Foundation Board of Directors
LaMonte E. Jones
Email LaMonte E. Jones
There is a relatively small segment of leaders in the business world who seem able to build relationships, trust, and rapport with almost anyone, and then broker those relationships and make connections between people, creating partnerships and alliances, and motivating forward momentum to get things done.
LaMonte Jones is one of those people, who gets things done and drives desired results—through collaboration, partnerships, and relationships—as a 15 year employee/executive within the Pepsi Beverages Company. With an enthusiastic and genuinely friendly attitude, LaMonte radiates a sincere passion for delivering value and benefits to his customers and network of colleagues.
An Accountant & Marketer by vocation, LaMonte earned his B.S. & MBA in Business Administration at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. After graduating, he spent 11 years at Household Finance Corporation (HFC) in various management roles leading up to the Assistant Vice President, Assistant to the President; where he led several key projects across the U.S. and Sydney, Australia.
After being aggressively recruited by the Pepsi Cola Company to help launch a centralized "Inside Sales Team", to support its U.S. based On-Premise business, he then made the decision to change industries and make a larger, positive impact on more people. Upon arrival, LaMonte quickly began making a difference by developing best-in-class processes for improved customer service and growing volume, revenue and profits for the Pepsi Cola Company. His first promotion came four months into the job as leader of the sales department where he managed a team of over 300 managers and front-line employees. After three consecutive years of +3% volume & revenue growth, LaMonte was tapped on the shoulders again to start-up the marketing department for his business segment. As Director of Marketing, LaMonte's contributions centered on creating brand awareness, trial and repeat business. But more importantly, he focused on building long-lasting, loyal relationships within the on-premise business, on developing programs to deepen market penetration, and on coordinating teams of sales representatives, supply chain experts, strategic business partners, and field partners to deliver programs, services, and tailored customer solutions.
Promoted again in 2006, LaMonte spent one year at Pepsi's corporate headquarter in Somers, NY, where he was Director of Multicultural Marketing, for its U.S. operations before moving to Atlanta, GA, as Director of Multicultural Marketing for the Southeast Business Unit. In 2008, faced with a negative trend in its Georgia Foodservice business, LaMonte was requested to lead this division back to a profitable state, where in 2009, the Georgia Foodservice team led the Southeast Business Unit in total foodservice performance. With the 2010 merger of PepsiCo & Pepsi Bottling Group, LaMonte now leads the Recreation & Retail teams for Georgia, Tennessee, and North & South Carolina.
Throughout it all, LaMonte has repeatedly proved his ability to lead through diverse and challenging situations. Trained by industry expert Michael Hammer in re-engineering, he is an excellent agent of change and has a documented track record of accomplishments that include the turnaround of struggling operations; start-up and management of best-in-class facilities; creation and launch of new and improved sales, marketing, and operational programs; and growth and expansion of mature, established businesses. Among many internal accolades, LaMonte's recent recognition includes 2008, Who's Who in Black Atlanta, 2009 Atlanta's 100 Most Influential Men, and 2010 Top 40 Emerging Young Leaders.
Today, LaMonte resides in Marietta, Georgia, with his wife Sophia and sons Jejuan and Julian. He is an active member of Word of Faith Family Cathedral Church where Bishop Dale C. Bronner is the presiding minister.
