1999 Striving for Excellence Award Winners

Five chapters were recognized in the 1999 SMPS Striving for Excellence awards program. These awards commend quality chapter educational programming and membership promotion. Winning entries are shared with other chapters for ideas and inspiration. Leaders representing these chapters were acknowledged during an awards ceremony held during the National Marketing Conference. The Grand Prize and First Prize winners received a cash award and one registration to the 1999 National Marketing Conference.

Grand Prize: Michigan Chapter

E. Laney Henson, President

1999 Hit Your Mark Educational Series

The Hit Your Mark Educational Series had a simple yet profound goal as clearly articulated in the tag line for the program - to help members "find, win, and retain clients through effective marketing."

The motto of the planners was to "Plan the work and work the plan" in launching one of the most comprehensive promotional efforts ever undertaken by the chapter. According to the entry, "The Education Series was specifically crafted to be inclusive of a wide range of people who serve the built environment. We deliberately wanted to appeal to a mix of individuals within the SMPS membership from technical professionals, marketing managers, and coordinators to principals."

The target audience was professionals involved in marketing the built environment for architects, interior designers, engineers, general contractors, vendors and more. It included both SMPS members and nonmembers throughout Michigan.

The program exceeded its goals and expectations in virtually all aspects of attendance levels, class evaluations, and revenue projections. The "Hit Your Mark Series" netted over $14,850 for the Michigan Chapter.

First Prize: Indiana Chapter

Kathy G. Reehling, President

1998-1999 EDGE Program

The Indiana Chapter sought to provide a sustainable education program for its members using the resources of Indiana's higher education system, SMPS National, and locally and nationally based professionals.

According to the entry, "We structured this program to have three Fundamental programs and three Strategic programs with a day-long seminar at the end to wrap up the year and allow members to intermingle and share the knowledge among the membership.

One of the things that made the Indiana Chapter program unique is the fact that, not only did they work with members of the chapter and businesses in the local community, but they also partnered with a major university, Purdue, to bring "fresh academic knowledge to our membership."

Overall the EDGE program was a great success. Fifty-three percent of the chapter's membership attended at least one session. And of the 15 nonmembers who attend, 4 have already joined SMPS.

Outstanding Certificate: Florida Chapter

Paul E. James, President

Cultivating Media Relations

This program was designed to improve the members' relationships with the media and to strengthen relationships with other professional associations.

With the total program attendance just over 90 people, the Florida chapter netted over $1,235.

Outstanding Certificate: Philadelphia Chapter

Edward M. Stetz III, MP, President

The Path of a Rising Star-An SMPS Philadelphia Special Event.

The goals of the Philadelphia Chapter were to educate entry- and intermediate-level marketers, to feature an industry leader as a principal speaker, to offer educational topics in preparation for the certification test, to utilize the knowledge of the chapter's human resources including past leaders, to meet the seminar-format criteria for programs outlined in the Educational Guidelines for Chapters, and to promote the Society.

In a half-day seminar the chapter was able to successfully put this program on, meeting all of the set goals and netting a profit of over $700.

Outstanding Certificate: Georgia Chapter

Robert W. Beavers, President

A Program to Increase New Membership and Retain Existing Members

This program addressed the problems, goals, solutions, and improvements associated with a comprehensive membership recruitment and retainment effort.

As of May 28, 1999, the Georgia Chapter has replaced 27 members that have left the industry and brought in 13 new members, netting a profit of $2,785.

Chairing the Striving for Excellence program was Dale Walker, Bucher Willis & Ratliff Corporation, Kansas City, MO. Other judges were Michelle Monnett, Spillis Candela & Partners Inc., Washington, DC., and Brenda Nunes, Associated Earth Sciences Inc., Kirkland, WA.