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.