SMPS Austin Chapter: The Network

New Member Spotlight: Jennifer Heitler

2012-01-17T17:44:00.002-06:00

Jennifer Heitler

Cosential

Where do you work and what's your position? Brief description of company.

I am the Director of Marketing for Cosential, a cloud-based CRM solution built specifically for the A/E/C industry. Cosential is a powerful and easy-to-use CRM, sales force automation, and proposal automation system that helps you manage an unlimited amount of information about companies, contacts, opportunities, projects, personnel, tasks, and firm knowledge throughout a project's entire life cycle.

Where is your hometown? Where did you go to school?
I grew up in Manhattan, went to college at Washington University in St. Louis, and then lived in Los Angeles until September 2010 when I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Austin.

What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies?
I have two girls (7 and 4) and most of my free time is spent biking, swimming, and playing with them. I'm a huge fan of new technology, social media, scrabble, and great sales. I'm all about a fun game night. Bring it!

How long have you been a member of SMPS?
I just joined.

What do you see as the benefits of your experience with the SMPS?
Before moving to Austin, I was in television and film production. When I entered the A/E/C industry, it was a huge transition, but the friends I made over the last year at SMPS mixers and conferences have made the experience beyond rewarding. I look forward to giving back.

New Member Spotlight: Kori Colburn

2012-01-17T17:38:00.000-06:00

Kori Colburn
Structura, Inc.

Where do you work and what’s your position? Brief description of company.
• Company: Structura, Inc.
• Description: Commercial Construction
• Title: Marketing Manager

Where is your hometown? Where did you go to school?
• Hometown: Exeter, New Hampshire
• School: University of Hawaii

What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies?
Hobbies: running, yoga, home staging

How long have you been a member of SMPS?
Two months

What do you see as the benefits of your experience with the SMPS?
• Networking
• Utilizing the SMPS Marketing Resource Center
• Speaker Luncheons – learning industry news

New Member Spotlight: Nalini Chandran

2012-01-17T17:34:00.001-06:00

Nalini Chandran

KPFF Consulting Engineers

Where do you work and what’s your position? Brief description of company.

I work for KPFF Consulting Engineers, which is a civil and structural engineering firm. KPFF has over 15 offices throughout the US and we recently started our office in Austin. I am an Associate/Civil Engineer with KPFF and moved from Portland, OR to Austin this summer. I will be leading our Austin office with a focus on federal projects, design/build, healthcare and education.

Where is your hometown? Where did you go to school?
My hometown is Beaverton, OR and I went to school at the University of Washington, Seattle.

What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies?
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family (we have a 20 month old daughter), swimming (I’m a member of the local Masters Swim Team), gardening, and reading.

How long have you been a member of SMPS?
This is my first time joining SMPS.

What do you see as the benefits of your experience with the SMPS?
Meeting new people in a new city and also learning more about what are the current and future projects going on in the region.

New Member Spotlight: Karen Lacey

2012-01-17T17:25:00.000-06:00

Karen Lacey
JQ

Where do you work and what’s your position? Brief description of company.

I am the marketing and business development contact in JQ’s Austin office.

Jaster-Quintanilla (JQ) is a multi-office firm providing structural engineering, civil engineering, land surveying, and facility assessments throughout Texas and the southern United States. The firm has earned a reputation as an active member of the design team, providing innovative solutions responsive to the project design, schedule and budgetary constraints. More than 27 years of consistent performance has brought JQ to the forefront of engineering design.

Where is your hometown? Where did you go to school?
I am from Houston and went to college at Clemson University, Washington University in St. Louis for grad school.

What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies?
I just moved to Austin a month ago so I’m loving exploring a new town and all Austin has to offer. I enjoy running, yoga, and trying any new cuisine, restaurant or foodie event.

How long have you been a member of SMPS?
Only a few weeks!

What do you see as the benefits of your experience with the SMPS?
I hope to strengthen my marketing and business development abilities by learning from SMPS seminars, speakers and members. I’m very excited to be a part of the local design community in Austin and to get to know past, present and potential clients.

New Member Spotlight: Martha Quinton

2012-01-17T17:06:00.001-06:00

Martha Quinton

Where do you work and what’s your position? Brief description of company.

Though I am actively networking and looking for an open marketing/pr position at an architecture firm in Austin, currently I work for the University of Texas. I am an Administrative Assistant in the Returned Checks section of Student Accounts Receivable. The majority of my job is customer service, with the posting and collecting of returned checks.

Where is your hometown? Where did you go to school?
I am from Lampasas, TX. I pursued an architecture degree at Texas Tech University and received a degree in public relations.

What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies?
I enjoy anything where people are involved – including reading at coffee shops, chatting, walking my dog, playing tennis, boxing, traveling, etc. I also enjoy the solitude and restfulness of putting a puzzle together, painting and reading at home.

How long have you been a member of SMPS?
I have been a member for almost 14 days.

What do you see as the benefits of your experience with the SMPS?
Since I am brand new, the initial benefit I see is the opportunity to network and get involved with others who work in the A/E/C field.

2011 SMPS Austin Communications Awards Winners

2012-01-09T11:02:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to the following winners of the 2011 SMPS Austin Communications Awards:

BEST BROCHURE
Encotech Engineering Consultants
Encotech Customizable Brochure

BEST HOLIDAY PIECE
Alliance Transportation Group, Inc.
Happy Holidays! Card

BEST EXTERNAL NEWSLETTER
Tom Green & Company Engineers, Inc.
The Innovator

BEST PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN
Balfour Beatty Construction
The Way Forward

BEST WEBSITE
Bury + Partners
Bury + Partners Website Redesign

SMPS Happy Hour!

2012-01-09T10:46:00.000-06:00

Join SMPS Austin for a happy hour to kick off the new year at Icenhauer’s. This newer Rainey Street district establishment has great happy hour specials and a relaxing atmosphere – plus a great outdoor patio area if the Texas “winter” continues! Come join us for some libations and lively conversation with old friends and new. Hope to see you there!

Costs: No cost for admission. Happy hour includes $2 domestic beers, $3 import beers/draft beers/well liquor and $4 wine by the glass.

When: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Where: Icenhauer’s
83 Rainey Street, Austin, TX 78701

RSVP Tuesday, January 17, 2012

President's Quarterly Note: Membership Matters

2011-11-28T11:11:00.000-06:00

Membership Matters

I don’t have to tell anyone about the current state of the market. We have all been touched by the economic downturn that some days seems like it will never end. In these times, everyone is watching every penny they spend and reevaluating where they spend and invest their money. One easy target is professional organization memberships.

Rather than pay for a membership, it may seem tempting to save the money and just attend events as a non-member. I confess that there are organizations where I do just that. The value of membership is something that we all try to quantify and determine whether it’s worth it.

So, why does SMPS membership matter?

First, the strength of the organization is in its membership. In 2001, we split off from a joint chapter with San Antonio and created the Austin Chapter with only 16 members. It was a struggle at first. But as our membership grew, our volunteer base grew, and so did our collective knowledge, talents, insights, and skills. Our programs improved and became more sophisticated. Our reputation developed as the leading organization for A/E/C marketers and business developers. We started attracting more important decision makers to speak at our events to give us insights to help us in our business. In a nutshell, the quality of our chapter improved as a result of our increased membership numbers.

I know that there are a lot of people out there that get this notion already but I’d like to invite the non-members to give this some thought. Ask yourself, has SMPS had a positive impact on my career in some way? A program? An insight? A project lead? A connection? A friendship? And then ask yourself, would this have been likely back in 2001 when there were 16 members?

This is the power of membership: we are only as strong as our membership base. And if you believe in an organization and its value, membership is the best way to support that cause and ensure the strength of the chapter.

We have a strong group of members that do a great job in putting together programs, seeking out sponsorships to help us raise our game, running the organization, and communicating with our members through our website, Twitter, LinkedIn page, and even this newsletter.

If you have not joined SMPS yet, I hope you will consider what it means to our organization, your industry peers, and, most importantly, to you and your company, and decide that it is a worthwhile investment in your future and in the future of our A/E/C community.

Erika Passailaigue, CPSM
Datum Engineers

SMPS WEBINAR: Beyond Proposals: Marketing Practices that Pay Off in a Down Market

2011-11-23T13:13:00.000-06:00

Join the Austin SMPS chapter for a webinar that will help focus marketing resources on efforts that will win work and increase the bottom line in today’s challenging economic climate. Learn 10 Best Practices for Effective Proposal Development and 10 Profitable Marketing Practices that you can take back and apply to your firm today!

In a down market, it is a common reaction to increase the number of RFPs/RFQs the marketing department responds to without assessing the true costs. Is it really worth it for your firm to pursue every job? During this 90-minute Webinar, learn why it’s important to avoid a “shotgun approach” to proposals in terms of what it means for the success of your firm. Gain invaluable tools and resources to effectively manage and maximize your marketing resources during an economic downturn, including 10 Best Practices for Effective Proposal Development and 10 Profitable Marketing Practices. Come away from this Webinar armed with valuable insight, including:

Proposals That Make a Point—10 Best Practices in Effective Proposal Development
Proposals to Push Aside—Go/No Go RFQ/RFP from an Economic Perspective—what does it cost to go after a project with low chances for winning? How do you assess the projects to “No Go?”
Profitable Practices Firms Forget to Value—Top 10 Marketing Practices (other than proposals) that contribute to the firm’s bottom line in a down market. Learn the real statistics about the measurement of their effectiveness and profitability.

Learning Objectives

Gain a clear understanding of best practices that make the most impact from an owner’s perspective.
Learn to calculate the cost to pursue and develop an RFP/RFQ; understand the costs and benefits of preselling a project.
Discover which marketing activities can have the most value and impact on a firm; gain knowledge of best practices to maximize their value and impact in a down market.

ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES MONDAY NOV 28, 2011 AT 11:59PM

CEU Credits
SMPS webinars are approved for 1.5 hours of Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) CEUs and AIA LU Hours. Recordings of SMPS webinars are approved for 1.5 hours of CPSM hours only.

When: Thursday, December 01, 201111:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Where: DPR Construction, Inc.
9606 North Mopac, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78759

Event Registration Fee:
Member: Complimentary
Non-Member: $35.00

RSVP Monday, November 28, 2011

SMPS Holiday Networking Lunch featuring our Communications Awards Presentation

2011-11-23T13:07:00.000-06:00

Come celebrate the holidays with the SMPS Austin Chapter at our second annual holiday networking event. Along with extended networking time over a delicious lunch, we will be presenting our chapter’s Communications Awards. Come view our chapter’s impressive entries, thank our jurors, and congratulate the winners.

This event is complimentary for members that register before Dec. 9th! (fee applies after Dec. 9th)

Seating is limited, so sign up today!!

If you are unable to attend after registering please make sure to cancel your registration through Cvent or contact Elizabeth Haynie at elizabethhaynie@beckgroup.com.

Please note that the event dinning room is stair access only.

Parking: The restaurant has a surface lot. If the lot is full there is street parking and a city garage at the southeast intersection of 5th and Red River.

When: Thursday, December 15, 2011 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Where: Carmelo’s Restaurant
504 East 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701

Event Fee:
Member: Complimentary ($35.00 original price)
Non-Member: $35.00 for a limited time ($45.00 original price)

RSVP Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Project Spotlight: Mobile LiDAR for East Sixth Streescape Improvements

2011-11-09T14:24:00.000-06:00

Mobile LiDAR for East Sixth Streetscape Improvements

The City of Austin was in the preliminary design phase of streetscape improvements for East Sixth in Downtown Austin, beginning at Congress Avenue and extending to I-35. Project goals included widening sidewalk and related pedestrian facilities, roadway paving, and enhancing other transportation related features for this busy downtown area, in keeping with the Great Streets Program design plan. It was crucial to the City’s planning staff that they have detailed and accurate information of all visible ground street features.

Surveying And Mapping, Inc. (SAM, Inc.) was contacted by the City of Austin to perform a design survey of the East Sixth Street project area, including side streets that extend one block north and one block south of Congress along San Jacinto, Trinity, Neches, Red River and Sabine Streets.

Mobile LiDAR technology is ideal for projects like this that require an extraordinary level of detail, such as streetscape design. This mobile laser scanning technology incorporates the most advanced LiDAR sensors, cameras and position/ navigation equipment to collect survey-quality point data quickly and accurately. SAM, Inc.’s mobile LiDAR vehicle arrived at the project site at dawn and in less than four hours the data acquisition was complete. Using mobile LiDAR technology, the City received the survey-grade data they needed in a fraction of the time it would have taken conventional surveying methods. Using this technology also increased safety for project personnel and the general public because data was collected remotely in early morning hours, eliminating the need for traffic diversion required by traditional surveying activities.

Topographic survey information was extracted from the robust point cloud, combined with tree identification from Baer Engineering, and delivered in Autodesk Civil 3D using the City of Austin’s ESD CADD Standards, drawn on the appropriate level and in the format required by the City. This allowed the data to be seamlessly integrated into the preliminary engineering design efforts for the City. Additionally, the detailed data set can be used for 3D visualization and modeling and other project needs without additional mobilization costs.

Owner
City of Austin

Land Surveyor
Surveying And Mapping, Inc. (SAM, Inc.)

Subconsultant for Survey Control
Unintech Consulting Engineers, Inc.

Tree Identification
Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc.

SMPS Austin 2012 Mentoring Program

2011-11-08T09:59:00.000-06:00

The SMPS Austin Chapter is kicking off the 2012 Mentoring Program. Our 2011 program was a big success and we are making some additions which should make the 2012 program even better! Although this is a Members Only opportunity, it’s not too late to join SMPS and participate in this program.

Junior members (protégés) will be paired with experienced A/E/C marketers (mentors) from non-competing firms to learn more about marketing and business development. Once matched mentors and protégés typically meet once a month to cover a series of topics individually determined by the pair. This year we also anticipate offering:

“Finding your Strengths” testing (for Mentors and Protégé’s); including a complimentary copy of “The Strengths Finder 2.0” book.
Suggested A/E/C activities the Mentors and Protégé’s can attend together (i.e. site visits, pre-bid meetings, various association meetings, etc.);
Two meetings where all mentors and protégé’s can interact and learn from each other’s experiences;
A mid-year speaker discussing topics which may include leadership, networking, professional effectiveness, career development, etc.
Final program graduation lunch.

In general, mentors will have more than 10 years experience in the A/E/C industry while protégés will be asked to have a minimum of 2 years experience (to reduce participation from those temporarily working in the industry).

Cost to become a protégé is $120. There is no cost to become a mentor.

This is an exciting opportunity for our more junior members to develop their skills through the insights and knowledge of our more experienced members.

If you are interested in participating in the 2012 mentoring program as a mentor or a protégé, or if you have any questions about the program, please contact Karen Ward at 512-442-1122 / klward@terracon.com by Monday, November 14th.

SMPS Mix & Learn - The Art & Science of Intentional Networking

2011-11-08T09:50:00.000-06:00

If you’re like most of us, you spend a lot of time networking. And while networking is an excellent way to make connections, strengthen relationships, and cultivate referrals, it can also eat up your precious time and funds. What if you could fix that forever? Join us as Patti DeNucci, author of The Intentional Networker: Attracting Powerful Relationships, Referrals & Results in Business, shares tips, best practices, secrets, and stories that will help you generate better results and a higher return on your networking efforts.

