Tampa AMA Member Spotlight | Ally Gannon
We kick off our Board Member Spotlight series with our new 2018-2019 AMA Tampa Bay president, Ally Gannon! Ally has been involved with the AMA for many years and is excited to continue to grow this essential community of marketers over the next year. Read on for a special interview with our new president:
Board Member: Ally Gannon
Current Board Title: President
Years on the Board: This will be my 4th year on the Board
How did you originally get involved with the AMA and what was your path to joining the board?
It all started with meeting Glenn Zimmerman, the past VP of Communications and President for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Glenn offered to meet me for coffee after bumping into each other at an event, and the rest is history. I originally joined because, as a Tampa native and someone who is passionate about Tampa’s marketing and advertising community, I wanted to grow my network of advocates and make a name for myself.
What is your favorite part about being on the AMA Tampa Bay board?
Right now I’d have to say its the amazing team of Board members we have this year. Every single individual spent countless hours on their strategic initiatives. They are dedicated, talented, and just as passionate as I am about continuing our tradition of being an asset to Tampa Bay’s marketing community.
What have you learned from being a part of the AMA?
First, that volunteering is an INPUT = OUTPUT game. You get as much out of participating in a professional chapter as you want to put in.
Second, that we’re not alone in our day to day challenges. When I open up at events about the challenges I’m facing in my day job, I often find people emphatically nodding their heads in agreement. Sometimes it’s easy to think we’re alone in our professional struggles, so having this community to turn to has been a game changer for me.
Third, and this might be just my personal experience, but I have not met a single marketer that does exactly the same thing. Marketing truly is the most diverse industry out there. We’re all storytellers with unique journeys, because each business presents its own set of goals, strategies, objectives, and tactics. I think this is also why none of our family and friends are able to explain what we do for a living. HA!
What has been your favorite AMA event to date?
Oh boy, I can’t pick ONE. Marketer of the Year has to be my absolute favorite event of the year. A couple more that come to mind are the luncheons last year with Visit Tampa Bay, Joe Pulizzi, and Google. So far this year, our sold-out workshop with Danielle Vona from Marketing Posse was also exciting. The outpouring of support for these workshops, and specifically that one, prove to me that we’re on the right track when it comes to programming.
What do you do in your day job?
I oversee paid media’s share of Demand Generation at PODS Enterprises, LLC. and its relationship with Earned and Owned channels. A part of that is managing the Field Marketing and Corporate Partnership teams.
If you didn’t work in marketing, what kind of work do you think you would do?
I think I would have found my way to this industry no matter what, honestly. But my dream is to run a Bed and Breakfast in Ireland.
What is a little-known fact about you that most AMA members may not know?
#1 I started in Advertising. It’s not surprising per se, but marketing wasn’t the original plan.
#2 I was a musical theater major before I decided to sell out and go into a field that would be more financially stable. Thanks Dad. Ha! But I think this field, and being involved with the AMA, gives me a stage nonetheless, and I’m pleased that I get to use that skill set every now and again.