In our member spotlight, Maura Howard recently sat down for a virtual chat with SMPS. Maura is marketing/business development coordinator for UES and has been in the A/E/C industry for 16 years. In this spotlight, Maura shares her most meaningful project, how SMPS has helped her career, and the best career advice she’s been given.
In a few words, describe your current role? I lead business development and marketing efforts for our Virtual Design Consulting (VDC) group nationally.
What’s the best career advice you’ve been given? By my father: “If It scares you, it might be a good thing to try.”
What has been one of your most meaningful work projects? UES recently launched Virtual Design Consulting (VDC), a new subsurface imaging and modeling service that is a major differentiator within the geotechnical engineering space. I was intimately involved in the national marketing and branding campaign. It has been incredibly rewarding to see our VDC team grow so rapidly and successfully at a national level.
We heard you joined SMPS after attending Amplify A|E|C. What made you decide to join the organization? Amplify A|E|C was an eyeopener on how many resources there are [within SMPS] for me to be better at my job.
What did the conference experience mean to you? The gathering of different members from different regions and companies coming together and supporting each other.
What would you say to someone who was thinking about going to Amplify A|E|C but has never been? Experiencing Amplify. You will gain so much knowledge from the sessions and network with members nationwide.
How has being an SMPS member helped you and your career so far? I have met members that introduced me to the right people for major projects and gained a lot of friendships.
What’s on your bucket list? Going to Thailand.
What’s your guilty pleasure: what can’t you live without? Cheese.
