Recent Updates

SMPS Announces Newly-Elected 2012–13 National Officers and Directors

In accordance with the SMPS Bylaws, the following candidates have been slated by the Nominations and Elections Committee to fill three open positions on the 2012–13 National Board of Directors:

President-Elect: Brad Thurman, P.E., FSMPS, CPSM, Principal & Chief Marketing Officer, Wallace Engineering, Tulsa, OK (Term: September 1, 2012, to August 31, 2015)
At-Large Delegate: Paula M. Ryan, FSMPS, CPSM, Director of Marketing, Braun & Steidl Architects, Columbus, OH (Term: September 1, 2012, to August 31, 2014)
Fellows Delegate: Carla D. Thompson, FSMPS, Global Marketing Director, MulvannyG2 Architecture, Bellevue, WA (Term: September 1, 2012, to August 31, 2014)

As further provided by the SMPS Bylaws, in the absence of a nomination for any of the open positions on the board by the petition process, the above slate of candidates selected by the Nominations and Elections Committee is elected by acclamation for the offices and terms specified.

Four current directors will continue on the National Board in 2012–13 in the following positions:

President: J. Kevin Hebblethwaite, FSMPS, CPSM, Executive Free Agent, Hebblethwaite LLC, Newnan, GA
Past President: Francis J. Lippert, FSMPS, CPSM, Associate, Marketing Director, David Evans and Associates Inc., Portland, OR
Secretary/Treasurer: Barbara D. Shuck, FSMPS, CPSM, Chief Marketing Officer, Emc2 Group Architects Planners PC, Mesa, AZ
Chapter Delegate: Holly R. Bolton, FSMPS, CPSM, Director of Marketing, CE Solutions Inc., Carmel, IN

Looking ahead to 2012–13, President-Elect Kevin Hebblethwaite said, “It’s hard to describe how much energy and passion this National Board has for serving in SMPS. I am incredibly lucky to be a part of such a great team. In the next few years, I believe our members have an incredible opportunity to be an integrating force for positive change within their firms. Strategic marketing and business development are a way of life for successful professional service providers, not just tasks on a list or functions on an org chart. SMPS is ‘home sweet home’ for developing the skillsets and relationships that will drive the future of the A/E/C industry. It’s a great time to get involved with our local, regional, and national efforts to build strong client advocacy relationships and expand the body of knowledge in our profession.”

Newly-Elected Foundation Trustees

The Nominations and Elections Committee also recommended and the SMPS National Board approved the nomination and re-election of three current member trustees to serve an additional two-year term (September 1, 2012, to August 31, 2014) on the SMPS Foundation Board:

Michelle H. Fitzpatrick, FSMPS, CPSM, Principal, Marketivity Inc., Portland, OR
Donna L. Jakubowicz, FSMPS, CPSM, Corporate Marketing Director, Barton Malow Company, Southfield, MI
William R. Long, P.E., FSMPS, CPSM, Vice President, TN Ward Company, Ardmore, PA

The Foundation trustees have elected the following nonmembers to serve on the board in 2012–14:

Steve Isaacs, Division Manager, A/E Consulting, FMI, Walnut Creek, CA
Kelly Riggs, Founder and President, Vmax Performance Group, Broken Arrow, OK
Janice Tuchman, Editor-in-Chief, Engineering News–Record, New York, NY

The following member trustees will continue on the Foundation Board in 2012–13:

Dana L. Birkes, APR, FSMPS, CPSM, Vice President, Business Development and Marketing, Flintco, LLC, Tulsa, OK
Scott W. Braley, FAIA, FRSA, Principal, Braley Consulting & Training, Atlanta, GA
Scott D. Butcher, FSMPS, CPSM, Vice President, JDB Engineering Inc., York, PA
Larry D. Casey, CPSM, Senior Vice President, Skanska USA Building Inc., Rockville, MD
Michael J. Reilly, FSMPS, Principal, Reilly Communications, Boston, MA
Lisa B. Roberson, CPSM, Client Relations Manager, Newcomb & Boyd, Atlanta, GA

