Volunteer of the Quarter: Janet Williams
Congratulations to our Q1 Volunteer of the Quarter – Janet Williams! Janet serves as the Creative and Brand Director on the Communications team for AMA Tampa Bay, and is an essential member of our volunteer team. She has a huge responsibility in making sure that AMA Tampa Bay continues to develop brand recognition in unique and engaging ways. Read on to hear more from Janet on her favorite parts of volunteering for our Chapter.
How did you originally get involved with the AMA and what was your path to joining as a volunteer?
I enjoyed the keynotes and that was about all I did when I first joined AMA. But I soon realized that I wanted to play a bigger role in this organization so I reached out to the volunteer coordinator and asked where they needed the most help. Sponsorship needed help as they were gearing up for the upcoming Marketer of The Year. So I worked alongside Brenda McGowan and was able to meet a lot of marketers and friends in this role. After MOY, I decided to volunteer for the communications committee to help with their creative needs. I eventually took over the newly created Creative and Brand Director role.
What is your favorite part about being a volunteer with the AMA Tampa Bay?
I love working with marketers in my day job so getting the opportunity to team up with folks from so many different companies in the Tampa Bay area, has been a great experience for me – from a professional and personal level. AMA national had just created their new branding guidelines when I first took on the designer role. It’s been fun rolling out the new brand via print and digital communication.
What have you learned from being a part of the AMA?
I always have some great takeaways from being a part of the communications committee. We have regular calls so I gain insight on a variety of things from my fellow committee members. I’m always amazed at how many volunteers it takes to run this organization and the level of professionalism.
What has been your favorite AMA event to date?
It’s hard to pick one. There a few keynote luncheons that stand out like Port Tampa Bay (rebrand story), Visit Tampa Bay and more recently, the Tampa Bay History Center. Hearing the inside scoop about their challenges and how they overcame them through smart marketing and creative solutions was very inspiring.
What do you do in your day job?
I’m president of my own design firm, Delta Blue Studio. Marketers and ad agencies are my customers. I worked on the corporate side and the ad agency side so I understand their needs. By freelancing, I’m able to work on a variety of projects and wide range of industries. I provide on-going creative support for my clients.
If you didn’t work in marketing, what kind of work do you think you would do?
Possibly a fine artist. I love oil painting and used to paint regularly with a group of plein air painters on Saturday mornings. I’m also a bit of a science nerd and at one point wanted to be a meteorologist. I lived in the San Francisco bay area and the local meteorologist on TV wore crazy ties and made the weather report so much fun. The problem-solving aspect of graphic design feeds my right and left brain so I feel fortunate doing what I do.
What is a little-known fact about you that AMA members may not know?
The music from the Mississippi Delta was the inspiration for the name of my design studio. I was born in New York, grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and later ventured to Mississippi for college. It’s there that I discovered the birthplace of the blues (and the inspiration for a lot of early rock ‘n roll). The “delta blues” was America’s first truly original art form. Delta Blue Studio felt like a good start for me as well.