As the Austin AEC industry emerges from the recent downturn and the real estate market stabilizes, many entities are looking to take advantage of available design and construction talent as well as the depressed commodity market. As such we welcome Fred Evins, an architect from the COA Economic Development/Planning team. He will cover (re-)emerging development, the City’s discussions with other agencies, and the City’s recent bond package.
SPEAKER
Fred Evins, Architect - City of Austin Economic Development/Planning Team
THE DISCOUNTED PRICE ENDS AFTER WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6TH!!
When: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Where: University of Texas Club - President's Room 2108 E. Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX 78712
Attire: Business Attire
Event Registration Fee:
Member: $35.00 for a limited time ($45.00 original price)
Non-Member: $45.00 for a limited time ($55.00 original price)
RSVP by Monday, April 11, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Resource Review: Social Media all-in-one place, your desktop.
Tweeting, updating your status, sharing a great article, uploading images, it can all be a bit overwhelming, but more and more unavoidable, especially when your profession includes any aspect of marketing or business development.
One of the biggest reasons for avoiding the world of twittering and liking is the time commitment it takes to stay on top of it all. When SMPS Austin decided to take on Twitter, I knew I needed to find something that would make it easy for me to manage my various social media pursuits without distracting me from my daily email responding, meeting attending, qualification writing day job. After some searching I came across Seesmic Desktop 2 (SD2), a "go-to" desktop application.
The application allows for all-in-one access to a variety of popular social media services, including the usual suspects Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, but the plug-in marketplace also includes entertainment, news, business and shopping apps. The RSS Feed Reader has helped me stay up-to-date on my favorite blogs including those covering the State Legislature. SD2 allows you to customize what services you would like updated on your home screen and whether you want updates to be integrated into one feed or kept separated.
Another nice thing about SD2 is the ability to update all your own social networks at once or separately. It is as easy as clicking which service to “post from” and what type of update you are posting, whether a link, image or simple text. SD2 will even let you know how many remaining characters you have left.
Seesmic Desktop 2 is a handy resource in today’s social media world and has become part of my morning routine; coffee, voicemail, Outlook, Seesmic Desktop 2. Will it be part of yours?
Helga Diaz
Structures
One of the biggest reasons for avoiding the world of twittering and liking is the time commitment it takes to stay on top of it all. When SMPS Austin decided to take on Twitter, I knew I needed to find something that would make it easy for me to manage my various social media pursuits without distracting me from my daily email responding, meeting attending, qualification writing day job. After some searching I came across Seesmic Desktop 2 (SD2), a "go-to" desktop application.
The application allows for all-in-one access to a variety of popular social media services, including the usual suspects Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, but the plug-in marketplace also includes entertainment, news, business and shopping apps. The RSS Feed Reader has helped me stay up-to-date on my favorite blogs including those covering the State Legislature. SD2 allows you to customize what services you would like updated on your home screen and whether you want updates to be integrated into one feed or kept separated.
The application also allows you to choose whether you would like to use pop-up notifications to alert you when there are new posts. These popup windows are like Outlook’s email notifications and although at times a bit annoying, they do serve their purpose by keeping you engaged, while you work.
Another nice thing about SD2 is the ability to update all your own social networks at once or separately. It is as easy as clicking which service to “post from” and what type of update you are posting, whether a link, image or simple text. SD2 will even let you know how many remaining characters you have left.
Helga Diaz
Structures
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Member Spotlight: Diane Shelton
Diane Shelton
DPR Construction
What was your first job?
My first job was at Miller’s Outpost at the El Cerrito Plaza when I was 16. I told everyone they looked great in jeans and they believed me. The interview process included a lie detector test where we were hooked up to machines that measured our heart rate and pulse. It showed I lied about my name but told the truth for all other questions. A career in marketing was born!
You’re currently a marketing manager for DPR Construction. What in your professional background prepared you for this lofty position in the AEC industry?
