SMPS Dallas

Industry Trends: The New Age of Marketing and BD for AEC | Notes from Ron Worth's Presentation

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 16:22:00 +0000

Clients want to work with people they know, like and trust. But how do you get there? Business development is a vital part of getting to that point. Through business development efforts you can initiate a relationship with current and potential clients and build the recognition, camaraderie and trust essential to winning work.

The SMPS Foundation recently published the research-based publication A/E/C Business Development… The Decade Ahead. It is the result of a major research initiative to determine how successful firms are conducting business development right now, what has changed, and where they think BD in our industry is headed.

Download a PowerPoint of the “Industry Trends: The New Age of Marketing and BD for AEC” presentation given February 25, 2015 by Ronald D. Worth (CAE, FSMPS, CPSM, Assoc. AIA - Chief Executive Officer for SMPS) for insights from the research and explanations of best practices for business development and what professionals can do now to bring about change within their organization from a marketing and business development focus.

Striving for Excellence: A Design Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 14:41:00 +0000

For the past two chapter years, the Dallas Chapter has submitted various chapter awards to SMPS national. These annual awards are judged by SMPS members across the US and Canada. In 2014, our Chapter won the Communications Awards for our AEC Connect Newsletter.

Part of the extensive process in putting together these awards is a graphic component. For the 2015 submittal we are inviting the SMPS Dallas membership to submit a graphic template.

The entries will be judged by the SMPS Dallas Board.

The winner will receive a year’s free membership (valued at $390.00).*

RULES:

Files Needed for the SFE template

Cover Page
Table of Contents
Divider Page for each Section
Page layout with headers, sub-headers, and body copy
Appendix Page

Requirements:

Files must be InDesign
Size 8.5 x 11 (portrait or landscape)
No copyrighted material
Must have theme and text boxes ready to drop text into. Click Here to see the 2014 winners for all categories (you will need your MySMPS login)
Any reference to your name and/or current company logo must NOT be used anywhere in the InDesign document
Please ‘Package’ your completed InDesign file, and ‘zip’ the entire folder. Please put your name on the folder.

Due Monday, March 2, 2015 no later than 5:00 CST.

Questions can be addressed to Carolyn Haldeman, chaldeman@r-o.com. Please submit your entry to this email address. If the files are very large, contact Carolyn directly for a FTP or other drop box.

Click here to download SMPS Dallas logos and AEC elements.

*The Board reserves the right to not choose a winner. Winning design is subject to changes.

EVENT | The Future of Transportation Funding - Thursday, February 19 | 7:30am - 10:30am

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 17:58:00 +0000

1st Annual Transportation Forum:

THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

Transportation is essential to keep people and the economy moving but current funding falls far short of what is needed to maintain and improve our current infrastructure. A nationwide issue, some states are looking to user fees to solve the problem, such as tolling and vehicle miles traveled, others are focused on local option taxes and public-private partnerships (P3s). Join us as we kick off E-Week with a presentation by a pioneer in congestion charging, electronic road pricing, and road user charging throughout the world. Then, participate through live text message polling in a panel discussion on these issues and potential solutions.

The American Society for Highway Engineers President, Sam Mody, PE, will kick off this exciting program and share more about the organization and how you can become a member and get involved with the new DFW section. You will also have the opportunity to find out more about membership and involvement in our partner organizations.

Moderator:

Jennifer C. Yoder, CSPM
Vice President - JRB Engineering
American Society for Highway Engineers DFW Section Champion

Speaker & Panelist:

Jack Opiola
Managing Partner & President - D Artagna
Road Usage Charging Expert

Panelists:

John Barton, PE
TxDOT Deputy Executive Director

Kathryn Wilmon
Arlington Mayor Pro Tempore & Council Member
Texas Municipal League Transportation & Rights of Way Chair

When & Where:

Thursday, February 19, 2015 | 7:30am - 10:30am

The Ruthe Jackson Center
3113 S. Carrier Parkway
Grand Prairie, TX 75052

Cost

Individual: $40
Walk-up: $50
Government: $25

To register: www.smpsfortworth.org

Available Sponsorships:

Individual Sponsor:

