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Pamela K. El is proving to be more than a good neighbor. As marketing
vice president at Bloomington, Ill.-based State Farm Insurance
Cos., El has spearheaded a 50-Million Pound Challenge with medical
and diet expert Ian Smith, M.D. The national program promoting
health, fitness and weight loss among African-Americans aims to
reduce the risks of deadly diseases caused by obesity. “Real
leaders find purpose in their work and then work to communicate
it throughout their career,” says El. With record participation,
she expects the State Farm initiative to be a life-saving intervention
for millions of Americans.
After more than 25 years in marketing, she insists on leveraging
her expertise to benefit others by raising awareness, championing
change and supporting improvement—a daunting undertaking
at times. But she finds inspiration in the no-nonsense adage:
“Get over it!” She adds, “Not taking yourself
too seriously is the best way to remain focused on the task at
hand.”
Prior to joining State Farm, El was senior vice president at
The Martin Agency in Richmond, Va., where she managed brands such
as Marriott, Bank One and US West Communications. El also held
positions with data communications company Terabeam Inc., where
she oversaw brand management, public relations, advertising and
Web development. The savvy marketer attributes much of her career
success to a longtime industry mentor, Peter Coughter, who, she
says, taught her to capitalize on her uniqueness and to play to
her strengths. She, in turn, offers this advice to young professionals:
“Be yourself. Be prepared. Be passionate about what you
do or don’t do it.”
El currently chairs the Brand Council at State Farm. She is
a member of the Association of National Advertisers Brand Council
and board member of the Women’s Leadership Institute of
Denver in Colorado. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass
communications at Virginia Commonwealth University and later completed
the American Institute for CPCU (Chartered Property and Casualty
Underwriter)’s Insurance Executive Development Program.
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