In our member spotlight, Emma Parker, CPSM, recently sat down for a virtual chat with SMPS. Emma, who’s vice president for strategy and marketing for Rogers-O’Brien Construction, is a member of SMPS North Texas and has been in the A/E/C industry for nearly 15 years. In this spotlight, she shares her most meaningful project and how SMPS has helped her career.
How has SMPS helped you in your career? SMPS has been a great resource to connect with peers in the industry. It’s a great way to access training and development opportunities, while fostering connections with those that share the same challenges and opportunities.
Can you tell us something we would be surprised to learn about you? I started my college journey with a focus on studio art. I quickly realized that this was more of a hobby and then was in pursuit of a career path that allowed my creative side to mix with my tenacious business-minded side. Through my internship at the local chamber of commerce, I was presented with an opportunity to join a general contractor that offered a role that did just that—where business meets creativity.
What did you do at work yesterday? My day consisted of a marketing leadership meeting with the managers of the marketing/ communication/creative team, followed by a meeting to finalize our new interactive dashboards that visualize our regional business plans for our five offices across Texas. I ended the day with a meeting about communicating a companywide initiative that promotes a new operations structure, impacting our organization of 550+ employees.
As a CPSM, how has certification benefitted you? For me, getting my CPSM was largely driven by leading by example for my team. I was also motivated as a way to grow within my career path and journey. Since becoming a CPSM, I’ve received a lot of value via the CPSM group discussion. This network of leaders shared great conversations that presents many solutions to a range of challenges we all face.
Why did you decide to take the CPSM test? To put my money where my mouth is! I talked about it for a while and wanted to join a group of leaders that share the same passion and desire to lead and grow.
What are a few words of wisdom to those thinking about becoming a CPSM? Just do it! Make it a priority and commit to it. It opens a door to a new group of thought leaders that share valuable information and resources above what we all access as SMPS members.
What’s the best advice you’ve received regarding your career or working in A/E/C? Stay humble. It sounds simple, but it’s something that’s really stuck with me and shaped how I approach my career. In A/E/C, no one succeeds on their own—it’s all about teamwork and collaboration. Humility is what keeps you open to feedback, learning from others, and building stronger connections. It keeps you grounded.
Some of the best ideas I’ve been a part of didn’t come from me—they came from listening to and learning from others. Staying humble reminds you that everyone brings something valuable to the table, and when you embrace that, you build trust and achieve way more together than you could alone.
What’s the best advice you’ve given? Focus on building real, meaningful relationships, especially with the people you work with every day. It’s easy to focus on external connections, but the internal ones are just as important. Getting to know coworkers on both a personal and professional level has made a huge difference in my career. When you build that trust and understanding, collaboration becomes so much easier. For me, connecting with technical teams and field staff has been especially important. Learning their perspectives not only helps align our goals but also creates an environment where everyone feels heard and valued. Those relationships are the foundation for success, especially in an industry as collaborative as A/E/C.
What has been one of your most meaningful work projects? Being a part of securing some of the biggest and most impactful construction projects in Texas has been amazing. Knowing these projects make a real difference—whether it’s through schools, hospitals, or churches—is incredibly rewarding. That said, the project I’m most proud of is driving the development and implementation of our company’s first-ever multi-year strategy. It was a chance to step back, look at the bigger picture, and set a clear vision for the future. It’s been exciting to see how it’s brought our teams together, aligned our goals, and positioned us for long-term success. To me, this strategy is more than just a plan—it’s a roadmap for how we’ll keep growing and delivering value to our clients and communities.
What’s on your bucket list? I’d love to take a month or more to unplug and travel, even though taking that much time off work isn’t always easy or the norm. Exploring new places, trying local foods, and meeting new people is something I love doing. I’d want to travel with family to create those memories, but also be intentional about planning trips with friends. Thailand, Singapore, Greece, and Australia are just a few places that made my list.
