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IN THIS I S S U E

ISSUE 2 | SPRING 2017

Chapter President, Michele Decker, CPSM 4240 Architecture

Q&A with Chapter President

5 Take-aways from SMPS Southwest Regional Conference

SMPS Essay Winner

Sponsor Spotlight

Project Spotlight

New Members

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Q&A with Chapter President Michele Decker

SMPS: What drew you to join SMPS, and how did you get involved?

MD: I was drawn to SMPS for education; when I first joined I was a marketing department of one and was looking for best practices to advance the firm’s approach. Professional services is a unique business and SMPS is the only A/E/C association focused on marketing. In my first couple years of membership I served on the education committee; we focused on building programs to help others solve their biggest challenges. An unexpected, but rewarding result of my involvement in SMPS was the warm community and network of marketers willing to offer advice or introductions. The generosity of the SMPS community continues to extend state and national boundaries to this day.

SMPS: What do you see as the greatest opportunity for SMPS?

MD: SMPS exists to advocate for the marketing profession, provide education and connections to our members. Right now the greatest opportunities for SMPS exist in authoring research and usable content. The SMPS Foundation is publishing a variety of topics; the most recent: Fellows Report; a summation on the state of the industry ranging from talent attraction to the intergenerational workplace and from commoditization to the seller-doer model. Another noteworthy document provides current industry hit rates and KPIs. These are all available for download on the SMPS website.

Locally SMPS has been aligning with association partners: AIA, AGC, ACEC, and USGBC. We understand that marketing extends the reach of the sole marketers and marketing department; there’s value in providing marketing education and resources to local associations where our professional staff are involved.

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SMPS: What has been the most influential program you’ve experience with SMPS?

MD: In 2014 I became a Certified Professional Services Marketer. The study group and preparation required to achieve my CPSM provided immediate and extended value to my firm, it also launched me into the next phase of my career.

SMPS: What is the biggest challenge for marketers in their firms?

MD: Time and buy-in. I hear this a lot, but again, this is not unique to marketers; even our clients don’t have enough time and have to get buy-in from someone.

SMPS: What is the biggest challenge for our industry?

MD: There’s a lot of noise in the marketplace… or in life, really. It’s important to find channels and approaches that contribute useful information to audiences who value what you have to say.

Adoption of implementable marketing technology: As an industry known for late adoption and limited marketing budgets, my hope is that we will see more buy-in for simple technologies like CRM and marketing automation systems. This adoption will provide more of a symbiotic relationship between our marketing and business development efforts.

SMPS: Where do you find inspiration?

MD: Art, technology, and nature. What else is there?

Make a list of who to connect with and grow your ecosystem.

Be strategic at networking, meetings, and business events. Setting mini-goals of who to talk to provides a purpose for attending each event and streamlines making new connections. A list of strategic connections also provides documentation to compare against to see if you are attending the right events or if right people (connections) are on the list. Your ecosystem will grow by making a more concerted effort at connecting with others for specific reasons.

-- Samantha Brooke, Marketing Coordinator, Hensel Phelps

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5 TAKE-AWAYS FROM THE

REGIONAL CONFERENCE

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Strategically consider the proposals your firm is pursuing. Does it make sense?

While most experienced marketing professionals understand this, many young professionals or even the principals often forget to think about the cost of putting a proposal together and the chances of winning the project. I wished I would have had this information when I started out in marketing. If I had understood this, maybe we would have thought longer about the proposals we pursued.”

-- Maggie Bolden, Director of Client Relations, Palace Construction

Practice the ART of Presentations: A-anticipate, R-recognize, T-take breaths.

It was nice to hear that practicing many, many times can remove the “rehearsed sound” from a presentation. We have been trying to implement more practice sessions--prior to and after the conference--to see if the interview goes better for our supers who read directly off a notecard or are struggling without notes. It is okay for supers to be nervous, as they are not professional presenters, but with practice they can be more comfortable and better prepared. We also need to start interview prep much sooner than we normally do to accommodate this. Anticipate being short-listed and there is no reason part of your interview can’t already be planned.”

-- Taylor Powers, Marketing Coordinator, W.E. O’Neil

Embrace the Opportunity to Make Industry Connections

When you have day-to-day contact with other conference-goers in the industry, you have the opportunity to build up long-term, sustainable relationships. The next Southwest Regional Conference is in Salt Lake City – 2018 – put it on your calendar and into your budget to attend! It’s well worth it!

-- Deb Schindler, AEC Business Development and Marketing Specialist, Red Hound Studios

Leaders operate from 5 bases of power: legitimate, reward, coercive, expert, and referent. By understanding these power types, you can influence people toward effective action.

The information I received during Maisha’s presentation on the 5 Bases of Power was invaluable. With marketing being the smallest and newest department at my firm, realizing these bases of power will be instrumental as I push to grow the department and my career.

-- Sarah Murrow, Marketing Coordinator, U.S. Engineering

Kimberly Werner Director of Marketing & Social Media,Small Giants

WINNER of the

Free SWRC Registration!

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Why I am Committed to Being a CPSM

Marketing is a complex profession, and being a young marketing professional, I know I have a long way to go before I learn all the levels of marketing. The CPSM is a way for me to learn how to take my career and my company to the next level, and to fully understand how to be the best marketer possible.

As complex as this job is, my reasons for wanting to study marketing and take the CPSM are simple. Those reasons have less to do with having four impressive letters after my name – though that would change my career in dramatic ways— and more to do with my commitment to growth. I love my job, and my firm, and I believe in working hard and doing everything to the full extent of my abilities.

