SMPS interviewed Camille Majors, corporate communications manager with Environmental Science Associates (ESA), regarding her experience participating as a first-time entrant in the 2011 SMPS National Marketing Communications Awards (MCA). Camille shares her insights and explains what these awards meant for her and her team. ESA won first and third place in the Internal Communications category during the 2011 competition.

SMPS: Why did you enter the MCA competition?
Camille: We believe in the work that we do and saw the MCA competition as an opportunity to validate our work – being judged by our industry peers as being among the top in the nation.

SMPS: Regarding your first-place-winning entry, what about that project are you most proud?
Camille: All employees are given a copy of our Five-Year Strategic Plan, and all of our internal communications reference the objectives within the plan. This was a huge effort and rollout campaign internally, and it’s clear a year later that staff understand how they’re contributing to achieving our vision.

SMPS: What do you think made your entry stand out from the competition?
Camille: From the judges’ notes, our entry was “as good as what you would give to a client!” It was a very staff-focused campaign, from the photos, to the quotes, to the final presentation and document; the staff were at the center of every decision.

SMPS: What does this recognition mean to you and your firm?
Camille: Bringing home two MCA awards really validated and increased the value and perceived professionalism of our group, our work, and our firm.

SMPS: How did you share the news about winning this award?
Camille: We [displayed] the marketing awards and an explanation at the front desk of our headquarters for employees to see, included a mention in our monthly newsletter, it was presented to our marketing department, and again mentioned in our end-of-year, firmwide summary of achievements.

SMPS: What did you learn from the other winning entries on display at Build Business?
Camille: We’re really a very innovative group. Oftentimes we look outside of the industry for leading examples, and I don’t think we need to. The MCAs are a wonderful opportunity to see the best of the best. Last year was our first year entering the awards, and we are planning on entering again in 2012.

SMPS: Do you have any advice for future entrants on how to plan/prepare a winning entry?
Camille: Aligning the marketing objectives with the final product is critical to your entry. All of your supporting materials should reinforce these objectives.

For information on entering the 2012 MCA competition—including categories descriptions, submittal requirements, and the entry form—visit the MCA web page. The discounted entry deadline is March 1 (postmarked), and the final entry deadline is March 15 (must be delivered by this date to the SMPS National Office to compete).

Pictured below is ESA’s first-place winning entry in the Internal Communications category of the 2011 MCA competition.