Laz Benitez

AVP, Senior Change Communications Specialist @Cadence Bank

Houston, TX, US

In this role, I am a key member of the communications team at a bank with nearly 5,500 employees spread across multiple states. My duties and accomplishments include:⇒ Lead enterprise-wide change management communications for 5,500+ employees and stakeholders, delivering daily strategic messaging that increased employee engagement and improved customer service delivery across all regions.⇒ Manage multi-channel messaging for critical system conversions, successfully transitioning teammates to new digital tools, including employee work request and service systems, as well as customer-facing systems, such as digital and online mobile banking.⇒ Execute end-to-end communication strategies for high-priority digital transformations, which included a year-long enterprise migration from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365.⇒ Lead business continuity management messaging for internal and customer-facing system disruptions, such as technical outages and weather-related bank branch closures. Manage the flow of critical information from initial impact through resolution for all lines of business and the branch network.⇒ Develop and deploy enterprise-wide fraud and cybersecurity awareness communications to mitigate financial losses by educating staff on emerging threats, including business email compromise, phishing, and impersonation scams. Tactics used include long-form content, short-form content, infographics, and visual storytelling.

Baruch College

BA, Corporate Communications