I am filled with gratitude and awe. Over the past year, we have not only honored our legacy but stretched toward our future with boldness, strategy, and unity.
When I began this journey as your Society president last September, I reflected on one simple truth: Progress is rarely perfect. But imperfect doesn’t mean ineffective. In fact, it’s in the small pivots in the moments where we choose progress over perfection that we’ve made our greatest impact.
Together, we have:
- Forged powerful new alliance partnerships that expand our influence beyond the walls of SMPS and deeper into the industries we serve. We partnered with the ACE Mentor Program of America—an investment in the next generation of A/E/C talent—and joined the Engineering Workforce Consortium through ACEC, ensuring SMPS has a seat at the table in shaping the future of our profession.
- Acquired ElevateHER, solidifying our commitment to advancing equity and representation in the A/E/C industry and positioning SMPS as a leader in leadership development and promoting the human experience.
- Elevated chapter engagement and leadership support, making sure our volunteers aren’t just equipped but empowered and deeply appreciated.
- Continued to advance the discussion around artificial intelligence, equipping our members with real-world tools, thought leadership, SMPS Foundation research, and strategic partners that make SMPS the go-to resource in the A/E/C industry.
- Modeled alternative approaches to leadership opportunities, by working with the Society board and HQ in how we approached engaging the leaders of tomorrow.
I had the pleasure of visiting with several SMPS chapters this year: SMPS Indiana, Washington, DC, Maryland, Ontario, Northern New England, Inland Empire, and my home chapter Los Angeles. I also attended Pacific Regional and Southwest Regional Conferences, the Pinnacle Experience, and met the incoming chapter presidents at the Chapter Leaders Symposium. I can tell you a lot of great work is happening at the chapter level and there is still more we can do to support member engagement and member success … and we are poised to do just that.
It has been an exciting time for the organization and I’m so thrilled to be able to be on this journey with SMPS members, the Society board, and HQ staff. Member engagement and success has been the driving north star this year. Every decision the board and HQ has made, even the hard ones, was done with SMPS members at the forefront because you are the reason we are here, and you are the reason we volunteer.
We have a lot to be proud of this year. And now, we stand at the threshold of something even greater, as we bring our current strategic plan to a strong, intentional close.
Throughout this year, I’ve asked questions like:
Did you put your oxygen mask on first?
Are you cultivating value—or just collecting moments?
What will your insight inspire?
Our answers, as a Society, have been clear.
We’ve chosen to lead with purpose.
We’ve invested in learning and lifted each other up.
We’ve focused not just on what we do but why it matters.
Let’s celebrate what we’ve accomplished and boldly build what’s next.
Article written by Dr. Paula Raymond Stamp, MBA, FSMPS, CPSM, who is CEO and principal of Geaux Consulting Group. She can be reached at paula@geauxconsultinggroup.com.
