skills for a chance to win cash prizes. No cost to enter.

Buy a brat and a b-e-e-r while you watch or compete in the spelling bee.

Don’t miss this chance to mingle with your fellow IABC members. Bring your non-IABC friends, too!

When: 6:00 to 9 p.m., Thursday, July 26 (Spelling will start at 6:30 p.m.)
Where: Fassler Hall, 304 S. Elgin Ave., Tulsa, OK 74120

RSVP at our Facebook event page to let us know you’re coming!

It’s summer time, and IABC/Tulsa is sizzlin’!  Thanks to our amazing professional development team, there is a full line up of learning and networking planned for you. There’s something for everyone with new times, dates and locations to better accommodate your busy schedules. Go ahead, pull out those calendars and schedule some time for yourself. Whether you want to invest in new relationships, learn something new or both…you won’t want to miss these events!

You can review the complete event schedule below and on our brand NEW website. That’s right, our site and email template were recently updated. We hope you enjoy the new look and improved functionality.

Kicking off our summer of fun is IABC World Conference, next week! If you are going, look for your fellow IABC/Tulsa members and join us at the Southern Region reception on Monday, June 4. We will also keep everyone in the loop on conference activities and insights via our social channels.

Reminder: From your home or office and per your schedule, you can volunteer and gain professional development experience with our Bronze Quill Judges Circle. Contact Ashley Cleveland details.

“Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make.  It will not only improve your life; it will improve the lives of all those around you.” – Robin Sharma

Six Facts to Get to Know Jami Lamontagne 

 1. She’s a Communicator, Mom, Wife, Daughter, Granddaughter and Sister

In addition to being a communicator, Jami wears many hats. She’s a mom to two daughters, Kate (5) and Quinn (3), wife to Travis, daughter to Tom and Sherri, sister (she’s the middle child) to Todd and Adam, and granddaughter to her favorite almost 90-year old grandpa, Charley.

2. She Yells “Go Pokes” AND Calls the Hogs

Jami was born and raised in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, which is a town of about 5,000 people with three stop lights. After graduating high school, she applied to only one university – Oklahoma State – and moved to Stillwater where she fell in love with all things orange. She went into undergrad focusing on Journalism/PR and never looked back, but did add a minor in Spanish along the way. She received her master’s degree in Communications at the University of Arkansas while working full-time in Walmart’s International Corporate Affairs division.

3. Jami was Inspired to Become a Communicator at an Early Age

There are a few people who inspired her in different stages of her life. She remembers, as a child, her Grandma Patsy looking up words in the dictionary that she didn’t know the meaning of or how to spell, and encouraged Jami to do the same, teaching her a love for words at an early age. In high school, she worked at the local Kingfisher newspaper, around some truly witty writers, who made the world of journalism and communications seem fun! And, as always, there’s that one professor who takes an interest in you and fuels your passion, Jami had that in her Public Relations professor at Oklahoma State, Shelley Wigley.

4. Storytelling is Her Jam

The best part about her role, according to Jami, “Telling stories, of course!” In Jami’s current role as Senior Director of Communications for Sam’s Club, she has the opportunity to talk to Sam’s Club’s 100,000 associates across the country and share their stories and the great work they’re doing at Sam’s Club to become the membership you love the most. Jami has worked for Walmart for 13 years in multiple communi

cations capacities across the company’s Walmart International division, Walmart corporate, and most recently Sam’s Club, doing everything from media relations and internal communications to speech writing.

5. She’s Working to Become the Next Serena

Although coloring or going to the park with her daughters are at the top of her list of hobbies, Jami also has another hobby she enjoys:  tennis. She’s not really working to become the next Serena, but does love playing tennis in her spare time.

6. Her Tip for Success:  Talk to Everyone

When asked if she has any tips for success, her suggestion:  talk to everyone! In her opinion, networking and best practice sharing are the primary benefits of organizations like IABC. There are so many smart people with different communications backgrounds doing interesting work and you can learn something from everyone. From communicators working in non-profits to corporations, we all have a common mission of sharing information with our stakeholders, whether internal or external, in an engaging and creative way.