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

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

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

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

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!

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

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?

For more pictures go to our web album.

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

Put Your Marketing Skills to the Test!

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

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

SMPS Kick Off Party!

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

To view more images go to Picasa

September Luncheon: Making Magic in the Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

As a  nonprofit organization, the Austin SMPS Chapter’s goal is to invest our proceeds in the best educational programs and networking events that benefit the A/E/C industry Marketers and Business Development professionals. 

In order to achieve these goals the chapter board constantly considers the very delicate balance of our chapter’s income and expenses when making decisions.  It has always been our intent to break even on an annual basis and so our finance committee has been executing several procedures during the last several years to accommodate the chapter’s growing membership.

The Economy’s Effect
As with most businesses in our industry the slowed economic climate has affected our chapter.  We experienced less event turnout, less member renewals and a decline in new members.  Luckily our past fiscal efforts positioned our organization to grow in the current economic climate.  With funds that were collected in previous years we were able to maintain our current member benefits and still invest in growing our chapter.  As the economy became sluggish 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

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

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

• Promotes efficiency
• Provides Management with reasonable assurance that financial reports and procedures are authorized, valid, complete and accurate
• Safeguards against miss appropriation, errors and irregularities

Our accounting procedures include:

1. Incorporated two committee members to help with separate accounting functions
2. Incorporated President to Balance Accounts every month
3. Incorporated Vice President to audit books every year
4. Incorporated professional review of books from an accredited accountant
5. Requiring upfront payment for all events in order to reduce outstanding invoices and creating an easier registration process.

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

Book Review

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

Jeffrey Gitomer

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

Little Black Book presents common sense ideas in an interesting and eye-catching way – including the use of cartoons and formats which 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 BUSINESS WITH THEIR FRIENDS”.  People want to work with people they like. This principle has proven itself true in our firm.  Repeat business rarely – if ever - comes from an unhappy client. 

The 6.5 Assets discussed in the book are:

• Who do I know?  Calculating the value of who you know
• What do I want?  If you don’t know what you want, you’ll probably never get it.
• What do I do?  Think before you act.
• How do I connect?  The how and why of connecting.
• Who knows you?  How to get known and positioned.
• The Secret power of connections.  Ways to attract connections and mistakes to avoid.
• The value of connections.  Building your circle of influence.

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

Deborah Black

Vice President, Hamilton & Associates

SMPS Austin Chapter - Director, Membership Committee

Member Spotlight: Herman Thun, AIA

Herman Thun, AIA

President, Principal
LZT Architects, Inc. 

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

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

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

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

In 1979, during a National Marketing Conference in Las Vegas, an attempt to open 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 the early years because the membership needed credentials to compete as a profession.

After graduation from the University of Illinois in 1958 and working as an architect in Peoria, Illinois, I got hooked on SMPS at a 1976 national conference in Indianapolis and soon became a member. That led to serving in National offices and as National President in 1980-81. I relocated LZT Architects to Austin in ’82 and I am still marketing and designing after 52 years.

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

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

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

Letter from the President

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

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

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

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

As I 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 immediate benefit of growing their network and skills by working with others to make the chapter a success.  With their hard work, the board is now able to steer the chapter and develop new initiatives to help the chapter grow and bring greater benefits to our members. 

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

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

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

Walter P Moore

SMPS Austin Chapter President

Restaurant Review: Gumbo's of Austin

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 Cajun restaurant has earned a reputation as a connoisseur of “southern comfort seafood.” I had heard good reviews of the place and I finally got to try it for myself.

The downtown location, where I dined, is tucked in the Brown Building on 7^th Street near Colorado. The two story restaurant conjures thoughts of the “Big Easy” with jazz inspired artwork and music.  The second level is a delightful space, long and narrow with single tables overlooking the ground floor which, despite its spacious volume, is quiet and allows for intimate conversation.   Their menu is a seafood lover’s dream, wrapped in a Cajun blanket. Of course, gumbo is at the heart of the menu, but it also features a variety of fresh seafood and meat dishes all with a Cajun flare. I ordered the shrimp combo platter with a side of sausage and chicken gumbo, and was delighted. My lunch companion ordered the grilled salmon with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. Everything was delectable. All the items had great flavor and not too much salt, which I find to be a problem with similar restaurants. Even the butter for the bread, which came before the meal, had a delicious Cajun seasoning. What I especially like about 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 spend a 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 special business lunch, especially if you are trying to impress a client. I recommend Gumbo’s for fine dining, intimate setting, and a bit of southern comfort in the heart of downtown.

Chapter Leaders Achieve CPSM Designation

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

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

Restaurant Review: Buenos Aires Café

Buenos Aires Café

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

www.buenosairescafe.com

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

They boast an array of mouthwatering lunchtime specials for under $12, but my favorite is the Lomito Pork or Beef sandwich with chimmichurri sauce.  The tender meat comes wonderfully seasoned on a crusty baguette with a generous drizzle of chimmichurri sauce that is out of this world. The pork is my favorite, but I could eat either the pork or beef sandwich every week. At this particular lunch, 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 silky finish. My tablemate had the Portabella mushroom sandwich which was also delectable and proves that you can enjoy their food even if you are not a meat eater. 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. The only downside is the food takes a while, so I’d suggest arriving before noon to avoid 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

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

The SMPS Austin Communications Committee is led by Director, Helga Diaz of Goetting & Associates. Other supporting members of the committee include SMPS Austin Director-at-Large, Megan Felker of Jaster-Quintanilla, Kris Kern of O’Connell Robertson, Kristen Harrington of Hardin Construction and Jackie Sartor of CP&Y.

The Communications Committee provides graphic design and content development for printed and electronic materials such as event programs, brochures, newsletters, organization blogs and e-mail campaigns.  The committee also promotes events both internally and externally, assists in maintaining the organization web site and supports the communication needs of other committees.

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