1 attendee for private speaker/sponsor breakfast
2 event registrations
Logo on event signage and program

Table Sponsor:

Intro Speaker
1 attendee for private speaker/sponsor breakfast
8 event registrations
Table with logo at prime location
Logo on event signage and program

For sponsorships, please contact: Jennifer C. Yoder, CPSM at jyoder@jrbengineering.com

EVENT | Public Works Roundtable - February 5 | 7:30am - 9:30am

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:00:00 +0000

The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is experiencing record setting growth. New residents, corporate relocations, and new businesses are calling our area home every day. Join SMPS Dallas for an inside look into the design, construction, and public works departments across our great cities that make all of this growth possible. Our panel will discuss the many upcoming projects that will help to improve the lives of residents across the Dallas/ Fort Worth area.

Speakers:

David Trevino, AIA, LEED
Senior Program Manager of Facilities Planning and Design and Construction and Building Services - City of Dallas

A native of San Antonio, David is a registered architect with over 25 years of experience in design, construction and contracting. In 2001 he joined the City of Dallas and has been there for nearly 14 years, where he has served as Senior Program Manager of Facilities Planning and Design and Construction and Building Services. He was responsible for the implementation, design and construction of new facilities in the 2003 and 2006 Bond Program that includes new or replacement libraries, several fire stations, cultural facilities, service centers and police facilities. In addition to currently overseeing and managing projects for Building Services, he is implementing new technology bringing together BIM and CMMS. In his role at the city of Dallas he has been and currently involved in the evaluation and selection process of selecting A/E firms, and contractors.

Doug Wiersig, Ph.D., P.E.
Director of Transportation and Public Works - City of Fort Worth

Dr. Wiersig is Director of Transportation and Public Works for the City of Fort Worth – starting this position in April 2011. The Department is comprised of 8 major delivery divisions spanning roadway, storm water, facility and environmental infrastructure systems. Functional activities span all elements of planning, capital delivery, operations and maintenance.

Prior to joining the City of Fort Worth, Dr. Wiersig was Transportation Programs Manager for Jacobs Engineering in their Houston, Texas office. In addition to this role, he had the opportunity to support various Program Management, Alternative Delivery Methods and LEAN Program Analysis for vertical, horizontal and oil & gas infrastructure.

Thomas Wurtz, AIA
Senior Program Manager - City of Dallas Public Works Department

Tom Wurtz received both his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Architecture from Clemson University. He has served the City of Dallas for 28 years and is the Senior Program Manager in the Public Works Department, Facilities Architecture and Engineering Division overseeing the City’s Love Field Modernization Program, Dallas Convention Center, Dallas Arts District Developments, as well as Capital Facility Improvement projects.

When & Where:

Thursday, February 5, 2015 | 7:30am - 9:30am

The Trinity River Audubon Center (TRAC)
Multipurpose Room
6500 South Great Trinity Forest Way
Dallas, TX 75217

Sell Tickets through Eventbrite

Walk-ins are welcome; however, a $5 administration fee will apply at the door.

EVENT | Managing Up: No Need to Manipulate, Get Others to Participate! - January 13 | 11:30am-1:30pm

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 22:53:00 +0000

As Marketers, we facilitate cross-functional and sometimes multi-company teams to deliver quality products to strict deadlines. Most of our bosses are not marketers – they’re business developers, operations folks, or even owners of a company – and as such may not really understand our needs. We work by influence versus authority and that has its challenges. If you ever feel like the ducks you’re trying to keep in line continue walking away, this workshop is for you! Learning the art of managing up can help you address root causes of frustration and burnout, let you take control of your professional destiny, and teach you how to get willing participation from team members. This event is relevant to Domain of Practice 6, and is worth 1.5 CEUs.

Speaker:

Carolyn Ferguson, FSMPS, CPSM, President - WinMore Marketing

A communicator, strategist and trainer, Carolyn Ferguson, FSMPS, CPSM, facilitates corporate and marketing strategies, develops awards and public relations programs and she successfully coaches A|E|C teams pursuing specific project pursuits totaling project values in the billions. As President of WinMore Marketing Advisors, Carolyn oversees the strategic vision of the company. Creating dynamic promotional materials have garnered Carolyn 59 national and regional design award and developing distinct messaging and strategies to differentiate one firm from another is Carolyn’s specialty. She has been an A/E/C marketing consultant for 20 years, is a Fellow of SMPS and was named to the Building Design + Construction’s “40 under 40” list. Carolyn is a Texas Tech Red Raider and graduated with a degree in Communications and Ballet.

