This new series will feature career advice from IPR ELEVATE Members. IPR ELEVATE is a diverse and select membership community of high-performing innovators and catalysts for growth, change, and advancement who support the mission and insights-focused work of IPR.

Jamie Zingaro joined W. L. Gore & Associates in 1988. He joined Gore as an Information Specialist. In that role, he developed Gore’s online library and resources. For the past several years, Jamie has been a member of Gore’s Enterprise Communications Team (ECT). In his primary commitment, he leads the communication channels and infrastructure focus area. This focus area includes communication channels such as email, digital signage, a mobile communications application and the Intranet. This overall infrastructure and architecture enables global Associates to access relevant news and applications. This work involves leading a team of Associates who select, maintain and govern these resources, as well as measure their impact and effectiveness. Jamie’s areas of expertise include content curation, governance, usability, and search optimization.

What are your proudest professional accomplishments?

I began my career at Gore as part of our information services team. In that role, I conducted patent due-diligence patent research, market intelligence, and competitive intelligence. Over time, these services became available online and evolved so that Associates could access them on their own. However, we didn’t have an internal website where all of these services could be organized and delivered in a cohesive manner. I then led a small team to develop Gore’s first Intranet. At first, we leveraged the Intranet to deliver these services to Associates. Over time, we evolved to leveraging the Intranet as a key component of our internal communications strategy reaching all Associates. We’re now on our fourth-generation Intranet and it continues to be a critical element of our communications strategy. This evolution of the Intranet also catalyzed my transition from Information Services to Communications.

When we first introduced the Intranet, I received a call from a sales Associate in Colorado. He shared with me that he “loved” the Gore Intranet. I said, that’s great to hear. What do you love about it? He said it makes him feel closer to the company. He’s able to feel more connected to what is happening. He stated that the stories and information provide an engaging and informative experience. This comment “made my day”. This happened at a time when we didn’t have the communication and collaboration tools and resources that we have today. It was really an early indicator of what today, we take for granted.

More recently, we’ve introduced other platforms such as digital signage, mobile applications, etc., to better reach all Associates. Our global Associates are located in plants, travel or working remotely. This omnichannel approach helps all Associates feel more connected to Gore and each other.

How do you continue learning & growing as a professional?

I prefer to use a variety of methods to continually grow and learn within the communications profession, as well as my contributions at Gore. I participate in professional organizations, listen to communications-relevant podcasts, as well as podcasts outside of the communications function, connect with peers from other companies, and connect with peers within Gore.