New Member Spotlight: Amy Hageman

Amy Hageman
Big Red Dog Engineering

Amy Hageman is the glue that holds Big Red Dog together. She directs administrative functions and supports teams dedicated to marketing outreach, business development and media relations. She also maintains and develops client relationships to ensure the people we do business with are satisfied with our services. Mrs. Hageman grew up in both Houston and Dripping Springs, and made the final move to the Austin area when she attended St. Edward's University for a degree in Business Administration. When not working, Amy spends her time hunting and fishing with her husband and two dogs, and traveling the states to compete in marathons and triathlons.

"SMPS was introduced to me by a coworker and after attending one event and meeting great people, I knew it would an organization that would be beneficial to my personal growth as well as a wonderful resource to help me gain skills that would prove to be valuable for my employer.

I hope to gain lasting relationships with people in the industry. I also hope the program will continue to have informational events that cover a wide range of topics that related directly and indirectly to marketing professionals." - Amy Hageman

New Member Spotlight: Melissa Coad, P.E.

Melissa Coad, P.E. 
DBR Engineering Consultants, Inc.

Melissa Coad has more than 15 years of experience as a registered mechanical engineer. As the Project Manager overseeing DBR Engineering Consultant’s Austin office, she works closely with existing and prospective clients, while managing and providing support to her team of engineers and designers. As a LEED® Accredited Professional, Melissa possesses the same viewpoint as DBR in designing lasting, energy-efficient facilities. An Austinite for over 20 years, Melissa graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with her Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering. Outside of the office, she spends time reading and volunteering at the Humane Society and is currently working on her golf game. A great friend’s recommendation and the networking possibilities prompted her to join SMPS Austin.

Networking Event: Wine + Cheese Tasting

Join the Austin Chapter of SMPS this Thursday, August 22 for our 9th Annual Wine Tasting Event. This year we've joined forces with Antonelli's Cheese Shop to bring you the ultimate tasting experience - complete with gourmet cheese pairings!

Located across Duval Street from Antonelli's Cheese Shop, the Cheese House is a historic Hyde Park home that has been meticulously renovated and converted into a private event space. Seating is limited so register today!

Location:
Antonelli's Cheese Shop
4220 Duval Street
Austin, Texas, 78751

When:
August 22, 2013
5:30 - 7:30 PM

Cost:
$30 members / $45 non-members

REGISTER HERE

August Luncheon - Austin Community College: Expanding the Future of Community Education in Central

Join the Austin Chapter of SMPS on August 13, 2013 to learn more about Austin Community College's plans for the upcoming $500M bond program. Capital projects being considered for the November 2013 bond program include the second phase of construction at the Highland Mall Learning Center, a new campus in Leander, expansions to the Round Rock, Elgin and Hays campuses and improvements to the Rio Grande and Riverside campuses. We're pleased to welcome representatives from ACC who will discuss the various bond projects and ACC's goals for growth in Central Texas.

PANEL

• BRETTE LEA - Executive Director of Public Information and College Marketing
  
• BILL MULLANE - Executive Director of Facilities and Construction
  
• NEIL VICKERS - Associate Vice President of Finance and Budget

Seating is limited, so register early.

When: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Where: University of Texas Club - President's Room
2108 E. Robert Dedman Drive
Austin, Texas 78712
Attire: Business Attire

Event Registration Fees:
Member:  $45.00 ($35.00 for a limited time)
Non-Member:  $60.00 ($50.00 for a limited time)

RSVP Monday, August 12, 2013

Project Spotlight: Circuit of the Americas / Formula One United States Grand Prix

Circuit of the Americas is a multi-purpose facility that will host the most prestigious racing events in the world, including the Formula One United States Grand Prix™, MotoGP and V8 Supercars. It is the first purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the United States. The state-of-the- art 3.4-mile circuit track has capacity for 120,000 fans and an elevation change of 133 feet.

Circuit of the Americas is ideally situated on approximately 1,000 acres in southeast Travis County, approximately two miles from Austin Bergstrom International Airport, with scenic views of downtown Austin. Far more than a racetrack, Circuit of The Americas is a world-class performance, education and meeting center to be used year round for entertainment, business and community events.