Carolyn has been active in the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) for 19 years. During her term as National President, Carolyn was instrumental in developing and initiating SMPS University in partnership with the University of Maryland, Robert E. Smith School of Business. SMPS U is a graduate-level program examines the marketing, business development, and client service principles integral to the strategic operation of the professional services firm. She has served as Houston Chapter President, National President-Elect, President, and Secretary, and has been honored by the chapter with numerous awards — New Member and Member of the Year, Rock of the Chapter, Marketing Excellence and was inducted into the SMPS Houston "2012 Class - Hall of Fame". She also serves as “Chapter Advisor” for SMPS Dallas. Carolyn was named SMPS National Chapter President of the Year, and is the first non-technical woman currently serving on the Editorial Board for Building Design + Construction Magazine.

When & Where:

Tuesday, January 13, 2015 | 11:30am - 1:30pm

Clampitt Creative Center
9207 Ambassador Row
Dallas, TX 75247

Sell Tickets through Eventbrite

Walk-ins are welcome; however, a $5 administration fee will apply at the door.

Apply for a Southern Region Conference Scholarship!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 22:06:00 +0000

SMPS Dallas is awarding a scholarship to attend the Southern Regional Conference in New Orleans!

The SMPS Southern Regional Conference will take place January 21-23, 2015 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.

To be eligible you must be an active SMPS Dallas member in good standing with the chapter with a minimum of two years continuous membership in SMPS. For more information, download the SMPS Dallas Scholarship Application. The deadline for submission is December 12, 2014 by 5pm.

The scholarship will be for the cost of registration only and does not include travel, lodging or incidental expenses.

Join SMPS Fort Worth for a Glimpse into the Future of Campuses

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 22:58:00 +0000

Join SMPS Fort Worth on Thursday, October 23rd to meet with industry experts and talk about the future of healthcare, education, and corporate campus facilities.

7:30 am - Networking Breakfast - Join us for coffee and an opportunity for students to network with prospective Employers, as well as networking between business professionals.

8:30 am - Speaker panel with Moderator and live audience polling

10:00 am - 11:00 am - UTA Campus Tour

Parking: Attendees of this event will be able to park in the Park South and Park Central garages. Please park in the event parking spaces indicated by a blue line painted in front of the space.

Moderator

Jennifer Yoder, CPSM | Rone Engineering
Jennifer C. Yoder, CPSM recently joined Rone Engineering, a full service geotechnical, construction materials testing and environmental consulting firm based in Dallas with offices in Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. In addition, Jennifer also represents JRB Engineering, Rone’s minority affiliate, providing similar services based in Houston with a branch office in Dallas.

Panelists

Bill Poole | University of Texas at Arlington
Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Campus Operations
Bill has been involved in engineering design and project management and facilities management for 40 years. He joined the University of Texas at Arlington in 2007 as the Assistant Vice President for Facilities & Campus Operations. The Office of Facilities Management has 270 employees and an annual project, operating, and energy budget totaling approximately $35 million. At UTA, this Office is responsible for the integrated functions of all building maintenance, operations, renovations and new construction.

Mark D. Ude | BNSF
Assistant Vice President Real Estate Development
Mark Ude was appointed to his current position of assistant vice president, Corporate Real Estate Development, in December 2006. He is responsible for the company’s real estate sales and leasing program, acquisition and development program, and corporate and field facilities management.

Edward Thomas Dold, Jr., FACHE | Baylor Scott & White Health
Marketing Manager
Edward Thomas Dold Jr, FACHE, is the marketing and public relations manager at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth which is now a part of Baylor Scott and White Health. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Health Organization Management from Texas Tech University and a Master of Science in Health Care Administration degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is also a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Ben Selman | CBRE at Baylor All Saints Medical Center
Director of Engineering

REGISTER FOR EVENT:

The Latest Edition of the SMPS Newsletter is Out! | Momentum: Water

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 15:40:00 +0000

Check out the latest edition of the SMPS Dallas Newsletter - Momentum: Water!

