LaMonte Guillory believes that true impact begins with a listening posture. As a strategic communications architect and systems-level leader, he has spent more than two decades helping mission-driven organizations translate ambitious philanthropic visions into powerful, community-centered narratives. In his role at CCM, LaMonte serves as a key strategist, thought partner to the Executive Director, and hands-on operator, spearheading the Center’s brand evolution and leading the vision for the “Amplify” pillar to ensure excellence in community media is widely visible, valued, and replicable.
LaMonte’s career is rooted in a deep desire to build coordinated communications ecosystems that center human storytelling and address the vital information needs of folks on the margins. As the former Chief Communications Officer for the LOR Foundation, he built a community-listening-centered philanthropy from scratch. Recognizing the catastrophic consequences of a failed local information ecosystem, LaMonte conceptualized and led the funding efforts for landmark media investments across the rural Mountain West, pioneering partnerships with the Solutions Journalism Network to bring solutions-based reporting to rural newsrooms and strengthen civic dialogue.
His extensive background spans both startup networks and major philanthropic institutions. As Director of Storytelling for the national funding collaborative New Pluralists, he worked alongside his internal team and philanthropic partners to develop the narrative framework for the United We Stand Summit with the Biden administration. His focus was on building the case for deep investment in communities and ensuring the right leaders were in the room to share vital stories of togetherness that are rarely elevated to the main stage. As the Managing Director of Marketing and Communications at the Seattle Foundation, he designed enterprise-wide strategies that transitioned communications from a traditional service center to a vital strategic partner, guiding the institution through major leadership and policy changes.
A dedicated advocate for sector leadership and equity-centered governance, LaMonte is a proud board alumnus of The Communications Network (ComNet), where he served on the Engagement, Strategic Planning, and DEI working groups. As a board member for the Rural Communities Assistance Partnership (RCAP), he lent his guidance as the former Chair of the Communications Committee and led the organization’s comprehensive brand rebuild. Through his consulting entity, The Guillory Perspective, he provided executive coaching and strategic guidance to C-suite leaders navigating complex cultural and organizational transitions.
LaMonte holds a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs with a minor in Sociology from Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he was also a three-time letterman on the SMU Mustangs football team.
Guided by a philosophy of prioritizing perspective over polish, LaMonte approaches his work with authenticity, courage, and a lifetime commitment to inclusivity. He is always down to break bread, talk strategy, or swap stories about the transformative power of a well-framed narrative.