AMA Triangle board members serve one-year terms, from July to the following June. Each Winter the AMA Triangle membership elects a President, President-Elect, COO, and CFO. Vice Presidents are appointed by the President.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Gene Pinder is and experienced B2B and B2C marketing and communications professional skilled in multiple disciplines. Strong background in healthcare, technology, tourism, edutech, market research, supply chain, public health, and non-profit sectors. Former VP and CMO of two startups. Director of Marketing for several companies and non-profits. Owned and operated a market research company (qualitative and quantitative). Former broadcast journalist and PR professional. Master’s degree from Northwestern University. President, vice-president and board member of a number of non-profit organizations. Have been VP of Membership and Board Member for the Chapter.
Michael Johnson…
Hayden Brooks is a travel enthusiast, pop culture guru and fashion junkie! By day, Hayden is the Division Director of The Creative Group and works with hiring managers to place specialized creative, digital and marketing talent throughout the Triangle and the Triad. When she’s not working, volunteering with the AMA or in the community, you can find her exploring the Triangle nightlife and looking for her next travel adventure. You can reach Hayden at hayden.brooks@amatriangle.org.
Jennifer Gilmore is the director of strategic marketing and communication for NC State’s Campus Enterprises, the university’s division for retail and hospitality. She joined NC State in 2008 supporting NC State Dining but was tapped to build a marketing and communications department to support the newly formed auxiliary services division – Campus Enterprises – in 2010. This division includes dining, catering, two student centers, the campus bookstore, ID card office, golf course, and print shop. She leads a team of three project managers, two graphic designers and several student employees.
Before joining NC State, Jennifer worked primarily in healthcare public relations and as a freelance writer. She holds a B.A. in communication with a concentration in public relations from NC State University.
Jason Boes…
Jennifer Best brings nearly two decades of leadership experience in digital and demand marketing to her role as the Vice President of Marketing for AAE Speakers Bureau. Joining the AAE team in March 2020, Best was part of the organization’s coordinated and successful effort to shift product offerings to support virtual events in response to the pandemic.
Prior to joining the AAE team, Best managed high-performing digital marketing teams in both the healthcare tech and cybersecurity industries. Best began her career as an SBA-award-winning entrepreneur for her digital marketing agency, Lewis Web Creations, where she helped hundreds of small, home-based, and non-profit businesses with online marketing and web design services. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Delaware.
Jessamyn Palmé possesses a passion for marketing and a penchant for problem solving that drives her work… not to mention an affinity for alliteration. Over her 20-year career, she has served as a product marketer, field marketer, content marketer, digital marketer and as a global marketing director. Her strategies have launched numerous B2B technologies and AI products helping companies from startups to SMBs grow.
She has an MBA from Drexel University and MSc in International Marketing from St Joe’s in Philadelphia, PA. Jessamyn served on the Board of Directors with the Professional Women’s Network in Italy, volunteered with TEDx London and lent her marketing skills pro bono to several non-profit organizations including the Red Cross.
Becky Lee…
Kelly is an innovative product marketer with over 10 years of experience in product marketing, content marketing, go-to-market strategy and event marketing and execution. She is currently a Senior Product Marketing Manager at Scorpion, which provides a full stack of technology and marketing solutions for legal, home services, healthcare and franchise spaces. When she’s not working or volunteering, she is spending time with her husband and two kids enjoying the many family-friendly activities across the Triangle.
Brian Basilico is the award-winning author of the best selling book “It’s Not About You, It’s About Bacon! Relationship Marketing In A Social Media World!” and 4 others including his latest book, “Toilet Paper Math!”.
He was honored as one of the Top Marketers to Follow in 2018. Brian has over 45 years of marketing experience in Audio, Video, Interactive, Web, Email & Social Media, and the owner of an award-winning internet marketing company, B2b Interactive Marketing, Inc.
He is world-renowned for his Innovative Content Marketing Strategies and was one of the first 1000 people to join LinkedIn in 2004.
Brian is a speaker, syndicated blogger, podcaster, and a sought-after guest expert featured in Entrepreneur and Inc., magazines, With over 850 episodes, his show “The Bacon Podcast”, is ranked as one of the Top 100 Marketing Podcasts on iTunes, and was also recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of their top 35 business podcasts.
Sarah Lien Finnerty is currently the Senior Client Director at Kelaca, a Talent Acquisition and Advisory firm based in Raleigh, NC. Sarah also holds the position of Head of Recruitment at Civica Rx, a nonprofit generic drug company. In addition, Sarah serves as the VP of Employment Services at AMA Triangle and is a member of Women in Sales. Sarah has a background in recruitment, business development, and ministry, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from Austin College and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary. Throughout their career, Sarah has demonstrated strong leadership, networking, and marketing skills.
sarah.finnerty@amatriangle.org.
By day, John-Paul is a lawyer with Schick Law PC, which focuses on business law and commercial real estate. He reads and drafts a lot of contracts and helps clients buy, sell, lease and operate businesses and commercial properties. John-Paul is also a life coach with Schick Life & Leadership Coaching. He partners with people who are committed to creating their destiny. By night, John-Paul lives in Durham with his wife, Stacy, and their two sons, Xander and Sebastian. His degree in philosophy is from Davidson College, his law degree is from UNC-Chapel Hill, and his formal coach training was through Accomplishment Coaching. Born and raised in Venezuela, John-Paul is fluent in Spanish. And he is an avid rock fan, with an emphasis on 1980’s metal. You can reach John-Paul by emailing him at john-paul.schick@amatriangle.org.