Explore what is happening in our industry.

Click to open.

EVENT | Richards Group Hard Hat Tour and Happy Hour - October 23 | 4:00pm-6:30pm

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 17:16:00 +0000

SMPS is kicking off what promises to be an outstanding year of programs and membership events with a grand tour of The Richards Group HQ building, followed by a Member and Guest Happy Hour Mixer at The Rustic. The Richards Group building will be an incomparable addition to Dallas’ Uptown project scene! The 250,000-square-foot office building is scheduled to open in early 2015, but will be prefect for our hard hat tour on October 23^rd. Along with the firm's new headquarters, the building will also include a fitness center, garden terrace and 10,000 square feet of retail space.

Following the tour, SMPSers will go just a few blocks away to The Rustic! If you haven’t been there, you’ve been missing one of Uptown’s most enjoyable venues, and a perfect place for SMPS members and guests to network!

Please reserve your ticket soon; this event will be limited to 25 people.

NOTE: Please be aware that part of the tour will include walking through an active construction zone. Therefore, all attendees will be requiredto wear full length pants, shirts with at least 4” sleeves and durable work type shoes (close toe and must cover entire heel completely). You will need to bring your own hard hat, safety glasses, and safety vests. Anyone that does not have the proper gear will not be able to walk the site.

*Before attending this event, you will need to download and complete the visitors release form before entering the site. Additional forms will be available at the site.

Parking: Street parking or the garages at West Village.

Speakers: Manhattan Construction will lead the tour.

Managing a Crisis in a Social Media-Driven World | Notes from Julia Meade and Annemarie Marek's Presentation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 19:47:00 +0000

What is your greatest fear in dealing with a crisis? The media showing up on-site? Opinions, comments and photos posted on Facebook? You being interviewed? Or your office deluged with phone calls? How about the safety of your team and your customers? Preparation and planning are critical components of dealing with and managing any crisis. It isn’t an easy job when you toss in social media, along with the traditional news coverage. So where do you begin?

Download a PDF of the “Managing a Crisis in a Social Media-Driven World” presentation given September 16, 2014 by Julia Meade, CPSM (Hazen and Sawyer, P.C.) and Annemarie Marek, LEED AP (Marek & Company) at the TEXO Dallas Conference Center.

If your company has no crisis communication plans or is just now thinking about pulling one together, this presentation will help you navigate the many crises events that can happen and the media who will follow you.

Special thanks to David Kochis (Fugro Consultants) for providing graphic design for the presentation.

SMPS Dallas Begins New 2014-2015 Board Year

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 16:18:00 +0000

A brand new SMPS year was launched on September 1st – and with it, a new Dallas Board of Directors, 2014-2015 chapter goals, and a fresh set of opportunities to get involved!

The 2013-2014 Board Members (thank them when you see them) raised the bar for Chapter leadership, and accomplished big things! Most notably:

More than 20% membership growth – an indicator that the Chapter continues to provide value to our members through innovative programming, education and networking opportunities
30+ events throughout the year – more than ½ of which were FREE to members
New initiatives to raise the prestige of the SMPS organization and its members, through the CPSM Speakers bureau and the TEXO Speaker Series
A 1st Place Striving For Excellence Award for our outstanding chapter newsletter, demonstrating that Dallas is a national leader among SMPS chapters!

In the coming year, the new 2014-2015 Board will work toward achieving nine strategic goals that directly align with the overall mission of SMPS to Advocate, Educate, and Connect our members. Through these exciting initiatives, we will build upon SMPS Dallas’ recent successes in order to ensure a sustainably-run chapter that can continue to serve our members with innovative and high-value offerings.

To accomplish these goals, we need YOUR involvement. Get to know your board members and committee leaders, give feedback on the types of offerings you’d like to see from the Chapter, and volunteer your service to a committee (and learn or hone skills along the way!). Join in, and make the most of your SMPS membership in 2014-2015! Visit our Get Involved page to find out more about our committees and other specialty initiatives to become involved in.