Attend this event and discover:

Where rewarding relationships and referrals really begin
A math formula that simplifies where you should put your efforts
Ideas for staying in touch with prospects and clients
Numerous techniques and mindsets that can help boost networking success

Patti DeNucci is an award-winning writer, business leader, speaker, consultant, and business networking and referral expert with a background in marketing communications, advertising, and PR. Her new book, The Intentional Networker: Attracting Powerful Relationships, Referrals & Results in Business (www.IntentionalNetworker.com) was just released this fall and is already receiving excellent reviews, including 4 Stars and a “strongly recommended” rating from Midwest Book Reviews. Patti also owns DeNucci & Co. LLC (www.DeNucciandCompany.com) a firm that skillfully connects top notch freelancers and consultants to the clients who need their expertise.

During more than 20 years as a business owner, Patti has worked with and promoted more than 1,000 companies, organizations, and individuals, helping them generate millions of dollars in revenue. She has attended, facilitated, and presented at thousands of networking and business events. When she isn’t making and attracting spot-on referrals or networking with intention, Patti is teaching others how to do the same via her writing, speaking, coaching, and consulting.

When: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Where: III Forks Austin - Governor's Room
111 Lavaca Street, (corner of Lavaca and Cesar Chavez), Austin, TX 78701

Event Registration Fee:
Member: $20.00
Non-Member: $35.00

RSVP by Friday, November 11th

November Luncheon:The Private Future of Central Texas

2011-11-03T16:27:00.000-05:00

Private residential and commercial development was hit hard in the recent economic downturn but the second half of 2011 has shown signs of growth with 2012 promising a better outlook. This month, we’ll sit down with master developer Shaun Cranston of Brookfield Residential Properties and President / CEO of the Greater San Marcos Partnership, Amy Madison to talk about the current atmosphere for private development, what cities are doing to court projects and stimulate growth, and what opportunities are on the horizon for Central Texas.

Speakers:
Shaun Cranston, PE
Vice President, Austin for Brookfield Residential Properties Inc.
Shaun Cranston is responsible for overall operations of Brookfield Residential Properties (formerly Carma) Texas market. Since joining Brookfield Residential in 1998, Shaun has been involved in a variety of roles within the Corporation, ultimately moving to Austin Texas in 2004 to start up operations in the Texas market.

Currently, Shaun provides oversight and direction for three Texas communities, responsible for all aspects of the land development process from initial acquisition, through the entitlement and construction processes, and ultimately leading to the marketing and final sales of assets.

Amy Madison
President / CEO, Greater San Marcos Partnership
Amy Case Madison is President & CEO of the Greater San Marcos Partnership, a public-private partnership focused on economic growth in Hays-Caldwell Counties. She also oversees Economic Development for the City of San Marcos as executive director for the Economic Development San Marcos Board, a 13- member city-appointed board charged with incentive review.

In the four years at San Marcos, Amy has raised $150,000 for an economic development strategy, assisted with a $90M HEB Distribution expansion creating 320 jobs, recruited Grifols, Inc., a $76M biomedical facility creating 190 jobs, and steered a $4M campaign to fund an economic development strategic plan that became the foundation for the current GSMP. Most recently, she was elected to the Texas Economic Development Council Board, the first representative from the Hays-Caldwell County area to serve in this capacity

When: Tuesday, November 08, 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

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 Monday, November 07, 2011

Resource Review: Prezi Presentations

2011-10-25T13:35:00.001-05:00

Are you tired of cranking out the same old Powerpoint presentations? Do you need a creative format to present your firm’s qualifications? You might be in the market for Prezi, an application that lets you create zooming, free-flowing presentations.

Prezi presentations move away from the flat, linear slides of Powerpoint and allow you to design a package that is flexible, yet clean and professional. Prezi can be used directly from an internet browser without the need to install anything. This subscription option is free, but allows others to view your Prezi creations. A paid subscription option allows Prezi Desktop to be installed on your computer, so you can access it without an internet connection. This option also allows your custom Prezis to be private.

What are some instances when we as marketers might utilize Prezi?

Interview presentations
Digital brochures
Image libraries
Personal portfolio

The Prezi website, http://www.prezi.com/, is your best source for getting started with the application, and features a plethora of information on Prezi’s features and options. As a new Prezi designer, visit the site and browse the thousands of already created Prezis that are at your fingertips.

Before embarking on your own Prezi creation, the tips below can help you get organized:

Sketch
Storyboard by hand the concept that you want to present. Whether it be interview content, or a firm brochure on a specific type of project, organize your ideas on paper first. Since Prezi moves away from the linear nature of Powerpoint, be creative in how you want ideas to flow. Because of Prezi’s zooming feature, ideas can really build on one another and don’t have to spread across your workspace.

Images & Video
Prezi allows you to import images at a small file size (2880x2880) and video at a maximum of 50MB. Select what images and/or video you want to include before getting started. Place all of your Prezi-ready files in one folder for fast uploading.

Color
Prezi has fairly limited custom-color options for fonts and shapes. Decide what color family you want to incorporate before getting started and set up your selections as one of your first steps. Prezi has the option for further customization through Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).

Once you’ve finished your Prezi, you can present it in several ways:

Present “live” with an internet connection
Export to Prezi Desktop, which does not require an internet connection
Download a portable Prezi – creates an exported/downloaded version of your prezi presentation, which works without internet access, without a prezi account, and without Prezi Desktop. You can use it to present where you don't have access to the internet, or send to an external audience. The link generated contains a non-editable version of your prezi, and player software for Windows and Mac.
Download the Prezi app for iPad and take your Prezis on the go

Good luck and be sure to visit http://www.prezi.com/ for inspiration and help getting started!

Erin Bettison, CPSM, LEED GA
Sr. Marketing Coordinator
Austin Commercial

Susan Savkov
Marketing Manager
STG Design

Photos from the 2011 SMPS Kickoff Party

2011-10-14T17:04:00.000-05:00

View photos from the 2011 SMPS Kickoff Party on October 6th at Star Bar. We had a great turnout of current and potential members. Thanks to everyone that attended.

SMPS Lunch and Learn AND One-on-One SF330 Review Sessions

2011-10-14T16:37:00.000-05:00

Lunch and Learn: Optimize Your Next SF330 Submittal

Learn how to view your SF330 submittal with a new perspective and differentiate your team from many competitors. Demonstrate your strength thru team organization and tailored resumes. Prove your experience with focused project descriptions. Understand how to tie it all together and close the deal in Section H. Nancy Usrey, Author of the Insider’s Guide to SF330 Preparation, will share tips from her review of many SF330 packages from teams large and small. Come prepared to ask questions!

One-on-One SF330 Review Sessions

As an added feature to this special Lunch and Learn, our expert speaker Nancy Usrey has agreed to offer a limited number of one-on-one thirty minute sessions to review and analyze your SF330, making recommendations for improvement and suggestions for winning more work! Five 30 minutes sessions are available for purchase at $50.

About the Speaker

Nancy Usrey (pronounced er’-sree) a recognized national expert on federal procurement and the marketing of A/E services, brings more than three decades of knowledge and experience to the topic, acquired through real-world experience both inside A/E/P firms and as a marketing consultant to the A/E design industry. She currently helps design-build and mega-project pursuit teams develop and implement successful positioning strategies and proposal plans. Nancy is the author of ZweigWhite's publication Insider's Guide to SF330 Preparation, and the precursor Insider's Guide to SF254/255 Preparation. Nancy is a Fellow of SMPS from the Dallas Chapter, and also writes, speaks, coaches, and consults on marketing and management issues faced by A/E/P and construction firms.

REGISTRATION CLOSES MONDAY OCTOBER 24th

When: Thursday, October 27, 2011 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Where: DPR Construction, Inc.
9606 North Mopac, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78759

Event Registration Fee
Member $20.00
Non-Member $35.00

RSVP Monday, October 24, 2011

Blogging Basics

2011-10-10T18:36:00.000-05:00

Thereis a laundry list of issues that need to be addressed when it comes toimproving corporate blogs, but here we’ve narrowed down the key elements thatcompanies should focus on. Here are 10 tips for corporate bloggers hoping tomake a positive splash in their communities.

1. Establish a ContentTheme and Editorial Guidelines

Whencreating a product or service, you must be able to define the value that it’sbringing to consumers. In the case of a blog, you need to clearly define thefocused theme that your team will follow. Choose a blog name and theme thatfits well with your company’s expertise, but don’t be afraid to branch out intoa larger space. Your blog should provide pertinent information for consumersinterested in your area of business.

Onceyou’ve chosen an area to cover, create a set of editorial guidelines that yourbloggers will follow. Guidelines can include appropriate verticals and topics tocover, as well as how and when posts should be written.

A clear goal and theme for your blog will make it easierfor users to know what to expect.

2. Choose a BloggingTeam and Process

Choosea team of core bloggers to begin your blogging adventure. Select individualsthat are knowledgeable and comfortable writing about the areas you would liketo cover. Also, it’s key to choose people who write well and have a greatonline presence.

Trainyour bloggers on the editorial guidelines and decide what type of writing andediting process you would like to put in place. Some companies prefer to electan editor or group of editors to have a final look at all blog posts, whileother companies allow their bloggers to publish directly. Figure out the levelof comfort you have with your blogging, editing and publishing process andimplement a procedure that works well for your team.

3. Humanize YourCompany

Acompany blog is an opportune place to let down your hair and get to know yourcustomers. Think of it as a conversation between people, not between a brandand one person. In order to have a conversation, you need two people — ablogger and a reader.

Alwayskeep in mind that your blog is about people connecting and conversing withpeople, not a corporation. Throw away that “corporate” concept, and you’ll beahead of most.

4. Avoid PR andMarketing

Ifmaintained correctly, your blog will act as a repository of real analysis andopinions provided by your company’s fine employees. The type of insight andexpertise that a blog can demonstrate is far more useful than any PR pitch thatyou could post. Stay away from trying to sell your readers. There areappropriate venues for that, and your blog shouldn’t be one of them.

Lululemon Athletica, a yoga-inspired athletic apparelcompany, constantly adds value to its community through its blog by providing posts ontopics that their core followers would appreciate. Some of the most recentposts were on how to do a handstand, protect the lower back, and explorea new city.

Readerswill get a taste of the massive knowledge bank available at your company. Takeyour mind off of marketing, and you’ll find that the analysis that you providesells your company better than a press release ever could.

5. Welcome Criticism

Oftentimes, corporations shy away from opening up theirwebsites and blogs for commenting and interaction, because they are afraid ofthe harm that criticisms may cause. Make it a policy to welcome criticism,thinking of it as an opportunity for feedback and improvement. There are lotsof waysto deal with negative feedback, so don’t be afraid to open up to yourcommunity.

6. Outline a CommentPolicy

Beaware that if you open up your blog for full feedback (which you should), youwill get a variety of comments — constructive, complimentary, hateful, andspam. Be prepared for everything. Create a comment policy that your team canfollow, and make sure everyone is on same page. Outline the types of commentsthat should be responded to, deleted or passed along for follow-up.

7. Get Social

Makesure your blog is open for comments and utilizes share tools, such as Facebook,Twitter and Digg. Share tools allow your users to pass along your content. Whynot allow your readers to promote your work?

Putforth an effort to respond to comments or forward them on when a specificemployee could offer the best expertise in that area. Make sure each employeemaintains a personable tone when responding to comments, so that readers knowthat your bloggers are genuine.

Lastly,if you haven’t done so already, implement a social media strategy for yourblog, creating the appropriate profiles across social networks that yourreaders and customers are active on. Usually, Facebook and Twitter are a goodstart, and YouTube is a must for video-sharing. When you post on your blog,announce the new post on your social networks and ask for your readers’opinions on the subject.

Promote your social presence on your blog, by implementinglinks, buttons and widgets that link to your social profiles. This will enablereaders to stay connected with you across platforms. Whole Foods’ blog, Whole Story, for example,displays its social links prominently at the top of the blog.

8. Promote Your Blog

Just as you would promote any other company initiative,get the word out about your blog. Share the URL on your website, socialnetworks, businesscards,e-mails, and advertisements.

Withoutpromotion, building an audience can be difficult. Get behind the quality workthat your team is putting into the blog and promote away.

9. Monitor Mentionsand Feedback

One way to get a pulse on your blog and its effects on thecommunity is to monitor mentions and feedback. Set up Google Alerts for your brand, blogname and any keywords that might be relevant. Search on Technoratiand Twitter for those set terms.

To make things easier with Twitter, set up custom searchcolumns in a Twitter client, such as Hootsuite,Tweetdeck or CoTweet.The columns will update in real time, keeping you up-to-date on brand and blogmentions at all times.

Getting more sophisticated, you should look into socialmedia brand management tools, such as Radian6, for monitoringkeywords across social sites.

10. Track Everything

You’re probably accustomed to tracking everything, andyour blog is no different. If your blog is a page on your website, make sureyour current web analytics tools are set to track all the same data that itmonitors on your website. If you don’t currently have a web analytics tool,check out GoogleAnalytics,a free analytics tool with an easy-to-use interface. At theminimum, make sure you’re tracking site traffic, where referrals are coming from,and traffic-wise which posts are doing best. Learn from the data and adjustyour blogging guidelines accordingly.

Adaptedfrom “10 Tips for Corporate Blogging” by Erica Swallow, Mashable

Call fo Entries: 2011 SMPS Austin Communications Awards

2011-10-05T09:46:00.000-05:00

Top 5 Power Happy Hour Spots!

2011-10-03T17:11:00.000-05:00

Like our Power Lunches, the Power Happy Hour is about finding a great spot to meet a client or potential client to have a couple of drinks, some eats and good networking conversation.

Hangar Lounge ****
Great Roof Deck Patio
308 Colorado Street, Austin, Texas 78701 • (512) 474-4264 http://www.thehangarlounge.com/

Hangar Lounge is the newest edition to the 4th Street Warehouse District and is has the best roof deck in downtown. The roof deck is three stories up, has great views and you can usually catch a good breeze. Being designed by Austin and 4th Street’s own Dick Clark Architecture, you know the aesthetic is amazingly designed and creates a great ambiance with the 1950s airport lounge feel.

Ambiance: Casual setting; best for happy hour with and established client
Happy Hour Pricing: $4 wines, $2.50 beers and $3.50 well drinks
Parking: Mildly Difficult; meter parking, paid lots and valet
Area of Austin: Downtown

NoRTH *****
Fantastic Indoor/Outdoor Patio Seating
11506 Century Oaks, Suite 124, Austin, TX 78758
(512) 339-4400 • www.foxrc.com/north/html

Taking its cue from an Italian trattoria, NoRTH offers a contemporary approach to Modern Italian Cuisine. North has an urban feel, with sleek interiors and calm, relaxed atmosphere. The drinks are carefully done and the wine list has something for every level of wine drinker. Their happy hour menu includes a tasty array of small plates and pizzas but won’t spoil your dinner.

Ambiance: Slightly upscale setting; good for new clients and established relationships
Happy Hour Pricing: Apps from $3 to $6; $2.50 bottle beer and $4 well drinks
Parking: Easy; lots of garage parking and surface lots
Area of Austin: North Austin

Red’s Porch ****
Great Sports Bar
3508 S. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 • (512) 440-7337 http://www.redsporch.com/

Red’s Porch is a self-proclaimed “sports bar and neighborhood dining establishment” which fits it perfectly. They have outside and indoor seating, darts to keep you entertained if your team is throwing away the game, and an impressive beer selection. Their menu also offers a variety of foods to suit everyone's tastes: Cajun, Tex-Mex, Southern and American cuisine choices. The bar was designed very well to keep people flowing and give you space for more serious after work happy hour discussions…granted, it depends on who is playing because at Red’s, you can watch everything from cricket to football.