After college, I got my start in marketing with a small Colorado restaurant company, where I learned something about myself: that my passion lies in helping small, local companies grow and gain recognition in their communities. After moving to the city, I found EES. I could not be luckier to work there. The president and founder, Amanda O’Connor, is an inspiration, a leader who values and trusts her employees. She empowers us to be better and take on new challenges, and has created a company and culture where there truly is no ceiling. As a young woman, I look up to her, and the strength it took to establish her business from nothing. I believe she deserves to have her business thrive, and I know, being the marketing coordinator, that marketing is vital to making that happen.

I want you to believe I’m worthy of winning a set of the Markendium, and that I am the ideal candidate for the CPSM. And I know that even if I win them, the books won’t be free. I know they will come with an expectation that I will continue to learn and grow, which is my top priority. If you don’t choose me to receive the Markendium set, that will be okay. I plan to buy the set regardless and join the study group. But writing this essay means the same as studying for and taking the CPSM exam: spending time and making an effort to better my career, and my company.

(At the risk of sounding cliché) I plan to have no regrets in my life. That being said, I don’t think anyone on their death bed looking back over their life would think to themselves, “If only I had passed the test to be a CPSM,” or “If only I had made more money.” Everyone loves success, and money and prestige. I find those things to be important, but to me, the regret would come when thinking, “Why didn’t I do my absolute best?” and “Why didn’t I always try to get better every day?” That’s why I will always be a lifelong learner, committed to getting better daily, and that’s what being a CPSM is.

CONGRATS SMPS ESSAY WINNER

LANA ROOT

18 17th Street, Suite 1575Denver, CO 80202303-572-7997

www.ees.com

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ROCK

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Thank You to our Annual Sponsors!

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Greeley City Center - Phase Iconstruction cost $17 m CM@R 40,600 sf completion June 2018 owner City of Greeley owner representative Wemberdesign team alms2s Anderson Mason Dalegeneral contractor Hensel Phelpsstructural engineer JVA, Inc.MEP engineer Cator Ruma & Assoc.civil engineer Interwest Consultinglandscape BHA Design, Inc

Greeley Fire Station #1 & Headquartersconstruction cost $6.7 m CM@R 24,000 sf completion July 2017 owner City of Greeley owner representative Wemberdesign team alms2s Anderson Mason Dalegeneral contractor Golden Triangle Constructionstructural engineer JVA, Inc.MEP engineer Cator Ruma & Associatescivil engineer Interwest Consultinglandscape BHA Design, Inc

The City of Greeley is undergoing a major revitalization that includes the creation of the much anticipated Greeley City Center. To consolidate the city’s 800 employees scattered throughout five separate buildings, the City is constructing a new municipal campus with the Greeley City Center serving as the anchor. The Center will house all administrative and city council offices including the City Courts and City Council Chambers, Central Records and the Water and Sewer Department. Phase one of two is being financed through the use of certificates of participation, a debt tool that doesn’t require a popular vote.

The first facility to be operable on the new campus will be the Greeley Fire Station #1 and Headquarters. The first floor will accommodate all the administrative offices, including Fire Chief’s and Battalion Chief’s, the Engine Lieutenant, Ladder Lieutenant, four apparatus bays, a decontamination room, dive equipment storage, and a SCBA compressor room. The second floor will house the staff’s sleeping and living quarters.

Greeley City Center and Greeley Fire Station #1 & Headquarters

FEATURED IN THE MARCH 8TH SMPS NOCO EVENT, DOWNTOWN GREELEY TASTE, TOUR & TALK

by 14’er level sponsorPROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Design Workshop #5 | 10 June 2016

City of Greeley | City Center

VIEW FROM NORTHEAST: FULL BUILD-OUT

Full Build-outDesign Workshop #5 | 10 June 2016

City of Greeley | City Center

VIEW FROM NORTHEAST: PHASE 1

Phase I

Greeley City Center

Progress Meeting | 12 April 2016 City of Greeley | Fire Station 1

VIEW FROM SOUTHEAST

Greeley Fire Station #1 & Headquarters

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Get Connected!Did you know, one of the best ways to find out what’s happening with SMPS Colorado is to follow us on social media?! Visit us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to get the latest scoop. Also, don’t forget to check out MySMPS for up-to-date national and chapter news, plus tons of marketing and business development resources!

WELCOME 2017 NEW MEMBERSKatie, Bobo | Marketing and Business Development CoordinatorCrossland Construction Co., Inc.

Kara Brooks, LEED AP BD+C | Account ExecutiveEngineering Economics, Inc

Danielle Fisher | Marketing ManagerDesign Workshop

Callé Hewett | Marketing CoordinatorAmbient Energy

David Laird | Marketing CoordinatorBG Buildingworks, Inc.

Rick Leuthold, LEED AP, P.E., CDP | Chairman/ Director of Business DevelopmentSanderson Stewart

Nick Marion | Marketing CoordinatorAlliance Construction Solutions

Laraine Saldivar | Business DeveloperBryan Construction

Jean Sebben, ASID, IFMA, LEED, AIA | PrincipalJean Sebben Associates LLC

Laura Wacek | Marketing AssistantRicca Design Studios

Daniel Yeager | Associate PrincipalDCI Engineers

Julie BedsoleBryan Construction

Alice Connor | Vice PresidentReprographics, Inc.

Jennifer Newpower | Marketing ManagerJviation, Inc.

Elliott Rodstein | Marketing Operations CoordinatorGroup 14 Engineering

Nicki Rondinelli BCER

Chris Schroeder | Director of MarketingBCER

Ryan Williams | Marketing CoordinatorOZ Architecture

Steven Chasteen | Business DevelopmentSampson Construction

Patrick Elder | Vice PresidentElder Construction

Pamela Pursley | Director of Marketing Shaffer Baucom Engineering & Consulting