New Member Spotlight: Jennifer Heitler

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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