James Amato, WRAL TechWire Manager, Strategy & Business Development

As Capitol Broadcasting expands coverage of technology and start-up sectors, the company is adding a manager for strategy and business development to the WRAL TechWire team.

James Amato will take the lead in developing a sustainable, cohesive growth plan around WRAL TechWire branded and affiliated events and will be the Raleigh newsroom’s main point of contact with American Underground.

Chris Weatherly, CBC New Media director of sales and operations, said, “I am thrilled to have James join the team. Over the last year, he has proven himself to be a passionate ambassador for WRAL TechWire, helping spearhead the site’s rebrand and relaunch. In his new role, I fully anticipate TechWire being able to better serve the community and our strategic partners for years to come.”

Amato is a former liberal arts college dean who is passionate about making the Triangle the best place to live, work, and thrive through ethical leadership and collaboration. He  serves on the board of Leadership Triangle, leads Rotary’s Hodges Ethics Initiative and serves as the president of the Research Triangle Park Rotary.

“For 12 years I designed and facilitated high performing college environments where student learning and living were intertwined and students could thrive. It was highly collaborative work that required constant innovation and collaboration across campus involving students, faculty, staff, service providers, and the community at large,” Amato said.

“I view my role at TechWire to be similar in scope. We want our regional startup, tech, and business communities to be best and embrace our role in getting us there through great storytelling, community development, engaging events, and life-giving collaborations.”

Amato will work closely with higher education, municipal government and private sector partners to communicate North Carolina’s unique innovation story to the corporate and residential populations considering the region as a potential home.

“We’ve spent over a year listening and working with leaders and feeders from across the region to improve the platform, expand our coverage of the startup community, remove our paywall, and design better ways to connect people and ideas,” he said.

“In 2017 we were a news website who hosted events, and in 2018 we are a multimedia brand convening thought-leaders, accelerating economic and workforce development, and cultivating a spirit of innovation, collaboration, and daring across the state.”

One of Amato’s first tasks will be the formation of a WRAL TechWire advisory board, a combination of paid and non-paid advisors to help advance the mission of WRAL TechWire and CBC New Media Group.

To discuss partnership with WRAL TechWire, reach Amato at jamato@wral.com or follow him on Twitter @JJC_Amato.