President's Quarterly Note: Membership Matters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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