Georgia President Melissa McLaughlin Selected as 2001 Chapter
President of the Year
 The Chapter President of the Year Award exemplifies
excellence in leadership that builds a stronger, more vital chapter-the
foundation of SMPS. This year's recipient is Georgia Chapter President
Melissa McLaughlin, a marketing coordinator with Collaborative Design
Group Ltd. in Atlanta.
With Melissa's guidance, the Georgia Chapter Board worked together to
develop and implement some creative programs in 2000-01:
- The chapter held a membership design competition to secure chapter
collateral materials and traded advertising for reduced printing
costs.
Melissa forged an alliance with a major local university and helped
create the marketing component of a significant four-day program,
featuring sessions with Ford Harding and Randy Pollock, FSMPS.
Retention programs included a membership survey and a member resource
handbook. The chapter also offers a formal debriefing program for local
members who do choose to leave the organization.
To grow membership, the Membership Committee targeted 100 local firms
not represented by members. The Georgia Chapter's membership is at an
all-time high.
In their nomination, Melissa's colleagues in the Georgia Chapter
remarked on her "enthusiasm, encouragement, drive, and sense of humor
[which] motivated the Board and committees to achieve their goals." She
was described as a leader who "fostered an environment among members and
other chapter leaders where new ideas and approaches were embraced and
successful."
Attributing the chapter's successes this past year to Melissa's
leadership, her board said, "Everything was not simple coincidence or
stroke of luck, but a direct result of dedication and hard work.
[Melissa] gave of herself and her time unselfishly every day. [She was]
an inspiration for all of us to take pride in our work, to cultivate
meaningful relationships with one another, and to work as a team."
A jury of distinguished former SMPS Chapter Presidents selects the
Chapter President of the Year. This year's jury included Chair Carolyn
Ferguson, CPSM, The Lentz Group; Katie Fitzpatrick, Smith Seckman Reid
Inc.; William Long, P.E., Barclay White Skanska; Liz Smith, THP Ltd.;
Craig Park, FSMPS, Shen Milsom & Wilke; and David Werking, CPSM, FA
Wilhelm Construction Co. Inc.
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