Ambiance: Casual setting; good for sports enthusiast and established clients
Happy Hour Pricing: $2.00 Lone Star Pints, $3.25 RED’S Frozen Ritas, $6.00 House Texican Martinis, $3.00 Well Drinks, $2.00 Haams 16 oz cans, Texas Draft Specials - $1 Off select Texas Draft Beers
Parking: Fairly Easy; surface lot parking but will fill up during important sporting events
Area of Austin: South Austin

Moonshine *****
Great Outdoor Patio Seating; Unique Restaurant
303 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701(512) • 236-9599
http://www.moonshinegrill.com/

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill takes you back to a simpler time. Comfortable and familiar, relaxed and easygoing, Moonshine greets guests like family. Their menu is enticing so if happy hour might turn into dinner, this is the place to go. Happy Hour is early, from 3:30p to 6:30p but worth the time away from the office as it tends to be less crowded and there is plenty of room to present marketing brochures and materials.

Ambiance: Upscale setting; good for new clients and established relationships
Happy Hour Pricing: Half-priced apps; $4 select wines and cocktails
Parking: Easy during happy hour; street parking, valet and easy access to the COA public garage
Area of Austin: Downtown

Bar Congress ****1/2
Impressive Ambiance
200 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701 • (512) 827-2760 http://www.congressaustin.com/

Bar Congress, located in between Congress and Second Bar + Kitchen, is a sophisticated artisan cocktail lounge and premium wine bar featuring a vast array of superior spirits and exclusive wines available by the glass. Their bartender is considered an expert cocktail craftsman, which he is. You will be impressed with any drink you order but do venture beyond your normal vodka/soda; the drinks are what make this place. They have a fabulous appetizer menu with unique eats such as chicken fried olives and beef short rib croquettes. Although the area is small, I have never felt overwhelmed by a crowd. The setting is better for conversation so leave the marketing materials at the office.

Ambiance: Upscale and impressive setting; good for new clients and established relationships
Happy Hour Pricing: Normal pricing
Parking: Mildly Difficult; meter parking, paid lots and valet
Area of Austin: Downtown

Resource Review: Dropbox

2011-09-30T14:51:00.000-05:00

Dropbox
File storage and transfer service
http://www.dropbox.com/

Have you ever:

Been frustrated by your firm’s flaky FTP site?
Spent hours waiting for your files to upload, only to receive a failure message?
Had to apologize to clients or partner firms for your FTP site’s lack of reliability?
Lost all of your files on your home computer when your personal hard drive crashed?

It seems almost every firm has a sob story about their FTP site. Many of us have also experienced the devastating loss of personal data when a home computer crashes. Dropbox, an online file storage and transfer service, is working to change that.

Dropbox does all of the things you need your FTP site to do – and more. In addition to providing a secure environment in which to store and transfer files, Dropbox offers an incredibly user-friendly interface and the ability to access your information from any device – even your mobile phone. Once you create your account, you can access your files either by logging into the Dropbox website or by accessing the desktop or mobile application. You can download this application to an unlimited number of devices – your work computer, home computer, iPhone/iPad/Android/Blackberry, etc. Uploaded files are automatically synced throughout all of your installed devices, so your files are available virtually anywhere and anytime you want them.

Dropbox allows you to create an unlimited number of folders to organize your data. By default, all of your folders can only be accessed by you. However, you may choose to share a folder with a friend, a group of friends – or perhaps a project team – so that all invited members can access the files. Just like your private folders, changes to your shared folders are reflected immediately. So regardless of when or where you are accessing Dropbox, you know that the files you are working with are the most current. Also, Dropbox keeps a one-month history of your work, so changes can be undone and files can be undeleted, if necessary.

The standard free account comes with 2GB of storage, and different pricing options are available starting at about $10/month for 50GB. Dropbox can also customize a pricing plan with shared quotas – a feature designed for teams sharing large amounts of information above 100GB.

Whether you are interested in sharing photos with family and friends, collaborating with a volunteer organization, or managing a large project team, Dropbox’s flexibility, reliability, and elegant user interface make it a valuable and affordable option for storing and transferring files.

Katie Harris, LEED AP
Encotech Engineering Consultants

October Luncheon: Strategies for Winning Federal Work

2011-09-28T10:32:00.000-05:00

Despite the recent focus on limiting spending, there are still opportunities to win work with the federal government. This month, we will hear from experts in the field of federal procurement on the most lucrative up-and-coming opportunities in Central Texas and how to position your firm to win this work. In addition we will learn GSA’s expectations of its A/E/C partners, how to identify and connect with our region’s federal decision makers, how special designations such as small business set-asides affect the award process, and how alternative project delivery methods can make or break a project.

Speakers:
Scott Armey, Principal, The Armey Group, LLP
Scott brings over 17 years experience serving as a County Judge and Commissioner and in President George W. Bush’s Administration.

Tye Sheets Pierpont
Tye served as the Senior Advisor to the Regional Administration for the US General Services Administration (GSA) under President George W. Bush.

THE DISCOUNTED PRICE ENDS AFTER WEDNESDAY, October 5th!!

When: Tuesday, October 11, 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 Monday, October 10, 2011

SMPS Austin Chapter Kick-off Celebration

2011-09-26T10:44:00.000-05:00

Please join us for the annual SMPS Austin Chapter Kick-off Celebration. This is a chance to mingle with members of the A/E/C industry, meet the new SMPS board and learn about ways to become more involved with SMPS. There will be prize drawings, including one for members that bring non-members as their guests, and complimentary food and drink. So, grab your friends and associates and come celebrate with us! We look forward to seeing you there.

Prize Drawings
1 for all SMPS members in attendance
1 for all SMPS members who bring a non-member guest (one entry for each non-member guest)

Membership Promotion
Any non-member who attends and joins the SMPS Austin Chapter by October 15th will receive $25 Chuy's gift certificate.

When: Thursday, October 06, 2011 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Where: Star Bar
600 West Sixth Street, Austin, TX 78701

Event Registration Fee:
Member: Complimentary
Non-Member: Complimentary

RSVP Thursday, October 06, 2011

SMPS Austin Year in Review: 2010-2011

2011-09-12T14:55:00.013-05:00

SMPS Austin is proud of our success over the past year. Here is a summary of our progress and achievements during the 2010-2011 term.

Firsts

Communications Awards Program
Mentoring Program
Golf 101
Submitted for the Striving for Excellence Awards program

Sponsorship

Revamped sponsorship structure with addition of Platinum and Annual Educational Sponsorship Levels which brought in $8500 of revenue.
Several lunches with high luncheon sponsorships. June’s Capitol Complex Vision and Plans had $1250 in luncheon sponsorship, November’s Legislative Preview had $1000 and March’s ACC’s Facilities Plan brought in $750 in sponsorship dollars. Our joint luncheon brought in $2360.
Sponsorships this year have been crucial to our success in the down economy

Treasurer

Started taking registrations at the door
Had a very successful collections drive for past due invoices

Programs

Luncheons continued to have high attendance and high quality programming
Increased the number of educational offerings
Successful “Legislative Recap” event
Increase the frequency of our informal happy hours
Worked with National on workshop that they brought to Austin
Worked with National President to bring best rated lunch and learn of the year to Austin – Getting off the Short list
Worked with SA on successful joint luncheon.
Successful Golf 101 event and Tour
Successful program firsts (previously mentioned) Awards program and Mentoring program

Communications

Developed a comprehensive social media program to include twitter, LinkedIn, blog
Revamped and increased frequency of the newsletter

CPSM Study Group

Study group has been active for 2 years. 2 years ago our chapter had 3 CPSM’s – we now have 8.

Philanthropic Activities

Supported Big Brothers Big Sisters and CANstruction

New Member Spotlight: Cara Salling

2011-09-12T13:31:00.000-05:00

Cara Salling
GSC Architects

Where do you work and what’s your position? Brief Description of company.
I work at GSC Architects, and while my job title changes depending on who you ask, some of my ever-evolving responsibilities include: supporting our CEO, marketing, developing business connections, handling public relations, playing Webmaster, scheduling, coordinating social events, and much, much more. I am proud to have been a part of this company for over 5 years.

GSC Architects is a full service Architecture and Interior Design firm formed in Austin in 1978. We are more than just designers; we elevate our clients’ vision of success by designing built environments to cultivate community.

Where is your hometown? Where did you go to school?
Austin is my hometown, but I decided I needed a change of pace so I went to school at Texas A&M University. I also studied abroad for a year in England and a semester in Spain while earning my degree in Communication. After graduating, there was only one place in Texas I knew I could call home and so I returned to Austin.

What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies?
Free time? What is that? Just kidding! Work keeps me fairly busy, but I do love to get out and about in this great city. You’re most likely to run into me: (literally) on the trail around Ladybird/Town Lake sometimes with my puppies in tow; find me out at happy hour, because it never ceases to amaze me how many incredible restaurants/bars there are in this city; or volunteering for one of my favorite philanthropic organizations, Big Brothers Big Sisters.

How long have you been a member of SMPS?
While I have participated in a few SMPS events over the past five years, I officially became a member just earlier this summer.

What do you see as the benefits of your experience with the SMPS?
I hope to spend more time working with other marketing professionals in my industry on a more personal level. Instead of just putting together proposals via email and phone conversations, I’d like to actually sit down face to face and talk about issues that we all face in our daily efforts to help promote our companies.

September Luncheon: Building for the Future of Travis County - Upcoming Opportunities

2011-08-25T15:34:00.001-05:00

Travis County has recently undergone in-depth studies to plan for the future facilities and transportation needs of the County. Senior county representatives will lead a discussion on the highly anticipated development of the new Travis County Courthouse, highlights of the County’s recent Central Campus Master Plan, and the upcoming November Bond Election for transportation and parks related projects.

Our panelists include:

Steve Manilla, Executive Manager of the Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources and Member of the 2011 Bond Advisory Committee to discuss the details of the upcoming November Bond.
Belinda Powell, Strategic Planning Manager of the Travis County Planning and Budget Office to discuss the Central Campus Master Plan and plans for the New Travis County Courthouse.

Seating will be limited for this meeting, so reserve early.

THE DISCOUNTED PRICE ENDS AFTER THURSDAY, September 8th!!

When:
Wednesday, September 14, 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 Tuesday, September 13, 2011

President’s Quarterly Note

2011-08-08T17:55:00.000-05:00

The 2010-2011 SMPS year will soon be over and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow board members who have made this year a success. This fantastic group of individuals has put in many hours (including some evenings and weekends) to support the SMPS mission: To advocate for, educate, and connect leaders in the building industry. I’d like to thank them each personally for their dedication. As a precursor to individual kudos, each of the following members has shown over-the-top dedication and professionalism.

Paulette Gibbins was our immediate Past-President this year; she has served on the board for 6 years. In this past year, Paulette took on the task of chairing the Awards Committee which was responsible for our first ever awards program. I might also mention that many of the hours she spent this year on behalf of SMPS coincided with her first-ever pregnancy and maternity leave. Now that’s above-and-beyond dedication.

Karen Ward has also provided 10 years of leadership to the chapter. This past year she served as Secretary but she has had many board positions, including President in 2007-2008. She always has sound advice to share and can be counted on to provide last minute help on any task. Karen organized and chaired our first Mentor program this year.

This year was Tricia Knapik’s first year on the board. Shortly after the SMPS year started Tricia lost her job due to lay-offs. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do but she knew she still wanted to continue as chapter Treasurer. During the past year, Tricia has continued to “balance our books” while at the same time launching her own business, which is thriving.

Cathy Brandewie has served as our Programs Chair this past year. Being Programs Chair can be very stressful because the chapter is relying on you to provide programs that are timely and relevant to our membership. She kept the programs meetings running smoothly and never got overwhelmed by the tasks put before her. Thanks to her leadership, our programming was top-notch this year, with great speakers and record attendance numbers.

Another stressful board position, Sponsorship Chair, was handled beautifully by Stefanie Raya. Not only did she revamp our sponsorship structure to include new annual platinum and educational sponsorships, she has also secured luncheon sponsors throughout the year. Stefanie’s work this year has kept us “in the black”.

Helga Diaz was the Communications Committee chair this year. She pushed to get the Austin Chapter into the social media scene through LinkedIn, Twitter and our Blog. She organized the efforts of many communications committee members to keep all our communications activities current and relevant. She also revamped the newsletter content which was distributed through blog postings and quarterly electronic newsletters.

Devin Williamson has a knack for making everyone feel comfortable, which is an important quality for a Membership Director. Devin has always been an enthusiastic advocate for the chapter and has a great can-do attitude.

Elizabeth Haynie is extremely organized and is responsible for so much as Director-at-Large. This position creates and sends out event emails, works the event registration and coordinates program needs. She does it all and makes it all look effortless.

Thanks also to the many volunteers that have helped us out this year and to the companies that encourage their marketing and business development professionals to be active in SMPS.

So as we say adieu to the passing of this year, we are also looking forward to a new and exciting beginning. We have a new board that will be starting in September and will carry the torch for the next year. I am very excited to continue to serve as your President for the next year and look forward to seeing you all at the next SMPS event!

- Erika Passailaigue, Datum Engineers, Inc.

SMPS Program Spotlight: Mentor Protégé Review

2011-08-04T09:49:00.000-05:00

The Austin SMPS Chapter initiated the first annual Mentoring Program last December. The program was designed to be a resource for our members to share best practices, expand their network and provide guidance for less experienced A/E/C marketing personnel. The SMPS Mentoring Program committee worked to successfully pair the individual mentors and protégés, and provided up-front guidance to both groups to help ensure a beneficial experience for both.

We were excited to have an enthusiastic group of mentors volunteer their time and expertise with protégés who have been eager to learn and grow professionally. The Mentoring Program committee invited the group for a mid-year meeting to share their input on how the program was progressing. The group was also treated to a personal discussion by Joel Stone, the new CEO of SpawGlass. Joel shared his insights into how he has moved through the ranks at SpawGlass, including his transition from business development manager to CEO. Joel also commented on the significant impact mentoring has had on his personal and professional development.

As our 2010-2011 class winds down this fall, the Mentoring Program committee is already preparing for the 2011-2012 class. The committee will again be seeking qualified mentors and interested protégés who want to be part of the program.

Please contact Karen Ward at 512-442-1122 or klward@terracon.com to be part of the program or part of the committee.

3rd Annual Summer Shindig - July 28th

2011-07-22T09:25:00.000-05:00

Beat the heat and join us for the Summer Shindig on July 28! Registration closes today!

Worn out from 100+ degree days? Ready to escape the drudgery of a 9-to-5 routine and have a little summer fun? Mix it up at the 2011 Summer Shindig on July 28! Hosted by nine professional communications organizations in Austin, you’re sure to enjoy great conversation with your peers and make many new connections.

And since we can’t go elsewhere in the world during the dog days of Texas summer, the world is coming to us! The Shoreline Grill will serve up a delicious selection of food and wine from around the world to transport your taste buds to exotic (and cooler) locales while you watch the sun set from a terrace overlooking Lady Bird Lake.

