SMPS Sacramento President Selected Chapter President of the Year

The Chapter President of the Year Award represents excellence in leadership. In leading and strengthening a chapter, a Chapter President contributes to the growth of the overall SMPS organization. Leadership entails many facets: empowering others to lead, creating value to the resources offered, establishing a concrete foundation for the continued growth of the chapter and thus the organization. Leadership is setting a vision for fulfilling the organization's mission and making that vision come to fruition. In the 2003-2004 programming year, Stephanie Craft, CPSM, demonstrated such leadership. Craft is Immediate Past President of SMPS Sacramento and a partner of Marketlink in Sacramento.

As with most successful leaders, Craft prepared for her presidency early in her year as President-Elect. During that time she organized the chapter's first strategic planning session which led to a smooth implementation process throughout her presidency. A few of Craft's accomplishments included:

· creating financial stability for the chapter by setting in place sound accounting systems and creating a reserve savings account of $100 per member
· developing innovative programs such as "Shop Talk," a forum to discuss topics focusing on the six Domains of Practice of Professional Services Marketing
· mentoring committee chairs to develop diversified programs that adhered to all the Domains of Practice and covered all disciplines in the A/E/C industry
· overseeing the development of a brand identify campaign for the chapter
· spearheading efforts to recruit and retain members such as creating networking opportunities, developing a quarterly orientation breakfast for new members, and establishing a referral bonus system; the chapter grew by 20%
· setting the foundation for future growth by developing a five-year strategic plan, establishing a processes and procedures manual, and empowering board members so they can be future leaders.

Craft received the Chapter President of the Year Award during the Awards Gala on August 12 in New Orleans. Additionally, SMPS Georgia President Kevin Hebblethwaite, CPSM, President of EDI Ltd. in Atlanta, and SMPS Wisconsin President Tom Sobczak, Marketing and Business Development for Graef Anhalt Schloemer & Associates Inc. in Milwaukee, received certificates of recognition for their leadership efforts.

The Chapter President of the Year is selected by a distinguished jury of former SMPS Chapter Presidents. This year's jury was chaired by Gina A. Bedoya, Director of Marketing for Gilsanz Murray Steficek, New York, NY. The jurors included Steven P. Osborn, CPSM, P.E., President of CE Solutions, Inc., Carmel, IN; Kasey Rothenfluch, CPSM, Marketing Manager, PAE Consulting Engineers, Inc., Portland, OR; and Myrna Esther Wagner, CPSM, Regional Business Development Manager, Swinerton Management & Consulting, San Francisco, CA.