Election of Foundation Officers
The Foundation trustees have elected the following officers for the 2012–13 programming year:

President: Dana L. Birkes, APR, FSMPS, CPSM
President-Elect: William R. Long, P.E., FSMPS, CPSM
Secretary: Scott D. Butcher, FSMPS, CPSM
Treasurer: Donna L. Jakubowicz, FSMPS, CPSM

Last Edited by Communications Content Author at 5/15/2012 1:48 PM Comments (0)

SMPS and Deltek Announce Strategic Alliance

(Press Releases) Permanent link

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lisa Bowman
Society for Marketing Professional Services
800.292.7677, x230, or lisa@smps.org
OR
Patrick Smith
Deltek, Inc.
703.885.9062 or PatrickSmith@deltek.com

SMPS and Deltek Announce Strategic Alliance
A/E/C industry leaders partner to advance technology’s role in design firm marketing and business development

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Society for Marketing Professional Services and Deltek, Inc., the leading global provider of enterprise software and information solutions for professional services firms and government contractors, announce the formation of a multi-year strategic alliance to explore technology’s evolving role in the operation of design and construction businesses.

Through research, SMPS and Deltek will work together to identify trends and best practices in technology usage in the architectural/engineering/construction industry. Through education and publications, the organizations will share what they have learned in the industry, expanding the body of knowledge on technology in practice management. SMPS and Deltek also will participate in each other’s conferences, exposing Deltek customers to marketing and business development best practices and SMPS members to the latest technologies to build business for their firms.

“SMPS welcomes the opportunity to work with the Deltek team to generate industry dialogue on technology advancement and how technology can positively impact business growth,” said SMPS CEO Ronald D. Worth, CAE, FSMPS, CPSM. “Further, this alliance will expand awareness of the SMPS mission to advocate for the critical role of marketing in successful A/E/C firms. It is my hope that, based on Deltek’s market leadership and years of experience delivering enterprise software solutions to A/E/C firms, more companies will discover the SMPS national network to form valuable business relationships, educate their marketing and business development professionals, capture business intelligence, and benchmark their performance.”

Claus Thorsgaard, Executive VP and General Manager, Professional Services at Deltek, added, “This is an exciting partnership that brings together two industry leaders. Enabling marketing and business development professionals to build a strong pipeline continues to be critical in ensuring a firm’s success. And according to SMPS’s 2012 technology survey, more SMPS members use Deltek solutions to power their businesses than any other enterprise software company. These factors combine perfectly for a Deltek and SMPS partnership that explores creative solutions that will drive firms in the A/E/C industry to new heights of performance.”

For more information, please contact SMPS Senior Vice President Lisa Bowman at 800.292.7677, x230.

About Deltek
Deltek (Nasdaq: PROJ) is the leading global provider of enterprise software and information solutions for professional services firms and government contractors. For decades, Deltek has delivered actionable insight that empowers its customers to unlock their business potential. 15,000 organizations and 1.9 million users in over 80 countries around the world rely on Deltek to research and identify opportunities, win new business, optimize resources, streamline operations, and deliver more profitable projects. Deltek – Know more. Do more.® www.deltek.com

About the Society for Marketing Professional Services
The Society for Marketing Professional Services (www.smps.org) represents a dynamic network of 6,000 marketing and business development professionals working for architectural, engineering, planning, interior design, construction, and specialty construction firms located throughout the United States and Canada. The Society and its 50+ chapters benefit from the support of 3,700 design and building firms, encompassing 80% of the Engineering News-Record Top 500 Design Firms and Top 400 Contractors. SMPS’s mission is to advocate for, educate, and connect leaders in the building community. SMPS is the only organization dedicated to creating business opportunities in the design and building industry.