WHEN
Thursday, July 28, 2011 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

WHERE
Shoreline Grill 98 San Jacinto Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78701
512-447-3300

COST
$35 per person

REGISTER
Pre-payment is required to accept your registration by Friday, July 22. For event information and registration click here.

SPONSOR
Pierpont Communications — To obtain the sponsor logo or more information, contact Sarah Zomper at 512-448-4950 or szomper@piercom.com.

Thank you to the hosts of the 2011 Summer Shindig:

Austin Advertising Federation
AIGA — The Professional Association for Design, Austin chapter
American Marketing Association, Austin chapter
Association for
Women in Communications, Austin chapter
Industrial Design Society of America, Texas chapter
International Association of Business Communicators, Austin chapter
Legal Marketing Association, Southeastern chapter
Society for Marketing Professional Services, Austin chapter
National Investor Relations Institute, Austin — San Antonio chapter
Public Relations Society of America, Austin chapter

5th Annual SMPS Connects - San Antonio + Austin: Development Along the I-35 Corridor

2011-07-14T17:21:00.000-05:00

Please join SMPS Austin and SMPS San Antonio as we welcome Diana Blank, Rusty Brockman and Amy Madison as they brief us on what is going on in their cities and the surrounding areas.

PANELISTS:
Rusty Brockman, Director of Economic Development for the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce

Diana Blank, Director of Economic Development for the City of Kyle

Amy Case Madison, CEcD, EDFP, CPM, President, Greater San Marcos Partnership

Moderator: Melodye Tomsu, CPSM, Director of Business Development & Marketing for Cleary Zimmermann

WHEN:
Friday, August 5th
11:30am - 1:00pm

WHERE:
San Marcos Conference Center
Embassy Suites - San Marcos
1001 McCarty Lane
San Marcos, TX 78666

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
11:30am - Registration
12:00pm - Lunch

PRICE INFO:
Register by July 31st:
Members: $30 / Non-members: $40

Register August 1st or later:
Members: $45 / Non-members: $55

To register, please visit: http://sanantoniosmps.org/

SMPS Annual Wine Tasting and Networking

2011-06-28T23:54:00.000-05:00

The SMPS Austin Chapter's 7th annual Wine Tasting Event will be held at Phara’s Mediterranean Cuisine and Christopher’s Casbah. Ike Johnson, Austin’s famous wine guy, will introduce us to five great wines while we enjoy Phara’s exotic appetizers and network with fellow A/E/C professionals in a relaxed setting. This event is always the highlight of the summer programming and fills up quickly. Register now to reserve your spot. Registration ends on Friday, July 8th!

When: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Where: Phara’s Mediterranean Cuisine
111 E North Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751-1226

Event Registration Fee:
Member: $30.00
Non-Member: $45.00

RSVP by Friday, July 08, 2011

SMPS Lunch & Learn: 2011 Texas Legislature Recap

2011-06-16T14:44:00.000-05:00

The 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature has officially ended and special sessions are underway. Join us as we get an up-to-the-minute review of how this legislative session will affect the A/E/C industry. In-the-know speakers from the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, Texas Society of Architects and Associated General Contractors will share with us their lobbying efforts and how new bills and regulations will impact your business.

Speakers:
Julie Harrod, PE - State President-Elect of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers

Yvonne Castillo - General Counsel at Texas Society of Architects

Mike Chatron - President, Associated General Contractors, Texas Building Branch

REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY JUNE 24th

When: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Where: Atkins Global
6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78703

Event Registration Fee:
Member: $20.00
Non-Member: $35.00

RSVP Friday, June 24, 2011

June Luncheon: Capitalizing on the Capitol Complex - Understanding the Capitol Complex Master Plan and Future Project Opportunities

2011-05-24T10:53:00.000-05:00

Aundre Dukes, Portfolio Manager and Public Liaison with the Texas Facilities Commission Planning & Asset Management Division, will present the Capitol Area Development Strategy at the SMPS Austin luncheon on June 14th. The Facilities Master Plan delineating the agency’s priorities and initiatives for its 28.4 million square foot inventory was adopted January 19th 2011. The plan focuses on two initiatives: 1) Developing a Combined Heat and Power Plant for the Capitol Complex, and 2) a Comprehensive Asset Management and Development Strategy to maximize utilization of assets and value for the State.

The State owns property within the Capitol Complex totaling 122 acres, the equivalent of 70 city blocks. The complex contains the Capitol Building and grounds, State office buildings, garages and surface lots. TFC identified approximately 21 acres of under-developed State-owned assets within the complex, mostly comprised of parking lots and garages, outside of the Capitol grounds. Preliminary studies indicate the development potential of these underdeveloped assets could yield an additional 7.1 million square feet of new facilities, double the amount of space currently used to office State employees, thereby relieving the State of annual expenses and reducing the State’s excessive reliance on commercial leases.

The Commission has identified approximately 1.3 million square feet of Austin area administrative state leases for consolidation into new State facilities. These facilities can be constructed on underdeveloped holdings. The targeted leases serve 5,500 employees at a cost of $16.7 million per year. The remaining 5.8 million square feet of under-developed properties could generate significant revenues from non-tax sources if developed for market driven mixed uses.

Mr. Dukes will discuss more about how and what the State hopes to accomplish with this Capitol Area Development Strategy.

THE DISCOUNTED PRICE ENDS AFTER WEDNESDAY, June 8th!!

WHEN: Tuesday, June 14, 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 Monday, June 13, 2011

SMPS Networking Happy Hour at Red House Pizzeria and Bar

2011-05-09T19:05:00.000-05:00

Join SMPS Austin for a spring happy hour on the expansive patio at Red House Pizzeria and Bar. This east Austin establishment has great happy hour specials and a relaxing atmosphere. Mingle with old and new friends, as many out-of-town SMPS members will be in Austin for the National Workshop: “Managing and Leading a Successful Business Development Team.” Hope to see you there!

Cost: No cost for admission.

Half-price Appetizers - $2 Lone Star - $3 House Punch - $4 House Wine. Cash Bar.

When: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Where: Red House Pizzeria and Bar
1917 Manor Road, Austin, TX 78722

Golf 101 for the Business Developer: featuring Alan Bell, Director of Design and Construction at Seton Network Facilities

2011-05-02T14:42:00.000-05:00

Golf can be a GREAT business development tool! But what if you don’t know how to golf or are too intimidated to try it? SMPS has a solution. “Golf 101 for the Business Developer” is targeted for marketing and business developers who are beginner or intermediate level players. The workshop will introduce you to the sport, make you more comfortable on the course, and teach you how to successfully blend golf and business.

Even if you aren’t a beginner level golfer, you can gain something from this event! There are two “tracks” to this workshop.

*Track 1 includes the golf lesson and the business etiquette/networking session.
*Track 2 includes only the business etiquette/networking session with Alan Bell of Seton Network Facilities (suited for advanced golfers).

The golf lesson (3-5pm): Taught by Grey Rock Golf Professionals, this two hour lesson will be split between the driving range and putting green and will cover mechanics, technique and golf etiquette. This lesson is limited to 25 people and will be taught by two Golf Pros.

The business etiquette and networking session (5-6:30pm): Guest speaker Alan Bell will give us an owner’s perspective on how to successfully do business while golfing. He will discuss business etiquette, golf do’s and don’ts, and business norms on the course. This session is limited to 50 people and includes drinks, appetizers and networking.

No golf equipment is necessary. Dress in comfortable clothes and shoes, and wear sunscreen.

When: Thursday, May 05, 2011 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Where: Grey Rock Golf Club
7401 Highway 45, Austin, TX 78739

Event Registration Fees:

Golf and Networking:
Member: $50.00
Non-Member: $65.00

Business Etiquette and Networking ONLY
Member: $35.00
Non-Member: $45.00

RSVP Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Project Spotlight: Oasis, Texas

2011-05-02T13:28:00.001-05:00

This destination mixed-use development of more than 30 shops and two restaurants shares the same property as the Oasis restaurant and sits on a cliff 450 feet above Lake Travis. The multiple-phase project includes 40,000 sf of office space, a 25,000 sf retail complex and a four-story parking garage. One of the goals of the project was to create a European village market. In order to achieve this, local artisans and craftspeople were chosen to respond to the climate and character of the site with local building materials and found objects.

The development includes two restaurants. Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que is built with rough and reclaimed wood and decorative pressed tin; the brewery and restaurant are distinctly Texas rustic and have a comfortable down-home feeling of traditional barbeque joints. Large garage doors open to the spectacular views of Lake Travis at sunset. The two-story restaurant has generous seating areas, three bars, a private dining room on the lower level with additional seating and an expansive outdoor bar and live music venue on the upper level. Both levels are designed to showcase the largest allowable in-house brewery that operates on both floors of the restaurant.

Soleil, the second restaurant, draws inspiration from the colors for which this location on Lake Austin is best-known – The deep rich blues of the clear lake and the fiery orange and red hues of the setting sun and then sets them against a back drop of weathered and worn muted wood. Generously sized balconies accommodate outdoor seating with excellent views of the sunset while the open perimeter doors invite cool breezes to flow into the core of the restaurant.

Architect
Dick Clark Architecture

Contractor
Harvey Cleary

MEP Engineer – Site Work and Infrastructure
Jose I. Guerra

Structural Engineer
Structures

If you are interested in submitting a recently completed project for inclusion in the SMPS Austin Newsletter, please contact Helga Diaz.

SMPS Oasis, Texas Tour

2011-04-29T10:32:00.002-05:00

To view more pictures click here.

May Luncheon: Northern Exposure – Uncovering Booming Development

2011-04-26T15:00:00.000-05:00

The new census results confirmed that three cities to the north of Austin: Hutto, Leander and Cedar Park are growing at a red, hot pace. What do these communities do different, why is the economic downturn not affecting them as much, and what are their plans for the future? Listen to the economic development directors for these three thriving communities as they share their distinct plans for attracting new businesses, community growth and safety, and upcoming projects. Find out how the highways 130 and 183 are pushing this growth, why the rail line is making a difference, and what to expect in the next decade.

Panel:
Phil Brewer, Cedar Park Economic Development
Scott Martinez, Hutto Economic Development
Kirk Clennan, Leander Economic Development

Moderator: Charley Ayres, Temple Economic Development

THE DISCOUNTED PRICE ENDS AFTER WEDNESDAY,

May 4th!!

When: Tuesday, May 10, 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, May 9, 2011

April Luncheon: City of Austin Emerging Developments Refresher

2011-03-30T10:50:00.002-05:00

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

Resource Review: Social Media all-in-one place, your desktop.

2011-03-30T10:43:00.001-05:00

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.

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.

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

Member Spotlight: Diane Shelton

2011-03-15T10:19:00.000-05:00

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.

SMPS Southern Regional Conference Recap by Katie Karris, LEED AP

2011-02-25T15:19:00.000-06:00

The 2011 Southern Regional Conference was a great way to cap off my first year as an official SMPS member. Like any business-minded individual in a down economy, I was skeptical whether or not this conference would be worth the expense and time away from work. Towards the end of last year I was still undecided on whether or not to attend, when I unexpectedly won a complimentary registration to the conference at our December SMPS Luncheon. Given this opportunity, I happily accepted and headed off to Houston in February.

During two days worth of sessions, I attended topics ranging from high-impact interview presentations to killer networking. One of my favorite sessions was “Social Media Success” by Peter Wyro. Peter’s presentation went far beyond the typical social media discussion – including specific tools such as Gravatar – a globally recognized avatar that appears beside your name when you do things like comment on a blog post. Peter also talked about the challenges and benefits of developing a social media policy within your firm, and offered a copy of his standard social media policy for any interested attendees. But beyond the specific topics covered in these sessions, what had a lasting impact on me were the personal stories each speaker shared. In the midst of his presentation on Right Brain/Left Brain thinkers, I was inspired by architect Craig Galati’s anecdote on how his firm made a conscious decision to move away from a “we do everything” approach to focus on the sociology behind architectural design and selectively pursue projects they actually care about. Likewise, I found it interesting that marketing guru Scott Butcher has very successfully created engineering work for his firm based on his photography skills and extensive community involvement.

Since it was my first time to attend this conference I can’t speak comparatively between this year or any other, but I can say that I left the event with a better understanding of critical topics, strengthened relationships within my network, new contacts within the industry, and a renewed sense of excitement for the year ahead.

Katie Harris, LEED AP
Encotech Engineering Consultants

SMPS Southern Regional Conference Recap by Megan Felker, CPSM

2011-02-25T15:17:00.001-06:00

Despite the freezing weather and delayed travel arrangements, the 2011 Southern Regional Conference in Houston was well attended. The sessions were organized into three separate tracks – COMMUNICATE (Marketing Coordinator), CREATE (Business Development) and CONNECT (Leadership) – which I found beneficial. For the most part, I followed the BD track, but there were multiple sessions in other tracks that interested me. One session that impressed me was “Intellectual Property Do’s and Don’ts for Marketing Professionals” by Jenna Rader Perry. Intellectual Property does not sound like the most stimulating topic, but the speaker provided tons of relevant information about copyrights, trademarks, etc. that many marketing/BD folks had not heard. Although her presentation was punctuated with legal jargon, she was able to explain the jargon in “plain speak” and relate it to our industry. I think everyone went back to their office and pulled “unlawful” images out of their presentations or marketing materials!

One of the main reasons I attend these regional conferences is to leave feeling refreshed, inspired, and ready to return to work with new knowledge and enthusiasm. This year was no different. I think many marketers in our industry have been down about the current economy and the state of our firm’s success over the past several years. By talking with my fellow marketers at the SMPS Regional Conference, it gave me hope that this year we will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Megan Felker, CPSM
JQ

Trudy's Bowl for Kids is THIS SATURDAY! And Pre-bowling Happy Hour @ Trudy's!

2011-02-24T10:08:00.000-06:00

Join the AEC Group Bowl for a pre-bowling happy hour at Trudy’s (on Burnet) from 4:30-6:00 pm. There will be drinks specials, bowling registration, and networking. Come get your pre-bowl on!

There are only a few days left to fundraise! Last year, the AEC Group raised $16,400. We are only $4,000 away from this amount – let’s work together to exceed last year’s numbers! It costs $1,300 to per year to fund one match. With your help we can surpass last year’s numbers and help match more kids with caring mentors.

Good luck and we hope to see you at Trudy’s and Highland Lanes on Saturday!

And don’t forget to dress up for this year’s theme: PROM NIGHT. Prizes will be given to the team with the best costume!

New Member Spotlight: Sara Wells

2011-02-17T09:18:00.001-06:00

Sara Wells
Coleman & Associates

1. Where do you work and what’s your position? Brief Description of company.
I’ve been the Marketing Coordinator at Coleman & Associates for 4 years. Coleman & Associates was founded in 1987 and is now one of the leading landscape architecture firms in central Texas, servicing public and private projects all over Texas from offices in Austin and San Antonio. Coleman & Associates offers an award-winning portfolio of work, true principal involvement in each project from start to finish, valuable vendor relationships, and unparalleled expertise in constructability, construction cost knowledge, and sustainable landscape design.

2. Where is your hometown? Where did you go to school?
I grew up in Sugar Land, TX (a suburb of Houston). I attended Texas State University and majored in Communication Design, graduating in 2006. I immediately moved to Austin, and started working for Coleman & Associates shortly thereafter.