Pretty much everything I’ve done since the Miller’s Outpost sales gig. ‘Marketing’ encompasses so many skill sets I’ve found that nothing I’ve taken the time to learn has gone to waste, and there’s still so much out there to learn. I worked in radio for many years and those skills have come in handy with video work DPR has done, and now with podcasts. Old-school news writing and editing skills learned in school, I use these every day. I’ve done tech writing for power grid management software, public information for schools, general PR, news…these jobs all prepared me in one way or another.
How has the industry (marketing) changed since the start of your career?
Personal computers were invented, as were the World Wide Web, cell phones, laser printers, graphic design software, Word, Excel….most of the tools we use on a daily basis. How has it NOT changed? Personal relationships are still the most important marketing tool in the shed, and I don’t think that will ever change.
Any words of wisdom for the youngsters?
Take time to master the basics of the art of marketing – relationships, business strategy, persuasive writing, design consistency – and you’ll be set (or so I hear). The medium will continue to change throughout your career. Today it’s printed proposals, tomorrow it may laser beams. Lunch with your SMPS pals is not goofing off, it’s professional development. Trust me.
It’s a nice spring day in Austin. What would you rather be doing right now?
Riding my bike.
What book is on your nightstand?
All The King’s Men, last week’s New York Times Magazine (re-designed! I’m freaking out!), Mary Karr’s newest book, and (no kidding) The Idiot’s Guide to Great Abs, which I use as a coaster for my coffee cup.
What did you listen to on the radio on your way in to work today?
I listened to a This American Life podcast on the secret recipe for Coca-Cola. Usually it’s all NPR, all the time.
If you could have dinner with anyone – history to current – who would you choose?
Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Brownstein. The conversation would be awesome.
What’s your favorite Austin activity?
Breakfast tacos.
What has been your most interesting vacation?
The past 11 years I’ve spent in Texas.
DPR Construction
What was your first job?
My first job was at Miller’s Outpost at the El Cerrito Plaza when I was 16. I told everyone they looked great in jeans and they believed me. The interview process included a lie detector test where we were hooked up to machines that measured our heart rate and pulse. It showed I lied about my name but told the truth for all other questions. A career in marketing was born!
You’re currently a marketing manager for DPR Construction. What in your professional background prepared you for this lofty position in the AEC industry?
Pretty much everything I’ve done since the Miller’s Outpost sales gig. ‘Marketing’ encompasses so many skill sets I’ve found that nothing I’ve taken the time to learn has gone to waste, and there’s still so much out there to learn. I worked in radio for many years and those skills have come in handy with video work DPR has done, and now with podcasts. Old-school news writing and editing skills learned in school, I use these every day. I’ve done tech writing for power grid management software, public information for schools, general PR, news…these jobs all prepared me in one way or another.
How has the industry (marketing) changed since the start of your career?
Personal computers were invented, as were the World Wide Web, cell phones, laser printers, graphic design software, Word, Excel….most of the tools we use on a daily basis. How has it NOT changed? Personal relationships are still the most important marketing tool in the shed, and I don’t think that will ever change.
Any words of wisdom for the youngsters?
Take time to master the basics of the art of marketing – relationships, business strategy, persuasive writing, design consistency – and you’ll be set (or so I hear). The medium will continue to change throughout your career. Today it’s printed proposals, tomorrow it may laser beams. Lunch with your SMPS pals is not goofing off, it’s professional development. Trust me.
It’s a nice spring day in Austin. What would you rather be doing right now?
Riding my bike.
What book is on your nightstand?
All The King’s Men, last week’s New York Times Magazine (re-designed! I’m freaking out!), Mary Karr’s newest book, and (no kidding) The Idiot’s Guide to Great Abs, which I use as a coaster for my coffee cup.
What did you listen to on the radio on your way in to work today?
I listened to a This American Life podcast on the secret recipe for Coca-Cola. Usually it’s all NPR, all the time.
If you could have dinner with anyone – history to current – who would you choose?
Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Brownstein. The conversation would be awesome.
What’s your favorite Austin activity?
Breakfast tacos.
What has been your most interesting vacation?
The past 11 years I’ve spent in Texas.
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