Leadership

Linda M. Ames, APR, has extensive experience in all aspects of communications: change management; internal communications; media relations.

For more than 25 years, she has developed strategic communications approaches and tactics to help companies and organizations translate complex issues into clear, easily understood messages.

Linda is a skilled media relations professional who, as a former television news reporter, producer and anchor, brings insight to reporters’ needs and perspectives.  She conducts executive media training and works closely with the executive team to develop and implement corporate communications strategies to support the company’s / organization’s strategic objectives.  As a former stock broker, she brings a strong business sensibility to a public company’s communications.    

She also has extensive experience with culture-change communications strategies and has led global communications for a multi-year SAP implementation, as well as numerous merger and acquisition programs.  She designs internal communications strategies and programs aligned with corporate / organizational goals, including conducting communication surveys, creating design and content for corporate intranets, email newsletters and print materials, such as newsletters, brochures and mailers.

Linda is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and a Team Kids board member. She was a 2010 nominee for the Orange County Business Journal Women in Business award.

Joe Ames is a principal in Ames & Associates, which specializes in collaborative strategies, including facilitation, project management and change management, executive coaching and communications.  He has experience with a wide variety of organizations in the private sector, philanthropy and government.

Prior to starting Ames & Associates in 2005, Joe spent nearly 30 years as a news reporter and editor at radio and television stations and newspapers. As an editor at the Orange County Register, he was responsible for coverage of the county bankruptcy, local, state and national politics and special projects.  Prior to joining the Register in 1995, Joe held several editing posts at The Miami Herald.  In 1992, as the deputy business editor, he was part of a team that was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of Hurricane Andrew.

He also is the founder of the Latino Educational Attainment (LEA) initiative housed at the Orange County Business Council.  Joe is the recipient of the Quiet Achiever Award from The Waltos Group of Northwestern Mutual for his work with LEA. LEA has also received an Estrella Award for Education from the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Joe serves on a United Way board and was named one of the Most Influential in the Hispanic Community in 2008.