3. What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies?
I have been a life-time lover of art, design, and dance. I dance 3 days a week (ballet, swing dance, and tap), and I won’t stop until my legs no longer work! My degree is in graphic design, and I do freelance design in my spare time. I’m also on the board of the Austin chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design. I also enjoy making and viewing art, but these days, it’s been mainly viewing. Invite me to a contemporary art opening, and I’m there!

4. What is your favorite thing about Austin?
The culture – the people and the places. I love how Austinites embrace small businesses over chains, value sustainability, take their dogs everywhere, dress casual, and flock to the greenbelt on a nice day. Compared to many cities I’ve visited, Austinites seem freer and more in tune with what’s important. I also love the array of quaint restaurants, wine bars, family-run stores, and quirky novelty shops. Keep Austin Weird!

5. What do you expect to get out of your SMPS membership?
Networking and information. Through SMPS, I’ve garnered symbiotic relationships with fellow marketers, strengthened relationships with existing clients, and gained exposure to potential clients. Since my degree is in design not marketing, SMPS’s informational lunches and webinars are very helpful.

March Luncheon: Austin Community College - Recent Events & Future Plans

2011-02-15T17:34:00.000-06:00

Austin Community College District is among the fastest growing community colleges in the nation, with eight comprehensive campuses and plans for at least two new campuses in its expanding service area. In addition, the District is nearing completion of Master Plans for seven of its existing campuses and recently acquired the Dillard’s and the Macy’s stores at Highland Mall. What projects are anticipated as a result? Are there more new campuses planned? How will the District’s recently-adopted Sustainability Initiative impact planning for this growth?

Bill Mullane, ACC’s Executive Director of Facilities & Construction, will discuss Austin Community College District’s plans for the future. Learn about upcoming opportunities, and goals for new and existing facilities.

SPEAKER
Bill Mullane - Executive Director of Facilities & Construction, Austin Community College District

THE DISCOUNTED PRICE ENDS AFTER WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2ND!!

When: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 11:30 AM -1:00 PM

Where: University of Texas Club - President's Room
2108 E. Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX 78712

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)

Register here.

AEC Group Bowl: Trudy's Bowl for Kids 2011 - Prom Night Themed Event, February 26th

2011-02-15T14:55:00.000-06:00

Mark your calendars for Big Brothers Big Sisters' largest annual fundraising event, Trudy's Bowl for Kids 2011! This annual event, sponsored by SMPS, brings together AEC firms in support of local mentoring efforts. Show your support by forming a team to raise pledges and bowl with your fellow AEC industry colleagues on Saturday, February 26th at Highland Lanes. Registration is open so click here to get started

This year's theme is sure to please as Big Brothers Big Sisters takes you back to Prom Night. So, pull out those old prom dresses and tuxes and join us for food, fun and lots of prizes, all while helping Central Texas kids.

Looking to sponsor a fun-filled evening with exposure to thousands of people? Look no further! Trudy's Bowl for Kids has many options to choose from starting at just $1,000. To view the sponsorship packet, click here.

For any and all Bowl for Kids related questions, please contact Kate Garrett at kgarrett@bigmentoring.org or 512-807-3615.

SMPS Webinar: Inside Marketer to Outside Business Developer - The Challenges and Rewards of the Transition

2011-02-15T11:13:00.000-06:00

Have you recently made the transition from marketing to business development? Or are you thinking about it as a future career goal? Marketing is often project driven (proposals, brochures, marketing collateral, press releases) and focuses on building "one-to-many" relationships. On the other hand, business development is an ongoing process made up of "one-to-one" relationships. Yet, there can be a natural progression from a career in marketing to business development. Business development plays a crucial role in the success of a firm, and as a business developer, your contributions can have a significant impact on your firm. But how do you take that first step? Where do you begin?

The SMPS Business Development Institute (BDI) brings together three business developers, from firms of varying sizes and disciplines, who have recently moved from marketing to business development roles. As the panelists share their stories, attendees will gain insight from the lessons learned.

Presented by: Anne Crowe Kroger, MBA, CPSM, Jennifer Crawford, Ashley Dale, CIT and Karen O. Courtney, AIA, FSMPS.

Learning Objectives

During this Webinar, you will learn:
• the differences between the roles and responsibilities of the marketer and business developer

• the challenges each panelist faced in switching to a business development career

• the characteristics that make for a successful business developer

• tips for gaining support from upper management in setting goals and prioritizing the duties of a new business developer

SMPS webinars are approved for 1.5 hours of Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) CEUs and AIA LU Hours. Recordings of SMPS webinars are approved for 1.5 hours of CPSM hours only.

When: Thursday, February 24, 2011 11:30 AM -1:30 PM

Where: DPR Construction, Inc.
9606 North Mopac, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78759

Event Registration Fee
Member: Complimentary
Non-Member: $35.00

RSVP Monday, February 21, 2011

Holiday Networking Lunch featuring our Communications Awards Presentation

2011-02-09T12:43:00.003-06:00

To view more pictures click here.

New Member Spotlight: Christina Bennett

2011-01-31T12:33:00.000-06:00

Christina Bennett
SAM, Inc.

Where do you work and what’s your position? Brief Description of company.

I am the Marketing/Communications Coordinator at Surveying And Mapping, Inc. (SAM, Inc.), a geospatial services firm that provides complete land surveying, mobile and airborne LiDAR, photogrammetry, GIS, subsurface utility engineering (SUE), and utility coordination services. SAM, Inc. was established in 1994, and has grown to be one of the largest geospatial firms in the southwest. We leverage the latest technology to deliver precision mapping projects for electric energy, oil & gas, rail, transportation and infrastructure across the US and Canada.

In my role as Marketing/Communications Coordinator, I am responsible for coordinating the communications strategy to support the internal and external image of the firm. Ongoing duties include design and updating of company website, brochures and collateral material, event planning for corporate events and tradeshows, mailings and e-blasts, press releases, and special projects for C-Level management.

Where is your hometown? Where did you go to school?
Believe it or not, I am a native Austinite, and have lived here my whole life. I grew up in Pflugerville, and then went to UT Austin. I graduated in 2002 with a degree in Design from the School of Fine Arts, and kind of stumbled into a marketing role after my college internship with a small landscape architecture and planning firm in Round Rock.

What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies?
I am an avid reader, love to go camping and work on my never ending list of home improvement projects. I still paint, screen print, and make books in my (very limited) spare time.

What is your favorite thing about Austin?
The people!

What do you expect to get out of your SMPS membership?
The opportunity to network and share best-practices (or horror stories), and continue to learning as much as I can about the marketing profession and the A/E/C industry.

SMPS Austin-DPR Marketing ROI Educational

2011-01-28T11:41:00.000-06:00

Tips & Tricks: Creating an Object Library

2011-01-19T16:38:00.001-06:00

Every organization has images and verbiage that they rely on repeatedly to create printed material. For these recurring items, InDesign has created a handy tool called the Object Library. The Object Library works like a panel in InDesign and allows you to store frequently used items in one convenient location.

To begin creating your Object Library, open a document that contains material you would like to store in the Object Library (a company brochure or recently completed proposal works well). From the File menu, select New>Library. You can name the library whatever you choose (and you can have multiple libraries for different uses). Using the Selection tool, simply drag a page item from the document and drop it into the Library panel. You can store images and text in the library. You can also specify the name and description of the items, if desired. To ensure that the library opens each time you launch InDesign, save your workspace under Window>Save Workspace. If you prefer to launch the library only at certain times, you can choose File>Open and simply open the library from the location you saved it.

Katie Harris, LEED AP
Encotech Engineering Consultants

Project Spotlight - Twin Oaks Branch Library

2011-01-19T16:17:00.000-06:00

The original Twin Oaks Branch Library opened in 1956 in a neighborhood shopping mall on East Oltorf. The branch moved three times within the same shopping center, and since 1992 it has occupied only 5,360 s.f. of leased space. Funding necessary to acquire and build a permanent 10,000 s.f. replacement branch were approved in the 1998 City of Austin Bond Election.

The new Twin Oaks Branch Library opened to the public on August 21, 2010. The facility includes a large main reading area, young adult and children’s reading rooms, computer stations, staff offices and support spaces, and generous outdoor seating, including an amphitheatre area. The facility was constructed to operate as a “library for the future,” patterned after a popular new design model for community libraries which is indicative of South Austin culture and incorporates many features found in upscale bookstores.

The library was designed and constructed using Austin Energy Green Building Program standards, which has requirements similar to the United States Green Building Council's LEED Silver rating. Sustainable features include a rainwater harvesting system and a daylighting control system that dims electric lamps when the building has sufficient daylight for reading and other activities. The library also features a 25.2 kW solar energy system that is expected to generate 32,760 kWh annually, which is sufficient power for about three standard sized homes. Additionally, reused bricks salvaged during the demolition of the old South Austin Post Office building, which formerly stood on the site, were used for construction. The building includes 15 huge timber trusses made of reclaimed Douglas Fir which saved about 30 large trees.

Owner
City of Austin

Architect
Hatch Partnership

Contractor
Jamail & Smith Construction

MEP Engineer
Encotech Engineering Consultants

Structural Engineer
Jaster-Quintanilla & Associates

Civil Engineer
Raymond Chan & Associates

Landscape Architect
Winterowd Associates, Inc.

Interior Design
Laurie Smith Design Associates

Commissioning Agent
KWR Engineering Services

If you are interested in submitting a recently completed project for inclusion in the SMPS Austin Newsletter, please contact Helga Diaz.

Economic Engines - Air Transportation January Luncheon

2011-01-17T08:46:00.000-06:00

For more pictures go to our web album.

SMPS Networking Social Hour at the W

2011-01-10T18:09:00.000-06:00

The W Hotel is finally open! Join SMPS on Thursday, January 20th from 5-7 pm for an informal social hour to check out the venue and enjoy unique W drinks. There’s no agenda, just tasty libations and good conversations. The Living Room bar consists of several rooms, so we will be mingling throughout. Hope to see you there!

Cash bar.

When: Thursday, January 20, 2011 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Where: Living Room Bar at the W Hotel
200 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701

SMPS Webinar: Measuring Marketing ROI: Current Trends in the A/E/C Industry

2011-01-10T17:59:00.000-06:00

In today's economy, employers are asking for greater accountability from marketing staff. Measuring a return on the investment (ROI) in marketing is a hot topic in marketing journals and at marketing conferences. But what are firms really doing to effectively measure their marketing initiatives and evaluate their marketing efforts? This program will discuss the results of a survey conducted by SMPS and Sally Handley Inc. Join us to learn the latest trends in measuring ROI and the marketing metrics being used by your colleagues in the A/E/C industry.

Learning Objectives

Understand the challenges involved in measuring marketing ROI and methods your peers are using to overcome these challenges.
Learn a basic approach to using metrics to measure various aspects of the marketing effort.
Gain access to the latest techniques being used to measure ROI in the A/E/C industry, based on a survey of the SMPS membership.

About the Speaker

Sally A. Handley, FSMPS, is President of Sally Handley Inc., a marketing consulting, training, and staffing firm. With over 25 years experience, Sally offers an online Webinar series entitled AEC Marketing 101. In 2006, she published Marketing Metrics De-Mystified: Methods for Measuring ROI and Evaluating Your Marketing Effort. This year she published When Can You Start? The A/E/C Guide to Recruiting, Managing and Retaining a Marketing Coordinator. Both are available at www.sallyhandley.com. In 2007, Sally was selected by the SMPS Foundation to author a White Paper based on original research on the topic of Knowledge Management and the A/E/C Industry. Sally was the recipient of the SMPS New York Chapter Marketing Achievement Award.

CEU Credits
SMPS webinars are approved for 1.5 hours of Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) CEUs and AIA LU Hours. Recordings of SMPS webinars are approved for 1.5 hours of CPSM hours only.

When: Thursday, January 27, 2011 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Where: DPR Construction, Inc.
9606 North Mopac, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78759

Event Registration Fee:
Member: Complimentary
Non-Member: $35.00

RSVP by Monday, January 24, 2011

January Luncheon: Economic Engines - Air Transportation Developments in Central Texas

2010-12-22T13:58:00.001-06:00

With approximately 300 airports open to the public, Texas' general aviation airport system is one of the largest in the nation and is expected to grow. These airports perform an essential role in the economic and social development of Texas. A panel representing private and public organizations will discuss aviation trends affecting airport development, the demand for new and renovated aviation facilities, public financing for capital improvements, and aviation’s impact on commercial developments in the region.

Panel:
Scott Gallagher
Director, Programming and Planning for the Aviation Division for TxDOT

Shane Harbinson
Assistant Director-Aviation Department at the City of Austin
*additional panel members and moderator TBA

THE DISCOUNTED PRICE ENDS AFTER WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5TH!

When: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 11:30 AM -1:00 PM

Where: University of Texas Club - President's Room
2108 E. Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX 78712

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)

Register here.

SMPS Presidents Quarterly Report

2010-12-01T13:18:00.002-06:00

We started this year off with a bang! With so many new initiatives getting underway, the first 3 months of the SMPS year have flown by.

The new sponsorship levels we introduced this year have been met with great enthusiasm. We have sold two of the three available platinum sponsorships and have only one annual education sponsorship left. Thanks to our new Platinum Sponsors, Raba Kistner and RS&H and our new Educational Sponsor, IMS, for scooping up these new sponsorship opportunities and helping us to keep bringing quality programs and opportunities to our membership.

The Mentoring Program has also gained steam and moved forward. The application and outline will be sent out in the next week to the group that expressed an interest after the initial “call for mentors and protégés.” These applications, along with the results from the “speed matching” event that will be held in December will enable the committee to appropriately pair up protégés with mentors so that they start off 2011 with a plan to meet their new year’s resolution to improve their marketing/BD skills!

We have also been busy with our First Annual Communications Awards. The Call for Entries went out and we received nine responses. And the winner is … We’ll find out at the awards ceremony which will be held during our Annual Holiday Networking Luncheon on December 14th. The luncheon will be held at Carmelo’s this year. I hope you will all come out to congratulate the winners, mingle with the judges and network with your fellow SMPSers.

With the holiday season upon us, I've started to reflect on all I have to be thankful for, and the stresses of work, family and the holiday season are all diminished by the realization that although these things are sometimes hard to balance, I am blessed to have each one. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and I’ll see you at an SMPS event soon!

~Erika Passailaigue

SMPS Holiday Networking Lunch featuring our Communications Awards Presentation

2010-11-23T09:40:00.000-06:00

Come celebrate the holidays with the SMPS Austin Chapter at our annual holiday networking event. This year, along with extended networking time over a delicious lunch, we will be presenting our chapter’s first annual Communications Awards. Come view our chapter’s impressive entries, thank our jurors, and congratulate the winners.

This event is complimentary for members that register before Dec. 10th! Fee applies after Dec. 10th.

Seating is limited, so sign up today!!

If you are unable to attend after registering please make sure to cancel your registration through Cvent or contact Elizabeth Haynie at elizabethhaynie@beckgroup.com.

*Please note that the event dining room is stair access only.

PARKING: The restaurant has a surface lot. If the lot is full there is street parking and a city garage at the southeast intersection of 5th and Red River.

When: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Where: Carmelo’s Restaurant
504 East 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701

Event Registration Fee:
Member: Complimentary ($35.00 original price)

Non-Member: $35.00 for a limited time ($45.00 original price)

Click here to RSVP by Friday, December 10th.

