The COVID-19 outbreak has necessitated an abrupt shift in how marketers conduct business. We surveyed AMA chapter leaders to learn more about its effects on everyday work life.
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![Adaptability. Things are moving so fast right now that we have to be ready to change direction and connect with our audience on a moment's notice. The ability to get things done quickly is key right now.](https://www.ama.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/image-4.png?w=933&resize=933%2C892)
![We've focused our communication on current clients during the crisis. Proactive emails with personalized ideas and strategy recommendations have been appreciated and have generated new opportunities with current clients.](https://www.ama.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/image-5.png?w=943&resize=1018%2C1106)
![We're still waiting to see exactly what's working consistently, but we know two things are true: One-to-one personalized communications are most effective and regardless of the communication channel, there's a lot more noise and everyone seems to be saying the same thing. The only thing getting through is content that's truly unique and valuable.](https://www.ama.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/image-6.png?fit=1024%2C282&resize=1646%2C454)
![Our whole team stepped up to transform our business in a week.](https://www.ama.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/image-8.png?w=457&resize=457%2C303)
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For offering their thoughts on life during the coronavirus outbreak, our thanks to:
- Jennifer Miller, president-elect of Austin AMA (director of marketing at Vertebrae)
- Chris Hill, president-elect of AMA Knoxville (CEO and producer at HumblePod)
- Emily Fay, VP of special events at AMA Nashville (marketing manager at FIDELITONE)
- Aaron Templer, president-elect of the AMA Professional Chapters Council (founder of Three Over Four)
- Gina Bonar, VP of strategic alignment at AMA Cincinnati (5 Whys Marketing chief marketing partner)
- Chad Annable, VP of sponsorships at AMADC (marketing coordinator at National School Boards Association)
- Mandy Arola, secretary for AMA Nashville (director of marketing at Nashville Software School)
- Tyler Samani-Sprunk, president of AMA Lincoln (CMO & co-founder of Simple Strat)
- Scott Elliott, treasurer at AMA Birmingham (president and partner at Electromagnetic Marketing)
- Kimfer Flanery-Rye, VP of diversity, equity and inclusion for AMA Puget Sound (founder and principal consultant at MyKimisms)
- Jamie Parris, president of AMA Birmingham (marketing director and founding partner of Electromagnetic Marketing)
- Dennis Devlin, chair of the CMO Roundtable Program and VP of the Executive Marketer Community for AMA Cincinnati (CEO of Consumer Clarity)
Illustration by Bill Murphy.