2002 Striving For Excellence Awards

The SMPS Striving for Excellence Program recognizes excellence in chapter service to members. The following chapters won Striving for Excellence awards for the 2001-02 programming year:

Grand-Prize Winner: Southern New England Chapter
President: Bernice R. Bako, Marketing Director, Turner Construction Company, Milford, CT
Service Accomplishments:

• Established CPSM study groups
  
• Organized a regional conference
  
• Implemented a new member orientation program
  

First-Prize Winner, Large Chapter:New York City Chapter
President: Gina A. Bedoya, Director of Marketing, Gilsanz, Murray, Steficek, LLP, New York, NY
Service Accomplishments:

• Developed senior-level seminars
  
• Supported the new New Jersey Affiliate Chapter
  
• Established a Diversity Task Force
  
• Organized a mentorship program
  

First-Prize Winner, Medium Chapter: Oregon Chapter
President: Marie J. Vinless, CPSM, Director of Business Development, Dull Olson Weekes Architects PC, Portland, OR
Service Accomplishments:

• Maintained membership levels with 8% unemployment
  
• Defined a chapter leadership development program which could serve as a prototype
• Offered orientation for new members
  
• Conducted a local salary survey

Outstanding Certificate Winner: Central Florida Chapter
President: Sheri Ford Lewin, CPSM, Principal, VS Consulting,
Clermont, FL
Service Accomplishments:

• Participated in a regional conference with three other chapters
  
• Created an SMPS Student Club on the campus of the University of Central Florida
  
• Developed an identity program to support the chapter's name change
  

Outstanding Certificate Winner: Georgia Chapter
President: Kirsten A. Haas, Marketing Manager, Prime Engineering Inc., Atlanta, GA
Service Accomplishments:

• Established a formal mentorship pairing program
  
• Added a "routing" box to its chapter newsletter to increase circulation
  
• Developed a program with Georgia Tech
  

Outstanding Certificate Winner: Greater Cincinnati Chapter
President: Daniel F. Dugan, Director of Business Development, Dugan & Meyers Construction Co., Cincinnati, OH
Service Accomplishments:

• Created a new member orientation program and kit
  
• Strengthened the chapter's involved in the community, including St. Joseph's Orphanage
  
• Used electronic news updates to communicate with members.

These award-winning chapters were recognized during the Awards Gala on July 29 in Chicago.

The 2002 Striving for Excellence Awards were chaired by Paul James, CPSM, principal of Cupola Communications LLC, Orlando, FL. Also serving on the task force were Cynthia Jackson, CPSM, marketing manager for BHDP Architecture, Cincinnati, OH; Peter Lyon, FSMPS, client services manager for Hanscomb Inc., Atlanta, GA; and Marion Thatch, CPSM, corporate marketing director for Southland Industries, San Leandro, CA.