SMPS Lunch & Learn: Getting Off the Short-List

2010-11-15T13:37:00.000-06:00

Do you need more business? Tired of being shortlisted and not coming up as the selected firm? Need to improve your WIN ratio? Want to learn strategies to beat your competition? Don’t miss this opportunity to hear a industry veteran share how to get your firm off the shortlist and into the winner’s circle! The program will target specific strategies and methods you can implement immediately to improve your win ratio and an end-user client perspective.

This an excellent program for

· Marketers
· Business Developers
· Principals

Speaker:
Carolyn Ferguson, FSMPS, CPSM, National President for the Society for Marketing Professional Services

When: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:30 AM -1:30 PM
Where: DPR Construction, Inc.
9606 North Mopac, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78759

Event Registration Fee:
Member $20.00
Non-Member $35.00

Click here to register.

Resource Review: FREE Stock Photography Site!

2010-11-10T11:58:00.001-06:00

FREE Stock Photography Site: http://www.sxc.hu/

We are all cutting back these days and stretching every marketing dollar we get but we are also creating more creative, in-depth materials so how do we balance?

Well with a little research, one of our SMPS members found Stock.Xchange, the above website, with FREE stock photography! Need a unique construction photo to add some splash to a brochure or a colorful image to add excitement to a dull presentation? Check out this site! All you do is sign-up and start downloading.

The free photos won’t include near as many results or choices as other pay sites but you get a good mix with every key word and can usually find something good on the first 2 or 3 pages of your search. The results will include some great images from iStockphoto.com, which is a pay-per-photo site, so don’t get sidetracked because with a little more searching, you can find the same quality for free.

Now you can impress without taking a hit to your marketing budget. Happy searching!

View more sample images on our web album.

Top 3 Power Lunches

2010-11-10T11:35:00.000-06:00

What is a Power Lunch? It’s the client/potential client lunch that needs to include good food, easy access and a noise level that is conducive to talking but not being overheard.

Ranch 616 ****
616 Nueces Street, Austin, Texas 78701 • (512) 479-7616

Great Parking – for Downtown

One of the few downtown spots where you can find parking, even if it is metered. The food is an eclectic mix of “South Texas cuisine” where you can get an amazing frito pie, Jalapeno Maize Chicken and frog legs as an appetizer; they even mix things up with a different meat-of-the-day. And if you are hurting for talking points, comment on any piece of their eccentric décor which can jump start any conversation.

Not the best lunch for a first time meeting unless you are comfortable eating a messy dish with strangers but the food is consistently good and the service is fast.

Pricing: $7 to $12 entrées
Parking: Easy
Area of Austin: Downtown

Walton's Fancy & Staple ****1/2
609 W Sixth St, Austin, TX 78701 • (512) 542-3380 ‎

Best Deli Sandwich

Serving the most high-quality, all natural meats ensures that your sandwich will be flavor filled and of amazing quality. Just an example of one of these amazing sandwiches – the Turkey Sweet includes turkey, bacon, caramelized apple and onions with cheddar on croissant; I have had a hard time ordering anything else. They have hot sandwiches and cold, all to be served on your choice of one of seven different kinds of bread. And don’t forget that pastry selection; opt for a cookie with lunch because if you wait to browse the sweets when you are leaving, you will end up with a box full. There are also soups and salads to please the picky and/or healthy.

It is a more casual lunch spot as you do order at the counter so expect a nominal wait before you sit down, but even more temptation in front of that pastry case. The tables are small so don’t plan on going over materials or taking notes on a large pad and parking is your general downtown meters so give yourself some time.

Pricing: $5 to $9 sandwiches, soups, salads and combos
Parking: Slightly Tough
Area of Austin: Downtown

Galaxy Café *****
1000 West Lynn Street, Austin 78703 • (512) 478-3434

Great Selection, Quality

With high-quality burgers, gourmet sandwiches, healthy wraps and tantalizing side dishes, Galaxy Café truly has something for everyone. Try the Zocalo Burger seasoned with crushed red pepper and topped with grilled jalapenos or the Hot Veggie Wrap with enough sustenance and flavor to satisfy a non-vegetarian. This Old West Austin location has a great atmosphere where the tables are big enough to show off some good marketing collateral and spaced out enough to keep your conversation at the table.

You do order at the counter, which can get backed up, but with the extensive menu, you may need that extra time. There is a dedicated parking lot but it does fill up so plan a lunch a few minutes before noon.

Pricing: Under $10 an entrée
Parking: Dedicated parking lot
Area of Austin: Old West Austin

Marketing Sustainability - How Green is Green Enough?

2010-10-26T12:29:00.000-05:00

For more pictures go to our web album.

SMPS Special Event - Building Bridges: Men, Women & Networking

2010-10-22T10:06:00.000-05:00

Join SMPS in our “happy hour style classroom” and learn the networking and communication differences between men and women. Marny Lifshen, author, speaker and marketing communications/PR consultant, will give an interactive and entertaining presentation on the different ways men and women build professional relationships, and how we use networking as a strategy in our careers. Most of us recognize that men and women have different communication styles, and that we manage relationships differently, but few of us think about how these differences impact the effectiveness of our networking. Marny will explain how to recognize and accept our different networking styles, and what men and women can learn from one another.

Drinks and light appetizers will be provided for this happy hour learning session.

Marny will be bringing copies of her book, "Some Assembly Required: A Networking Guide for Women" for sale & signing, as well as copies of her co-author's book, "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Business Relationships" ($20 each, cash or check only).

When: Thursday, November 11, 2010 4:45 PM -7:00 PM
Where: DPR Construction, Inc.
9606 North Mopac, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78759

Event Registration Fee
Member: $5.00
Non-Member: $20.00

Click here to register online.

November Luncheon - Follow the Money: A Texas Budget Primer and Outlook

2010-10-19T17:09:00.000-05:00

Texas is headed into a new legislative session for the next biennium. As the effects of the recession linger, large deficits loom at all levels of government. What will that mean for the A/E/C industry? How do state agencies expect to be impacted? What funding options are available to keep capital improvement projects on track?

Join us as our panel representing the Legislative Budget Board, the Texas Facilities Commission, and Texas Higher Education and discuss the state budget process, how these agencies developed their budgets, and their funding expectations and goals.

Speakers:
John O’Brien
Director, Legislative Budget Board

Terry Keel
Executive Director, Texas Facilities Commission

Brian McCall
Chancellor, Texas State University System

Moderator:
Wayne O'Neill
CEO, Wayne O'Neill & Associates

THE DISCOUNTED PRICE ENDS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4th!

When: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 11:30 AM -1:00 PM

Where: University of Texas Club - President's Room
2108 E. Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX 78712

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)

Click here to register.

SMPS Call for Mentors and Protégés

2010-10-18T13:55:00.001-05:00

The SMPS Austin Chapter is initiating a new Mentoring Program. This is a Members Only opportunity. Junior members (protégés) will be paired with experienced A/E/C marketers (mentors) from non-competing firms to learn more about marketing and business development. Once matched, mentors and protégés will meet once a month to cover a series of topics individually determined by the pair. Topics could include leadership skills, networking, professional effectiveness, career development, etc.

In general, mentors will have more than 10 years experience in the A/E/C industry while protégés will be asked to have a minimum of 2 years experience (to reduce participation from those temporarily working in the industry).

Tentative Program Schedule

November 1, 2010 - Interested respondents will be sent a survey.
Mid November - After survey responses are received, an application and outline of meeting topics will be sent out.
Mid December - All participants are invited to a “Speed Matching” event in which each protégé will have 5 minutes to talk with each mentor. Results from this event and the initial surveys will be evaluated following the event to help determine matches.
Mid January - All participants are invited to a “Meet Your Match” group event to announce the mentor/protégé partners.

From that point forward protégés and mentors will meet on their own monthly. Midway through the program the entire group will meet to share insights. The program will wrap up with a “Graduation” ceremony in October 2011.

Cost to become a protégé is $100. There is no cost to become a mentor.

This is an exciting opportunity for our more junior members to develop their skills through the insights and knowledge of our more experienced members.

If you are interested in participating in the mentoring program as either a mentor or a protégé, or if you have any questions about the program, please email Karen Ward at klward@terracon.com by October 29th.

SMPS Announces Two New Sponsorship Levels!

2010-10-15T14:07:00.000-05:00

SMPS Austin is excited to announce two new sponsorship levels! We now have Platinum and Education Sponsorships available. These sponsorships were offered to our current Annual Sponsors first, and we now only have 1 Platinum Sponsorship and 1 Education Sponsorship remaining.

If you are interested in one of these sponsorships, e-mail Stefanie Raya at sraya@kleinfelder.com, by October 25th. If more than one firm is interested in one of the available sponsorships we will put all interested firms in a drawing to fill the spot.

In upcoming years, if Platinum and Education Sponsorship spots become available, they will continue to be offered to Annual Sponsors first. We recommend that firms interested in becoming a Platinum or Education Sponsor in the future become an Annual Sponsor now.

For a pdf of all available levels of sponsorship and specific sponsorship benefit information download the brochure.

SMPS Webinar: Five Marketing Tools that Make Life Easy

2010-10-14T18:11:00.000-05:00

Overwhelmed with proposal, project, and client data? Having trouble tracking all the balls in the air? Join us for this 90-minute, interactive Webinar to find solutions to these problems.

All too often in the pursuit cycle of new work, a great deal of time and dollars is wasted. This waste is seen as being small; however, over time this incremental waste can lead to marketing staff burnout and add up to significant dollars that take away from a firm’s bottom line.

Savvy marketers have learned that there are several tools that can make life easier and help better manage firm resources. Calling upon his years of experience as a professional services marketer, presenter Laurin McCracken will offer five marketing tools for your “professional services toolbox” to help you stop wasting valuable resources—time, effort, and money—on inefficient, redundant tasks:

*Go/No-Go Forms
*Corporate Identity Guidelines
*Project Data Forms
*Client Debriefing Forms
*Staff Resumes

You will learn the benefits of creating and using standardized documents and forms for your firm, as well as how to implement the forms. Laurin will describe why each tool is important and explore the tool’s benefits—as well as common problems that can arise if the tool is not used. He will share tips and tricks that will help make life easier and show how to make best use of the tools to make a positive impact on your firm’s bottom line.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Understand how inefficient time spent on redundant tasks can lead to marketing staff burnout and wasted resources.

2. Discover five useful tools in the “professional services marketer’s toolbox” to stop wasting time and resources and start increasing staff effectiveness and efficiency.

3. Develop a plan for implementing and maintaining the tools.

CEU Credits
SMPS webinars are approved for 1.5 hours of Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) CEUs and AIA LU Hours. Recordings of SMPS webinars are approved for 1.5 hours of CPSM hours only.

When: Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:30 AM -1:30 PM

Where: DPR Construction, Inc.
9606 North Mopac, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78759

Event Registration Fee
Member: Complimentary
Non-Member: $35.00

Click here to RSVP by Monday, October 25, 2010

Austin SMPS Kick Off!

2010-09-29T08:28:00.000-05:00

October Luncheon: Marketing Sustainability - How Green is Green Enough?

2010-09-28T18:07:00.001-05:00

Sustainability is the new “green” with A/E/C firms revamping their marketing to meet clients’ requests for sustainable design and LEED accredited projects. This month, we’ll talk to owners known for setting significant sustainability goals on new projects. Representing private and public development, our panelists will share what really matters when going green, what the next big sustainable push will be and what key sustainable practices and qualifications they look for when choosing architects, engineers and contractors.

PANEL
Alan Albers
Executive Director, Operations & Facilities Services, Round Rock ISD

Bob Kallstrom, AIA, LEED AP
Project Manager, Central Health

THE DISCOUNTED PRICE ENDS THURSDAY, OCT 7TH!

When: Thursday, October 14, 2010 11:30 AM -1:00 PM

Where: University of Texas Club - President's Room
2108 E. Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX 78712

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)

Click here to register.

2010 SMPS Austin Communications Awards

2010-09-22T09:53:00.000-05:00

Put Your Marketing Skills to the Test!

2010-09-14T18:32:00.000-05:00

A Study Group Workshop Series for Marketers of All Levels

SMPS’ Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) is recognized as an individual who has met a rigorous standard of experience and expertise in marketing professional services and who agrees to adhere to the ethics and responsibilities of the profession as outlined in the CPSM Code of Ethics.

Whether you are a marketer, business developer or the employer of one, learning the skills necessary for CPSM certification will help you take your organization to the next level.

This workshop series study group is for you if you:

Are ready to test your marketing skills and want to start preparing for the CPSM
Don’t want to test for the CPSM yet, but want to learn how to win more work for your firm
Are curious about the CPSM and want to know what it takes to earn it
Want to sharpen your marketing skills in Market Research, Market Planning, Client and Business Development, SOQs/ Proposals, Public Relations/Promotion and Information Resource Management
Have been in the industry awhile and want to have credential initials behind your name

Facilitated by
Mike Wong, CPSM, LEED AP, Tom Green and Company Engineers and TG&W Engineers

When?
• First Meeting: Monday, September 20, 6:00p – 7:00p

Where?
• Tom Green and Company Engineers, Inc.
   3701 Executive Center Dr., Suite 258
   Austin, TX 78731

How Much?
• Orientation Meeting is FREE! (Thurs 9/20/10)
• 8 Series Workshop: FREE! To SMPS Members, $100 Non-  Members

Registration
• Orientation: RSVP to Mike Wong, via e-mail:
  mikew@tgce.com or phone: 512-345-7793
• Workshop series: Registration will begin at the
  orientation meeting.

Member Spotlight: Aan Coleman

2010-09-14T17:52:00.000-05:00

Aan Coleman
Coleman & Associates

Aan Coleman, President of Coleman & Associates, has practiced Landscape Architecture throughout Texas for over 29 years. Her firm focuses upon balancing the built environment with the environmental stewardship of the land, and sustainable practices remain her starting point for every design decision. Coleman & Associates’ work includes site planning and landscape improvement plans for communities, parks, universities, schools, office and retail developments, roadways and infrastructure projects, civic buildings and estate residential projects.

I first heard of Aan when I moved to Austin in 2007 and began working for a local landscape architecture firm. As a native plant enthusiast, I find her work to be timeless and inspiring. - Amy DeFrank, Aguirre Roden

1. What is your professional history?
I graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Landscape Architecture in 1981 and started my career in Houston. My first job was with a design build firm that did a lot of work for Trammell Crow. I was transferred to Austin to do several projects for Trammell Crow’s Austin office. I like to say, “I was raised on Trammell Crow!” Trammell Crow was an excellent first client; they were very “can do” and quite patient with a young (but enthusiastic!) Landscape Architect.

2. How were you first introduced to SMPS and what motivated you to join?
I was actually a member of SMPS in the early ‘80s, but then the economy faltered in Texas (sound familiar?). Coleman & Associates rejoined 2 years ago at the suggestion of one of our great clients. Once we came to a luncheon, it was quite obvious that networking and information SMPS provides would be extremely beneficial to our firm. In addition, the “sense of community” in the SMPS group is very supportive.

3. How has SMPS helped you in your career?
In my busy-busy, on-the-go cycle of “get work, do work, get work again,” it is great to be a member of an organization that allows us to see many of our professional friends on a monthly basis. I feel that we are better informed of current events and more aware of upcoming opportunities.

