Meet Jim Panagas! He is our Volunteer of the Month for August 2024! Jim is on the Programming team at AMA Boston.
With over two decades of experience in marketing, communications, and storytelling, Jim has made significant contributions as a company spokesperson and industry thought leader. He has spoken at major trade shows, participated in livecasts, webcasts, and podcasts, and published articles in renowned outlets such as CMS-Connected, CMSWire, EContent, Loyalty360, and Website Magazine. His insights also resonate on social media platforms like LinkedIn and X.
Currently, Jim works at Corporatevoice, A Corporate Communications Consultancy, where he partners with emerging technology and innovation companies. His role involves crafting compelling stories that highlight the importance of these companies, utilizing a full spectrum of communication strategies including livecasts, video content, social media, article writing, PR, and partner marketing.
We recently caught up with Jim to learn more about his passion for storytelling and why he enjoys volunteering with AMA Boston!
Questions:
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Tell us about yourself!
I grew up and still live on the North Shore of Massachusetts, where I’ve always been a big fan of 60s, 70s, and 80s music and culture. I’m also an avid tennis player. My passion for communication led me to study at Emerson College in Boston, and since then, I’ve alternated between running my own marketing consultancy, which I founded in 2000, and working as a Director or VP of Marketing for corporations.
I started in Boston TV news but quickly transitioned into the tech industry, where I’ve stayed ever since. My first corporate role involved delivering trade show presentations across North America. Over time, I’ve visited global production sites like Siemens in California, Airbus in France, and Hyundai Shipyards in South Korea, gaining key business insights. Today, my focus is still on technology and innovation, which continue to inspire my work.
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Why are you involved with the AMA Boston / marketing community, and how is the AMA helping empower your career and growth?
I have long been interested in volunteerism. It began with my serving as an Assistant Director for Business Networking International (BNI) where I learned the golden rule of being willing to give with no expectation of receiving anything in return. Next I became very active with my church where I have served on the Parish Council for the past 10 years. Professionally, I had done some volunteer work for AMA Boston as well as the PRSA in years past. So when AMA Boston reached out to me earlier this year, I felt it was a good time to step up again. I’m very proud of the work that I’m doing for AMA Boston and in fact am showcasing it on the front page of my consulting website at www.corporatevoice.biz. My work with AMA Boston has already led to a number of new business connections, and I’m optimistic that I may find my next full time position through this relationship.
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What are some of your goals for AMA Boston and where do you see yourself with the organization in the next year?
1) Helping take AMA Boston to the next level by helping them to deliver some world class marketing programs and materials.
2)Just finished taking my first livecast (“Getting Hired in 2024”) from concept to reality and look forward to doing more in the future.
3) I also want to help AMA Boston turn their Marketing Mingle events into more widely advertised, heavily attended, and fruitful meetings for Marketers, college students, hiring companies, and recruiters. If we play our cards right, AMA Boston could become the leading Marketing organization in the Boston area.
4) Depending upon my availability, I would consider playing a larger role in the AMA Boston organization.
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What excites you about marketing/the marketing field?
Everything! Whenever I size up a business or marketing problem, I think of things like headlines, callouts, captions and especially the video and social media possibilities. Given the rapidly declining attention span of the audience, my view is that they will be much more likely to spend 30-90 seconds watching professionally produced and polished video pieces. And that is what I am already hard at working creating for AMA Boston. Hope to do much more of this!
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Who is your favorite marketer?
I would have to say Elon Musk for a number of reasons. He’s obviously a very smart man. He comes up with incredible concepts. And he has the ability to turn those concepts into reality. LIke SpaceX. Tesla EVs. And the new Cybertruck. I have always enjoyed visionary leaders and he is most definitely one of them. In fact, I’d like to work for a visionary leader in my next full time corporate role.
Congratulations again, Jim! Connect with him on LinkedIn and check out his consulting website.
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About the AMA Boston Volunteer of the Month:
The AMA Boston Volunteer of the Month Award is presented to a dedicated volunteer who is making exceptional contributions to the AMA Boston and marketing community. To highlight some of our outstanding volunteers in the organization, we are recognizing a volunteer from our team each month. We choose an impressive individual who is actively involved in AMA Boston, working to advance the field of marketing, and making a significant impact within the organization and marketing community.
About the American Marketing Association (AMA) Boston:
AMA Boston is the networking and educational hub for New England marketers. Our mission is to build a community of marketers who can share experiences, learn about the latest marketing trends, and build a powerful professional network. AMA Boston empowers its members with the knowledge and resources they need to be leaders in their careers and organizations.
Contact Info: Emilee Cocuzzo, President
Email: Emilee.Cocuzzo@amaboston.org
Website: https://www.amaboston.org
AMA Boston Volunteers Contact Email: Volunteers@amaboston.org
