I.B.M. Member Profile

Fueled Mainly By Insight, Laughter, Rum, Data, And Shenanigans

About Dr. Tait Martin

For over two decades, Dr. Tait Martin has worked as a communication and marketing professional, helping organizations focus their outreach messages, build stronger relationships and develop creative and innovative programs that enhance their image with the people who matter most to them.

 

Since retiring from fulltime agency life in December 2019, Tait now spends his days as President of Wildcat Brothers Distilling, an award-winning rum distillery based in Lafayette, Louisiana. At Wildcat Brothers, Tait challenges his team to develop new and exciting ways to produce everything from ancient rum recipes to developing ways to incorporate useful science and engineering into our customers’ cocktails and homes. 

 

In addition to his work at Wildcat Brothers, Tait lends his expertise to teaching the next generation of communicators, entrepreneurs, and scientists. He currently is an affiliate professor of social marketing research in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida and International Academic Colleague in the Research Center for Health, Environment and Education at the University of Cologne in Germany. Tait looks for any excuse to work with smart people who will challenge his way of thinking. 

 

A winner of some of his industry's most prestigious awards, including an Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Silver Anvil from the Public Relations Society of America, Tait’s career includes stints as faculty member at four top-tier higher education institutions; communication director for one of the largest United Way organizations in the South; spokesperson for a major state government agency in Florida; marketing consultant to several industry and professional organizations; and a morning radio talk show host. He also remains active in his fraternity, Theta Chi. Tait is the current past International President on their Grand Chapter (International Board of Directors).

 

Widely cited in both academic and industry circles, Tait holds a Ph.D. in Communication Theory and Research (emphasis in persuasion and cognitive processing) from Florida State University, as well as a dual Masters in Organizational and Interpersonal Communication from the University of Louisiana Lafayette. His undergraduate degree in journalism and public relations is from Northwestern State University.

 

Tait is originally from Cut Off, Louisiana…yes, it’s a real place. His wife Emily is a saint.