For our member spotlight, Terry Hawley, FSMPS, CPSM, sat down for a virtual chat with us to share what it means to be an SMPS Fellow. Terry is client success manager at Terracon.
What are the benefits of becoming an SMPS Fellow? It’s easy to think that once you become an SMPS Fellow, you have reached the pinnacle of your career. While it is a very distinguished honor, it is now a responsibility to give back to the Society, as well as others in the industry. You are now recognized as someone who has experienced the highs and lows in their career and can be looked upon to provide their insight and wisdom to others in the industry. You are expected to provide leadership in Society initiatives and take on additional responsibilities.
What does it mean to be an SMPS Fellow? To me, becoming an SMPS Fellow means that while I have achieved some meaningful accomplishments in my career, there’s still room to do more. There are opportunities to do a multitude of things, including research, presenting, mentoring, and advising your local chapter. While you can’t do it all, you must focus on those areas that you can be a resource. My hope is that I can look back when my career is done and know that I have left the industry that has been a large part of my life, in better shape than when I first joined. I hope to take advantage of all the opportunities that come my way, and to find those areas that I can have the most impact on – and hopefully help this industry grow.
Are you an SMPS Fellow? Reach out to SMPS HQ’s Molly Dall’Erta at molly@smps.org if you’d like to be featured. Want to learn about our Fellows Recognition Program? Check out our website for more information.