Last Edited by Communications Content Author at 5/14/2012 10:02 AM Comments (0)

2012 MCA Winners Announced

Permanent link

Finalists in the 2012 Marketing Communications Awards
(presented in alphabetical order)

The following firms placed first, second, third, or honorable mention in the 2012 Marketing Communications Awards competition; some firms received awards in multiple categories. Placements will be announced and all award recipients honored during the Awards Gala on July 12, 2012, in San Francisco during Build Business, the SMPS National Conference. Placements will be published on the SMPS web site and in the August 2012 Marketer.

AECOM, San Francisco, CA
BNIM, Kansas City, MO
The Brand Constructors, New Orleans, LA
BSA LifeStructures/Miles Design, Indianapolis, IN
Cause and Effect Evolutions, Carlsbad, CA
CCRD Partners, Dallas, TX
Clark Patterson Lee, Rochester, NY
Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, Sebastian, FL
DCI Engineers, Seattle, WA
England-Thims & Miller, Inc., Jacksonville, FL
ESG Architects, Minneapolis, MN
Eskew+Dumez+Ripple Architects, New Orleans, LA
EYP Architecture & Engineering, Washington, DC
Fox Architects, McLean, VA
The Freelon Group Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC
Gannett Fleming, Harrisburg, PA
Garney Construction, Kansas City, MO
Halcrow, New York, NY
HDR Architecture Inc., Portland, OR
Hickok Cole Architects, Washington, DC
Hinge, Reston, VA
Hnedak Bobo Group Inc., Memphis, TN
HNTB Corporation, Kansas City, MO
HNTB Corporation, Oakland, CA
HOAR Construction, Houston, TX
HOK, Culver City, CA
HR Green, McHenry, IL
Hunton Brady Architects PA, Orlando, FL
J.M. Waller Associates Inc., Fairfax, VA
Jacobs Associates, San Francisco, CA
JE Dunn Construction, Kansas City, MO
MHTN Architects, Salt Lake City, UT
MSA Architects, Cincinnati, OH
Olson Kundig Architects, Seattle, WA
On Target Marketing & Communications LLC, Columbia, CT
Pennoni Associates Inc., Philadelphia, PA
Rider Levett Bucknall, Phoenix, AZ
Sasaki Associates Inc., Watertown, MA
Saunders Construction Inc., Centennial, CO
SmithGroupJJR, Detroit, MI
T.Y. Lin International, San Francisco, CA
Terracon, Olathe, KS
TowerPinkster, Grand Rapids, MI
Union Studio, Providence, RI
ValleyCrest Landscape Companies, Calabasas, CA
Wiss Janney Elstner Associates Inc., Northbrook, IL
Women's Transportation Seminar – Inland Empire Chapter (WTS-IE), San Bernardino, CA
WSP Flack + Kurtz, New York, NY

Last Edited by Communications Content Author at 5/4/2012 9:18 AM Comments (0)

Chapter Presidents-Elect Convene for Leadership Symposium

(News) Permanent link

Chapter Presidents-Elect representing 52 of the Society’s 57 chapters met in Alexandria, VA, April 19–21 to share ideas and solutions regarding leadership, chapter management, membership, educational programming, and communications. The National Board of Directors, the National Staff, and the volunteer leaders of the Chapter Presidents’ Leadership Symposium (PLS) Committee were on hand to discuss the Society’s mission in the A/E/C industry, the vital role chapters play in delivering value to members, the challenges of leadership, and the resources available to chapters through the national organization. The program included an energetic workshop on speaking skills and ended with a presentation on “Leading & Marketing with Your Whole Brain,” aimed at giving the presidents-elect a greater awareness of their own thinking preferences and communication styles; both programs were presented by Graceworks.

All incoming Chapter Presidents received a flash drive containing the SMPS Chapter Management Manual, presentations, and more information covered during this intense annual event. While in Alexandria, the Chapter Presidents-Elect, now known as the P3s, enjoyed a tour of and reception in SMPS’s National Headquarters in historic Old Town, as well as networking time with one another.