4. What has been your best project experience? Why?
Simple; Umlauf Sculpture Garden. This project happened at the right time in my life, both personally and professionally. It also occurred in a stressful economic cycle, resulting in creative solutions to stretch limited resources. The project – now a beautiful park – continues to bring me joy and the feeling of lasting contribution to something bigger than oneself.

5. What business development/marketing practices do you believe have been key to the success of Coleman & Associates? Why?
I love the industry, and that means the people in it. It is wonderful to be surrounded with such talent (Yes, even the engineers! J). Our success comes from our enthusiasm and relentless commitment to continual growth in our talents and stewardship. I firmly believe that our success is a direct reflection of the successes of our clients, and that our clients have benefited from the aesthetic and environmental investments we have managed in their projects. We feel very supported by our fellow industry friends and strive to keep our relationships strong by ensuring that our work for them makes them look good!

6. What advice would you give to SMPS members in making the most out of their membership?
Follow-up with the connections you make through SMPS and involve your other team members, especially those new to the industry. It takes years – 29 for me – and I still look forward to making new friends. We do not take our relationships lightly; we know that we are only as strong as our last project and our latest happy client. SMPS gives us the platform to develop both.

Making Magic in the Media

2010-09-14T15:44:00.000-05:00

SMPS Kick Off Party!

2010-09-10T15:47:00.000-05:00

Please join us on Wednesday, September 29th for a happy hour party at J. Black's to kick-off the new SMPS year!

Meet the new 2010-2011 SMPS Austin Board, mingle with members and guests, and learn about the upcoming programs for the new SMPS year. There will also be information on committee participation and sponsorship.

All members are invited and encouraged to bring a non-member guest. The member who brings the most non-members will win a gift card! Non-members will also be eligible for a drawing!

Appetizers will be provided.

Cash bar.

When: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 5:00 PM -7:00 PM

Where: The Cork Room at J. Black's 710 West 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701

FREE Event Registration for Members and Non-Members

Click here to register.

UT ESB Tour Images

2010-08-30T10:59:00.002-05:00

To view more images go to Picasa

September Luncheon: Making Magic in the Media

2010-08-27T10:42:00.000-05:00

Is getting the press to cover a story as difficult as pulling a rabbit out of a hat? Do you wonder what is needed to convince the media to appear? Your company does great things – how do you make sure your clients hear about them?

All will be revealed by a panel of local and industry media professionals at our September luncheon. Editors from the Austin Business Journal, Community Impact and Texas Construction and Engineering News-Record will share tips for promoting your story ideas, deadlines, working with PR agencies, and other secrets of the news media. In addition to marketing professionals, firm leaders should attend to hear from those who determine, predict and even influence what is newsworthy in our industry. The panelists will also share the trends and issues they consider to be “hot topics” for the A/E/C industry, the stories they are most likely to cover, and how the economy and social media are affecting their reporting.

PANEL
Eileen Schwartz, editor of Texas Construction and Texas liaison for Engineering News-Record
Colin Pope, editor of the Austin Business Journal
Shannon Colletti, managing editor of Community Impact

MODERATOR
Rebecca Martin, MA, IOM, Senior Vice President Marketing & Communications, Austin Chamber of Commerce

When: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 @ 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Where: University of Texas Club - President's Room
2108 E. Robert Dedman Drive
Austin, TX 78712

Click here to register for the luncheon!

Project Tour: Norman Hackerman Experimental Science Building at the University of Texas at Austin - August 26th, 2010

2010-08-24T15:02:00.000-05:00

SMPS Austin invites you to tour the Norman Hackerman Experimental Science Building, The University of Texas’s newest state of the art laboratory building.

As part of the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin, the 320,000 SF Norman Hackerman Building features modern office and laboratory space designed to help the school competitively recruit and retain faculty and students in critical academic areas such as neuroscience, computational biology, environmental science, pharmacy and molecular and cellular biology. Prior to beginning construction on the new facility, Beck had to demolish the 55-year-old existing science building as well as perform hazardous material abatement. The new 7-story, $124 million building includes office spaces, conference rooms, teaching labs and utility rooms. The project is seeking LEED® Silver certification.

As the building is nearing completion, but still under construction, please bring your hard hat, safety glasses, closed toed shoes, and appropriate attire. Keep in mind that hard hats must be worn at all times during the tour. If you do not have a hard hat and/or safety glasses, there will be a limited number provided on site.

Please park at any of the visitors parking garages and meet at the job trailer (parking map will be sent to registrants prior to event). Registration is at 4pm and the tour will be begin at 4:30. Light refreshments will be provided after the tour, so feel free to stay and mingle!

Registration ends on Wed, August 25 and space is limited, so reserve your spot now!

When: Thursday, August 26, 2010 4:00 PM -6:00 PM

Where: Beck Job Trailer
University of Texas at Austin
2405 University Avenue, Austin, TX

Attire: Construction Site Appropriate

Event Registration Fee: Member $10.00
Non-Member $20.00

Click here to Register for Project Tour

Next Year

2010-08-09T09:36:00.000-05:00

I am really excited about this upcoming year. We have had several people, who have been active on committees in the past, take the next step forward to become a part of the 2010-2011 Board. With half our board being new this year, I anticipate many fresh new perspectives and ideas to help make our Chapter even better. Those new perspectives mixed with the returning experienced board members will make a winning combination.

As Paulette mentioned in an article earlier this year, being on the board is a lot of work. We meet as a board once a month to discuss chapter issues and make decisions. Most of the committee chairs also meet once a month with their committee members to discuss the logistics of everything including programs, communication with members, special events, and how to implement a new initiative. In addition, everyone puts in time on their own preparing materials and flyers, arranging meeting spaces, sending out invitations, contacting speakers, balancing the books, soliciting sponsorships, etc. (Did I mention this was a volunteer position?)

I will miss our outgoing board members this year - they have done a fantastic job and have set the bar high for our future leaders. I have no doubt that the 2010-2011 board will rise to the challenge and make this new SMPS year a great one. One of my favorite sayings is “nothing gained is something lost.” Although I stole that saying from the lyrics of an old .38 Special song, there is a lot of value in that statement. Because if we sit idle and don’t continue to grow and improve we really are losing an opportunity to advance our chapter and our careers. So, keeping that in mind as we move forward, our goal will be to continue to grow the chapter and make it stronger, find new and innovative ways to administer all aspects of the organization, and provide our members with the best possible service.

Erika Passailaigue, CPSM
Datum Engineers
SMPS Austin Chapter President-Elect

New Member Spotlight: James (Jim) Brewer, PE

2010-08-05T09:57:00.000-05:00

James (Jim) Brewer, P.E.
Gray-Jansing & Associates, Inc

Join SMPS in welcoming new member Jim Brewer, P.E. to our ranks. Jim is a fun guy: he spends his free time on canoe and kayak trips on Lady Bird Lake and Inks Lake, snorkeling and scuba diving in tropical waters, and saltwater and freshwater fishing. When on land, he runs 5Ks. He and his wife of 27 years are about to become empty-nesters; their youngest child will head off to the Air Force Academy in the fall. Their future plans include going to football games at all their kids’ schools: at the Air Force Academy, at the University of Arkansas (where his middle son is on the team), and at Texas A&M.

When not on the water or with his kids, Jim spends his time as Director of Engineering Services for the Austin office of Gray-Jansing & Associates, Inc. where he has been since 1999. There he manages engineering and technical staff and takes an active role in marketing the firm’s services (hence his new membership to SMPS!). Other professional gigs included stints with GeoSyntec Consultants, and CH2M-HILL in McKinney and Carrollton, TX and Irvine, CA. He is an Aggie with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a Master’s Degree from Georgia Tech.

Gray-Jansing & Associates, Inc. (GJA) is a full service civil engineering consulting firm with offices in Austin and El Paso, TX. GJA specializes in the design of single-family subdivision layout and construction drawings, commercial and multi-family site plans, and municipal infrastructure engineering projects including water and wastewater facilities, roadways and drainage improvements.

Tips and Tricks: Sharing Files Between CS4 and CS2

2010-07-23T10:30:00.000-05:00

One frequently-encountered problem with InDesign CS4 is that if you need to share a file with a co-worker who has CS2, it is not possible open the CS4 file in CS2. One solution is to save the CS4 file in InDesign Interchange (INX) format. However, this solution was only initially designed to work in opening a file that is one version more advanced. For example, this technique works perfectly in opening a CS4 file with CS3, or a CS3 file with CS2. However, there is a way to make this work in opening files that are two versions apart.

First, it is important to understand that an INX file is simply an XML file. In the XML script, Adobe inserts a version number which indicates the version of InDesign to which the file is targeted. Adobe InDesign CS2 looks at the version number, sees that the INX file is targeted for CS3, and pops up an error message without even trying to open the file.

If you open the INX file with a text editor (notepad), you will be able to change the version number and trick CS2 into opening the file. You will need to replace line number 2, which looks like this:

aid style="33" type="document" DOMVersion="6.0" readerVersion="5.0" featureSet="257" product="6.0(352)"

with this:

aid style="33" type="document" DOMVersion="5.0" readerVersion="4.0" featureSet="257" product="5.0(662)"

With this simple change, you will be able to open the INX file generated by CS4 in InDesign CS2. Use caution, though: This works best for simple layouts. The more complex your layout, the more likely it will unexpectedly change when re-imported into a lower version of InDesign.

2010-2011 SMPS Austin Chapter Board

2010-07-09T12:16:00.001-05:00

Our membership has ratified the slate for the 2010-2011 SMPS Austin Chapter Board. Congratulations.

President
ERIKA PASSAILAIGUE, CPSM
Datum Engineers

President-Elect
MEGAN FELKER
Jaster Quintanilla

Past-President
PAULETTE GIBBINS, PE, LEED AP, CPSM
Walter P Moore

Secretary
KAREN WARD, CPSM
Terracon

Treasurer
TRICIA KNAPIK
Bury+Partners

Sponsorship Chair
STEFANIE RAYA
Kleinfelder

Communications Chair
HELGA DIAZ
Structures

Programs Chair
CATHY BRANDEWIE
O'Connell Robertson

Membership Chair
DEVIN WILLIAMSON
Raba-Kistner

Director-at-Large
ELIZABETH HAYNIE
Beck Group

Chapter Finances

2010-06-30T15:47:00.000-05:00

As a nonprofitorganization, the Austin SMPS Chapter’s goal is to invest our proceeds in thebest educational programs and networking events that benefit the A/E/C industryMarketers and Business Development professionals.

In order to achieve these goals the chapter board constantlyconsiders the very delicate balance of our chapter’s income and expenses whenmaking decisions. It has always been ourintent to break even on an annual basis and so our finance committee has been executingseveral procedures during the last several years to accommodate the chapter’sgrowing membership.

The Economy’s Effect
As with most businesses in our industry the slowed economic climate hasaffected our chapter. We experiencedless event turnout, less member renewals and a decline in new members. Luckily our past fiscal efforts positionedour organization to grow in the current economic climate. With funds thatwere collected in previous years we were able to maintain our current memberbenefits and still invest in growing our chapter. As the economy becamesluggish we analyzed our budget and created goals for each committee.

Analyzed breakeven point for all luncheons
Created a sponsorship sales budget
Analyzed committee expenses
Analyzed cash flow and discussed improvements

Cvent Announcement and Credit Card Processing System
Migration to QuickBooks On Line
National Speaker for Austin Chapter Workshop
Created a library of books and CD’s for SMPS members toutilize

Policies and Procedures
As our chapter grows and we begin to add more programs for our members we knowthat our finances will become more complex and the importance of the financecommittee will deepen. As a foundationto our growth the committee and board have created Financial Policies andProcedures to support and maintain a system of checks and balances and future success. These accounting procedures primarily included a policy of internal controlswith a separation of duties to ensure financial viability. This policycreates a system that:

Promotes efficiency
Provides Management with reasonable assurance that financialreports and procedures are authorized, valid, complete and accurate
Safeguards against miss appropriation, errors andirregularities

Our accounting procedures include:

Incorporated two committee members to help with separateaccounting functions
Incorporated President to Balance Accounts every month
Incorporated Vice President to audit books every year
Incorporated professional review of books from an accreditedaccountant
Requiring upfront payment for all events in order to reduce outstandinginvoices and creating an easier registration process.

With all of these goals we have maintained a balanced set offinancials which has allowed us to reach our goals and distribute proceeds to ourChapter.

Book Review

2010-06-16T10:46:00.001-05:00

Little Black Book of Connections - 6.5 Assets for Networking Your Wayto Rich Relationships

Jeffrey Gitomer

I LOVE to read. I always carry a book with me just in case I happen to have a few extraminutes. I like real books and print copiesof the Business Journal, Statesman & Wall Street Journal (which may beold-fashioned these days with the electronic ones becoming so popular). This isone reason I was happy to review this book that we have been giving away forthe past year in our book drawing.

Little Black Book presents common sense ideas in aninteresting and eye-catching way – including the use of cartoons and formatswhich definitely keeps the readers attention. It presents information that is basic to company success. The very first statement that he makes is “ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, PEOPLE WANT TO DO BUSINESSWITH THEIR FRIENDS”. People want to workwith people they like. This principle has proven itself true in our firm. Repeat business rarely – if ever - comes froman unhappy client.

The 6.5 Assets discussed in the book are:

Who do I know? Calculating thevalue of who you know
What do I want? If you don’tknow what you want, you’ll probably never get it.
What do I do? Think before youact.
How do I connect? The how and whyof connecting.
Who knows you? How to get knownand positioned.
The Secret power of connections. Ways to attract connections and mistakes to avoid.
The value of connections. Buildingyour circle of influence.

This book also discusses the importance of PLANNING– doing your homework, defining what you want and who you need to know. Itemphasizes connections and how important relationships are. It offers practical suggestions on how toaccomplish your plan, such as joining organizations (what could be better thanSMPS!), doing business versus building business and turning contacts intorelationships. Simple yet profound reminders to those of us who are constantlyseeking to grow our businesses. As a principal of our firm, one of my most criticalresponsibilities is to bring fresh ideas to our staff to keep them motivated toexpand our business. One of the mostcost-efficient ways to accomplish this is share information from books that Ihave read. Little Black Book is easy toread and loaded with practical tips that I will look forward to sharing with mystaff.

Deborah Black

Vice President, Hamilton & Associates

SMPS Austin Chapter - Director, Membership Committee

Member Spotlight: Herman Thun, AIA

2010-06-01T13:14:00.004-05:00

Herman Thun, AIA

President, Principal
LZT Architects, Inc.

What was SMPS like in the good old days? Today ourmembership numbers 6,075 and the most recent member number is 60,433. What was it like in the early 70’s to attendan AIA seminar where a small band of anti-establishment folks, licensed andnon-licensed, gathered to discuss a new concept: selling – oops—marketingprofessional services? Let me (member #165) give you a few hints of those days.

Many architects and engineers sought reinforcement of theirbelief that methods used by industry to market products could be used byprofessionals to market their services.

In 1973, Weld Coxe put on a “dog-and-pony show” for AIAArchitects in Kansas Citythat led some participants, motivated by the ambrosia of liquid spirits, togive birth to The Society of Bird Doggers (SOB’s). Later this embryonicbeginning became what we now know as SMPS.

After a lot of personal investment of time, talent andtreasure by an energy-charged group of young pups and an agenda slot at the 1974AIA Convention in Philadelphia,SMPS took off.