Design & Construction Team
Austin Commercial served as construction manager for the project. German engineering firm Tilke designed the track, with consulting from Dr. Rainer Hart, the world expert on Formula One racetrack construction. Six other buildings complete the venue, and were designed by architectural and engineering teams from HKS, STG Design and Miro Rivera Architects.

Construction Elements
One of the project’s most important and detailed construction components was the track itself - the surface over which Formula One race cars roar at speeds over 200 miles per hour each November. The track is a 10 foot section with 8 layers of highly-specified materials. The six other building elements that make up the venue include the pit building, grandstand, media center, team and medical buildings, the Austin360 Ampitheater and observation tower.

The observation tower is 250 feet tall and is the focal point of the 5,000 seat outdoor amphitheater. The ampitheater is the largest of its kind in Central Texas and has additional space for 10,000 people in standing room.

Central Texas Impact
The facility welcomed 117,429 visitors from around the world for race weekend, November 16 - 18, 2012. The venue is expected to attract between 800,000 and 1.2 million people per year at various events. In addition to being a landmark facility for racing and other special events, it also was a major boost to the Central Texas economy. The project created approximately 1,000 construction jobs, and close to 300 full-time jobs will be needed at the facility itself. More than 3,000 event-specific employees will be hired to staff annual events.

Erin Bettison, CPSM
Austin Commercial

Letter from the President

It’s hard to believe we’re heading into the last months of my presidency - this year has flown by! I remain grateful for the opportunity to serve with such a professional and high caliber group on the board and committees of SMPS. I am proud of the progress and success we've had so far this year, including:

​Quality over Quantity: We implemented a new policy of "quality over quantity" when it came to our events throughout the year. The reasoning was twofold: to ensure we put together high-quality, unique programs rather than meeting a quota and to reduce the workload on the volunteers who serve on the SMPS board and committees. Joe Reyes, Erin Bettison and the entire programs committee have done a fabulous job of planning programs that drive high attendance numbers (including some new faces!) and garner continued sponsor support. The educational tracks have also been highly attended, which underscores the need to continue to provide continuing education opportunities for marketing professionals as well.

Membership Engagement: Statistically, all organizations struggle with the same issue of how to engage new members quickly to improve the retention numbers. Luci Miller and the membership committee have done a fabulous job of engaging members early in the process, which has brought some new ideas and fresh talent to SMPS!

Increased Member Benefits: We are continuously looking for ways to offer more member benefits. This year, we planned several events that initally offered members-only access. One such event was the Circuit of the Americas tour, which ended up selling out. This event was co-hosted with the San Antonio chapter. The event was fun, educational and a great networking opportunity. It was well received, and hopefully was a step towards future joint programs and events with the San Antonio chapter.
Finally, I wanted to take a moment to thank the employers and managers who have supported the involvement of our SMPS committee members and board members. SMPS wouldn't exist if it weren't for the dedicated efforts of all of the volunteers involved who are working together to make SMPS the premier organization for business development and marketing in the A/E/C industry.

We will be announcing the 2013-2014 board members soon. While I am excited about what the new leadership will bring, I wanted to take a moment to thank two people specifically for their years of service to SMPS. (And hopefully continued involvement as they step off the board!) Paulette Gibbins and Erika Passailague have both served on the SMPS board for numerous years in almost every role - this is in addition to the various SMPS committees they served on as well. Our chapter is successful today due in large part to their dedication to SMPS! Thank you, ladies, for all your efforts!

Tricia Knapik, CPSM
PSM Strategies
SMPS Austin Chapter President

SMPS Networking Happy Hour - July 16th

Join SMPS Austin for a summertime happy hour at Austin Brew Exchange. This new bar concept features an entertaining “stock exchange” style ticker where you can watch beer prices rise and fall according to demand. Not a fan of beer? No worries – there are plenty of cocktails and wines available by the glass.

No matter your drink of choice, Austin Brew Exchange has plenty of happy hour specials to suit your taste: $2 domestic beers, $3 well drinks, $2 off everything else, including the famous Market Crash Special - $2 off all draft beers. So come join us for some libations and lively conversation with old friends and new. Hope to see you there!

When:  Tuesday, July 16, 2013 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Where:  Austin Brew Exchange
706 West 6th Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Event Registration Fees:
Member & Non-Member: Complimentary

RSVP Monday, July 15, 2013