Thank you to everyone who attended PLS, and special thanks to the PLS Committee: Chair Nolah Nasser-Gertner, business development professional; Past Chair Tiffany Konenkamp, service operations manager with Century Fire Protection LLC; and Incoming Chair Andrew Weinberg, CPSM, regional director of business development with WorkingBuildings, LLC.

Last Edited by Communications Content Author at 5/4/2012 10:57 AM Comments (0)

An Interview with Danielle Feroleto, MA, CPSM, on Client Surveys

Permanent link

On May 15, Danielle Feroleto, MA, CPSM, President/Owner, Small Giants LLC, will present the Webinar "Ignite Your Marketing Program to Action: Client Surveys". SMPS recently interviewed Danielle about her professional experience, program takeaways for Webinar participants and interesting trends. Here's what she shared with us.

SMPS: What unique qualifications do you bring to this program? Why are you passionate about this topic?

Danielle: I have been in the A/E/C industry for over 15 years, in one of the most booming construction industries in the country for over a decade…and now one of the most depressed. Through both the highs and lows, client feedback is absolutely critical to differentiating your firm, providing valued service, and retaining clients. It is never easy to solicit feedback, because it makes you vulnerable and forces you to take action and be accountable, but the positive feedback seems to be overshadowed by the sensitivity to constructive criticism. If you are not getting client feedback in a formal fashion, I would really advise that you do and see just how valuable it is.

I am passionate about client feedback because it is absolutely a lifeline to know why the client buys from you, critical to client retention, vital to demonstrating the value to place on improving, and primary to measuring your staff. And if that weren’t enough, it’s FREE. I am stunned and troubled that firms do not use this tool as the foundation for all of their marketing activities.

SMPS: In your research and experience with this topic, what is the most effective/profitable/exciting way you have seen a firm apply the concepts? Or can you give the reader a real-world example of these concepts in action?

Danielle: The most effective way to gather client perceptions is by hiring an outside firm to conduct them on your behalf. My firm does client perceptions studies specifically for the A/E/C industry, but do not misunderstand this as a shameless plug for our services. I say this because I have firsthand experience knowing just how good it is for the relationship between the service provider and the client. In the multiple engagements I have completed, each time multiple clients will tell me, “See, it’s programs like this, having an outside company take the time to call me and get my feedback, that makes them great/different/unique/committed to excellence, etc.”

In addition, research has consistently shown that the feedback given to a third party is more honest—not only the negative but the positive as well. The clients seem to feel more inclined to elaborate and consider items and share their thoughts without feeling like it is imposing on the existing relationship.

The final reason a third party client perception survey is critical is that those relationships that might be strained are significantly strengthened by allowing them to be heard without defensiveness and gauging the level of repair or recovery needed.

SMPS: What is the most important takeaway participants will gain from this program?

Danielle: The participants will understand the reasons to do client surveys, when to do them, and the most successful manner to conduct them to achieve the highest response rate and most thorough answers. Additionally, the participants will understand that conducting the surveys and getting the feedback is only half of the value—the next critical step is measuring the feedback and tracking trends, and we will discuss how to do that as well.

SMPS: What's the most interesting trend you are following? How do you think this trend will impact professional services marketing and business development, especially in the design and building industry?

Danielle: A few areas I am particularly intrigued by are social media and direct mailings. Most firms recognize the need to have a presence on social media platforms but have not harnessed the transforming nature of “Phase 2” and measuring the ROI on the social media efforts. The second area I see impact is in creative direct mailing. The packaging, consistency, and creativity that is possible is incomparable to an eblast that has a click-through rate on average of less than 13%. I have worked with clients on some really fun, unique, and effective campaigns taking an “old-school” approach.

Learn more and register today for “Ignite Your Marketing Program to Action: Client Surveys,” scheduled for May 15 at 2 pm EDT/1 pm CDT/Noon MDT/11 am PDT.

Last Edited by Communications Content Author at 4/30/2012 11:36 AM Comments (0)

May 2012

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Subject Matter Experts

If you would like to speak with an SMPS subject matter expert, please contact Lisa Bowman at lisa@smps.org or 800.292.7677, x230.