In 1979, during a National Marketing Conference in Las Vegas, an attempt toopen the membership to “outsiders” was defeated. The Society stayed “pure”until it wisely opened its doors to professionals from other businesses,enriching the membership benefits to all. Also, education was a focus in theearly years because the membership needed credentials to compete as aprofession.

After graduation from the Universityof Illinois in 1958 and working as anarchitect in Peoria, Illinois,I got hooked on SMPS at a 1976 national conference in Indianapolis and soon became a member. Thatled to serving in National offices and as National President in 1980-81. Irelocated LZT Architects to Austinin ’82 and I am still marketing and designing after 52 years.

Boy, have things changed! Membership’s marketing skills have increased, and now with appropriateknowledge, testing and recognition, we can use “FSMPS” or “”CPSM” after ourname.

The technical aspects of marketing are very important andthe knowledge helps give us credibility, but even more important is our abilityto support the people we serve and meet, and assist them in excelling in whatthey do.

I am sure this brief history will have a slippery connectionwith your hectic schedule. To me, it charts the course for today’s successfulmarketing professionals. Thank you for your diligence and perseverance.

Letter from the President

2010-05-24T10:22:00.003-05:00

Aswe approach the last quarter of my term as president, I have found myselfreminiscing on my early years with SMPS. As a structural engineer, I had very little training on “soft”skills. I was lucky that myundergraduate education required freshman writing classes, six liberal artsclasses, and a technical writing and presentations class. However, none of these classes taught me howto walk into a room where I knew no one and strike up a conversation, or how tocreate a network and utilize it to gather information. I especially wasn’t taught how to win work.

Ijoined SMPS seven years ago after my managing director asked if I could helpwith business development and marketing. Neither of us was sure how to definemy role and responsibilities, and with only a portion of my time carved out forthis undertaking, there was not much time to learn.

Mymanaging director was familiar with SMPS and together we joined the Austin Chapter. Back then, the Austin chapter board consistedof 10 (if they were lucky) volunteers who did everything. They ran the chapter, communicating withmembers and possible members, managing finances, pursuing new members,soliciting sponsors, and even creating all the programs. As a newcomer to the chapter, I was quicklyhit up to help.

AsI became involved, I made many friends and my network grew. However, my SMPS network was not just a groupof friends but a valuable resource through which I made connections, learnedvaluable marketplace information, and grew in my role as a business developer.

AsI grew in my role, the Austin Chapter also grew. Our membership has practically tripled. We have committees now that plan programs,communicate with the chapter, grow our membership, and gather sponsors. We have members who have seen the immediatebenefit of growing their network and skills by working with others to make thechapter a success. With their hard work,the board is now able to steer the chapter and develop new initiatives to helpthe chapter grow and bring greater benefits to our members.

Oneof the new benefits that we are rolling out is a mentoring program. SMPS members who are fairly new to theindustry or their position will be matched with more experienced members in similarjobs but different firm types. This isan opportunity for experienced members to pass on sage advice, save othermembers from the pitfalls they experienced, share war stories, and helpadvocate the role of marketers and business developers. As we help strengthen and empower those lessexperienced, not only will our networks grow stronger but so will the roles ofmarketers and business developers in A/E/C firms.

Iwish such a program had existed seven years ago. But by joining the board early, I createdmentors of my own. These are the same peoplewho were running the chapter seven years ago. They are the ones who somehow had the connections and time managementskills to do it all. I’d like to thankDiane Shelton, Karen Ward, Amy Jones, Michael Brack, Deanna Bounds, andChristine Freeman for being my mentors (even if they didn’t know it) and formaking the Austin chapter what it is today.

Paulette N. I.Rudolph, PE, LEED AP, CPSM

Walter P Moore

SMPS Austin ChapterPresident

Restaurant Review: Gumbo's of Austin

2010-05-20T09:00:00.006-05:00

Gumbo’s of Austin

710 Colorado Street, Suite 100

Austin, Texas 78701

www.gumbosaustin.com

With four different locations around Austin,Gumbo’s has definitely made its mark in central Texas. The Louisiana style Cajunrestaurant has earned a reputation as a connoisseur of “southern comfortseafood.” I had heard good reviews of the place and I finally got to try it formyself.

The downtown location, where I dined, is tucked inthe Brown Building on 7^thStreet near Colorado. The two storyrestaurant conjures thoughts of the “Big Easy” with jazz inspired artwork andmusic. The second level is a delightfulspace, long and narrow with single tables overlooking the ground floor which, despiteits spacious volume, is quiet and allows for intimate conversation. Theirmenu is a seafood lover’s dream, wrapped in a Cajun blanket. Of course, gumbois at the heart of the menu, but it also features a variety of fresh seafood andmeat dishes all with a Cajun flare. I ordered the shrimp combo platter with aside of sausage and chicken gumbo, and was delighted. My lunch companion orderedthe grilled salmon with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. Everything wasdelectable. All the items had great flavor and not too much salt, which I findto be a problem with similar restaurants. Even the butter for the bread, whichcame before the meal, had a delicious Cajun seasoning. What I especially likeabout Gumbo’s is the variety of cooking options for your meat – fried,blackened, grilled or pan sautéed. You can choose to have an indulgent,nap-inducing lunch or a healthier alternative.

If you choose to eat at Gumbo’s, be ready to spenda little – entrees start at $12 and go up to $28. It’s not a meal to take lightly,for the price or the portions. However, it is a perfect place for a specialbusiness lunch, especially if you are trying to impress a client. I recommendGumbo’s for fine dining, intimate setting, and a bit of southern comfort in theheart of downtown.

Chapter Leaders Achieve CPSM Designation

2010-05-12T09:06:00.001-05:00

During Fall 2009, the SMPSAustin Chapter conducted a CPSM study group. Through seven bi-weekly studysessions, the CPSM study guide material was reviewed and practice exams weretaken for each Domain of Practice. The study session was timed to coincide withthe annual exam given during the Southern Regional Conference during January.Of our study group of eight members, three sat for the exam during theconference. Our chapter congratulates Paulette Gibbins, Chimme Hall and ErikaPassailaigue on passing the exam. With their certification, we were ableto double the number of CPSMs registered with our chapter. Others from thestudy group still plan to sit for the exam in the future.

If you are interestedin the CPSM process, becoming a part of a study group, need help getting a holdof all the study materials, or need a proctor to administer the exam, pleasecall Mike Wong at 512-345-7793 or e-mail him at mikew@tgce.com.

Restaurant Review: Buenos Aires Café

2010-02-25T11:13:00.000-06:00

Buenos Aires Café

1201 East 6^th Street | 2414 S. 1^stStreet

www.buenosairescafe.com

Walking into Buenos Aires Café feels a bit liketraveling to its namesake (not that I’ve been to Argentina, but it evokes whatI’ve seen in photos). A shrine to beef, the décor centers around cattleinspired mirrors and cow print suede benches, along with South American artworkand Spanish news articles covering the small tables. The charming interior withintimate seating creates a pleasant and inviting lunch spot.

They boast an array of mouthwatering lunchtimespecials for under $12, but my favorite is the Lomito Pork or Beef sandwichwith chimmichurri sauce. The tender meatcomes wonderfully seasoned on a crusty baguette with a generous drizzle ofchimmichurri sauce that is out of this world. The pork is my favorite, but Icould eat either the pork or beef sandwich every week. At this particularlunch, I ordered the cream of asparagus soup as a side and was thoroughly pleased.It was a perfect blend of vegetables and cream, with a nice spice and silkyfinish. My tablemate had the Portabella mushroom sandwich which was alsodelectable and proves that you can enjoy their food even if you are not a meateater. Their salads are also fresh and delicious, and meat optional.

I have not been to the S. 1^st location,but their East 6^th spot is a great place for a business lunch. Theonly downside is the food takes a while, so I’d suggest arriving before noon toavoid the crowd. I absolutely recommend Buenos Aires Café for excellent food,great atmosphere, and a local eatery off the beaten path.

Megan Felker

Marketing Coordinator
Jaster-Quintanilla

Committee Spotlight

2010-02-16T10:09:00.003-06:00

Communications Committee
One of the best ways to make themost of your SMPS membership is by getting involved. Serving as a committee volunteer is a greatway to do this. You can expand yourknowledge of SMPS and the A/E/C industry while collaborating with colleaguesand making friendships. This committee spotlight will acquaint you with thecommittee members and the services they provide.

The SMPS Austin CommunicationsCommittee is led by Director, Helga Diaz of Goetting & Associates. Othersupporting members of the committee include SMPS Austin Director-at-Large, MeganFelker of Jaster-Quintanilla, Kris Kern of O’Connell Robertson, KristenHarrington of Hardin Construction and Jackie Sartor of CP&Y.

The Communications Committeeprovides graphic design and content development for printed and electronicmaterials such as event programs, brochures, newsletters, organization blogsand e-mail campaigns. The committee alsopromotes events both internally and externally, assists in maintaining theorganization web site and supports the communication needs of other committees.

If you are interested in becominginvolved with the Communications Committee please contact Helga Diaz

New Member Spotlight: Will Schnier

2010-02-12T10:00:00.022-06:00

Will Schnier, P.E.

President

Big Red Dog

Mr.Schnier received his BSCE from Purdue University and co-foundedBIG RED DOG Engineering and Consulting in May 2009. He has been responsible forthe project management, engineering design, and regulatory permitting ofnumerous retail, multi-family residential, office, and industrial sitedevelopment projects throughout central Texas.

Mr. Schnier is extremely well versed in the project review and developmentpermitting process having worked closely and very successfully with City andCounty review staff, neighborhood associations, environmental groups, andpublic boards and councils. He has broad reaching experience with due diligenceinvestigations, grading and drainage plans, utility plans, subdivisionplatting, site and subdivision construction documents, environmental permits,and zoning cases.

Big Red Dog is an Austin, Texas-based civil engineering firmspecializing in land development engineering, permitting, and land use consulting.Their team of professional civil engineers and certified land planners has over50 years of combined experience in the Austin and central Texas market.

2010-01-22T08:00:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! As we enter into 2010, we look forward to an end to the recession and the unknown possibilities a new year brings. Everyone in marketing and business development had a very busy year in 2009 as firms turned in record number qualifications and competition for projects grew. Each of you deserves a pat on the back and I hope you celebrated over the holidays.

The SMPS fiscal year began in September, but with the new calendar year we will be rolling out some new initiatives that we have been working on for the last quarter. The new initiatives include:

A rejuvenated newsletter, The Network. Each week there will be a new article posted on the website blog. At the end of each quarter, these articles will be consolidated into a newsletter sent out to our membership. Articles include highlighting new and existing members, tips, reviews, and information on events. This article kicks off the new format.
A new registration system, Cvent, which will streamline communications and the registration process and allow for credit card payment for sponsorships.
A possible mentoring group, to help marketers and business developers new to the industry. Each member should have received a survey to help steer the direction this group will take. Please take the time to participate in the survey.
Stronger educational programs. We will continue to provide excellent monthly lunches featuring owners with work. However, a new educational subcommittee will concentrate on maximizing the potential of our Lunch and Learns, webinars, and the annual workshop.
A possible awards competition. It’s time our members have a chance to celebrate their creativity. A committee has started to plan a local competition similar to national’s that will end with awards at the December networking lunch.

The strength of the Austin SMPS chapter depends on the involvement of its membership. As well, I have found that you maximize membership by becoming involved in the organization. If you are interested in taking part in any of the new initiatives or joining any of our other committees please contact me. As well, if you have any suggestions on how we can improve your SMPS experience, please contact me or you can use the suggestion box that is at each luncheon.

I look forward to seeing each of you at the next event. Best wishes in 2010.

Paulette N. I. Rudolph, PE, LEED AP

Walter P Moore

SMPS Austin Chapter President

Member Spotlight: Amy Jones

2010-01-21T08:00:00.004-06:00

Amy Jones

Principal
O'Connell Robertson

What is your professional history?
I graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and worked for nearly twenty years in communications and public relations before accepting a position with O’Connell Robertson. Although my strength was public relations, I felt unprepared in the A/E/C Industry.

How were you first introduced to SMPS and what motivated you to join?
Initially an invitation to a luncheon.

What significant changes have you seen at SMPS since your involvement?
Currently standing at ten years, I have seen a portion of the growth of the SMPS Austin Chapter. My initial involvement began when San Antonio and Austin participated in a joint chapter. Through the years I have seen the migration into two different and distinct chapters. As membership has strengthened so has the program content as well as the Chapter’s organizational structure.

How has SMPS helped you in your career?
SMPS helped me develop a strong network of peers. This network helped create a presence for my company in the industry as well as the professional development tools necessary for business development and marketing – from proposal submittals to client relations.

What do you currently do for personal professional development to develop and maintain your marketing skills?
The evolution of my career has progressed into a principal position within my firm. My professional development has expanded to not only include SMPS but also other organizations that help me broaden my professional expertise.

Helpful hints to help your fellow SMPS members?
SMPS offers its members a better understanding of their role in the industry, whether you are new to the A/E/C industry or further along in your career. SMPS offers an arena for networking and an opportunity to not only learn the skills required in your profession but also create opportunities for your firm.

Many members become involved on a committee to help them access information or develop business relationships required to achieve their goals. This involvement may come from participating on the Programs Committee in order to develop relationships with project owners. Some members become involved with the Registration Committee to learn and expand their rapport with prime architectural or construction firms. While other members strive to become President of SMPS Austin Chapter to create visibility for their firm. Each committee offers a unique ability to give a member the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally not only for themselves but for their firm.

Book Review

2010-01-20T08:00:00.007-06:00

PLAN IT

Lisbeth Quebe, FSMPS

I love to read. I can pick up a book and read all weekend until I finish. When I get a good book in my hands, my kids and husband know that they must fend for themselves because I am not stopping until I’m done. When I was asked to write a book review for the SMPS newsletter, I decided to pick a book that was geared toward the audience, ie. professional services marketers.

I have to admit, as much as I love what I do, books about marketing do not have the same irresistible force to keep me glued to the couch all weekend. My main complaint about marketing books is that it takes 200 pages to say what you could say in 50. My ideal marketing book needs to gets to the point sooner.

The book I chose was, “Plan it” by Lisbeth Quebe, FSMPS. I thought, I can do this..it’s 95 pages, big type, short chapters..this book may be one that could hold my attention long enough to get to the end.

And it did. “Plan it,” was completely relevant to what we do and hit the main points on developing and improving on your marketing plan. The first chapter gives you sound reasoning for the importance of a marketing plan and the components that must be included to make it successful. The components they list include Audit, Outlook, Goals and Objectives, Strategies, Tools and Resources, Budget and Implementation.

The subsequent chapters step you through the process of each component of the plan. The book is structured in chapters but reads more like a checklist. What I liked about it most is that it was practical, useful information and got to the point without repeating information. Each component is covered by a short chapter with solid advice for your marketing plan.

I would recommend this book to other SMPS members. It can help with implementing strategies that may have been left out of your existing marketing plan. It’s not rocket science, or probably anything you haven’t heard before, but it is a prompt for us to continue to improve on what we have to make it better.

“Plan It,” is recommended by SMPS and available at the SMPS bookstore online. It is also recommended reading for anyone considering the CPSM exam. First and foremost, it is short and to the point.

Erika Passailaigue

Datum Engineers

SMPS Austin Chapter President-Elect