Patricia Gillum Sams
Founder & CEO
Patricia “Pat” Gillum Sams’ career has taken her on an interesting journey from management in the insurance industry to leading diversity initiatives at an electric, sewer and water company to community organizer. She spent 23 years with State Farm Insurance Companies in Auto and Health Claims as well as Human Resources. She earned numerous professional designations and licenses during her extensive insurance career.
After leaving State Farm in 2006 to be a stay at home mom to her two sons, Pat returned to the work force a few years later as a program manager supporting diversity grants at Florida State College at Jacksonville North Campus. She joined JEA in 2011 as manager of a newly created department, Emerging Workforce Strategies. She currently manages diversity initiatives and acts as a diversity change agent for the company where she manages projects and programs that promote employee engagement, foster a culture of inclusion and brands JEA in the community as an employer of choice.
Pat earned her Bachelor of Science in Communications with an emphasis on Broadcast from Florida State University. She has served on numerous boards and held countless leadership roles in organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Jack & Jill of America, Inc. the Jacksonville Chapter of The Links, Inc. and The Continental Societies, Inc. She was a founding member of United Way Women in Local Leadership (WILL) and is currently in the 2021 Leadership Jacksonville Class. Pat was recently recognized by WJXT and the Graham Media Group at their inaugural Jacksonville Image Awards with the 2020 Trailblazer Award. The award recognized pioneers who inspire others to follow their path to greatness with innovative ideas that challenge the status quo.
Pat married her college sweetheart, Vincent. They have two sons, Austin who is a senior at Hampton University,
and Myles who is a junior at Florida State University; they have been members of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church for more than 30 years. She is passionate about touching lives and making a difference. She has been actively involved in the Jacksonville community for over 35 years.