Download the SMPS Dallas Annual Member Meeting presentation.

EVENT | What the Heck is Branding, and Why Is It So Important? - September 9 | 11:30am-1:30pm

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 21:06:00 +0000

In marketing, rarely does a day go by when we don’t hear or read the term “branding.” What is branding anyway, and how can marketing and business development professionals use branding to guide their firm’s message to clients and potential clients? How do marketing professionals incorporate branding into an overall marketing strategy – and why is it important to do that? How does a firm’s brand separate it from the competition – in a good or bad way? Subject matter experts will discuss these issues and more, and will provide practical applications that make sense. Then all will participate in an expanded Q&A to afford speakers and audience the opportunity to share branding ideas that worked well or not so well…and why. This program is relevant to SMPS Domains of Practice 3 and 5.

Speakers:
Kym Dennis, Brand Manager and Principal Director - Overhead Door Corporation and Red Glass Marketing
Randy Avila, Director of Marketing - Core Construction

When & Where:

Tuesday, September 9, 2014 | 11:30am - 1:30pm

Clampitt Creative Center
9207 Ambassador Row
Dallas, TX 75247

Event Registration Online for What The Heck is Branding, and Why Is It So Important??? powered by Eventbrite

Walk-ins are welcome; however, a $5 administration fee will apply at the door.

EVENT | SMPS Dallas Annual Member Meeting and Reception – September 11 | 4:30pm-6:30pm

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 21:01:00 +0000

Elevate: Rising to the Next Level in 2014-2015!

Join us for a reception to recap the successes of the past SMPS year, network with peers, and learn about the opportunities ahead in 2014-2015! The newly-instated board members will share the status, goals and vision of the Chapter, and how you can leverage SMPS to elevate your firm and your career in the year ahead. Wine, beer, and snacks will be provided.

When & Where:

Thursday, September 11, 2014 | 4:30pm - 6:30pm

Colecciόn Riviera Showroom
1444 Oak Lawn Avenue #301
Dallas, TX 75219

Sell Tickets through Eventbrite

Walk-ins are welcome; however, a $5 administration fee will apply at the door.

EVENT | Crisis Communication: Managing a Crisis in a Social Media-Driven World – September 16 at 8:00am

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 15:59:00 +0000

Crises You Might Encounter in the A/E/C World
How Any Crisis Can Escalate
The C-Suite – What Executives Expect but Don’t Know about Social Media
A Crisis Planning Checklist
Examples from the News
Impact of Crises on Corporate Brands
Do’s and Don’ts in Managing a Crisis
Top 5 Strategies to Mitigate a Crisis
Questions & Answers for You

If your company has no crisis communication plans or is just now thinking about pulling one together, this presentation will help you navigate the many crises events that can happen and the media who will follow you.

Location:
TEXO Dallas Conference Center
1111 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75229

Schedule:
7:30am – Breakfast/Networking
8:00am – Program

Speakers:
Julia Meade, CPSM – Hazen and Sawyer, P.C.
Annemarie Marek, LEED AP – Marek & Company

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Prior to attending: Please complete the quick 5 question survey on the registration page or by clicking this link to help the presenters tailor the presentation to attendees.

$20 – TEXO Contractor & Industry Members
$20 – SMPS Members
$40 – Non-Members

SMPS Dallas Wins SFE Communications Award

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 14:35:00 +0000

Our chapter newsletter, AEConnect, has three primary objectives:

Relevant: Provide relevant and applicable content
Forward thinking: Discuss topics long-term industry impact and membership knowledge needs
Engagement: Enable interaction between content and readership

These objectives, developed after three years of effort, rebuilt the chapter newsletter from an inward-facing chapter news piece to a regularly published, content-rich document. Each quarter, your chapter newsletter committee is focused on one thing: Delivering an awesome newsletter to the membership. Our fantastic team of volunteers includes:

Holly Scudder – co-editor
Shannah Hayley – co-editor
Ruth Hunter-Hill – Q&A
Julia Meade – project feature
Bernie Siben – issues of interest to senior marketers
Terri Sullivan – community events
Bonnie Tinsley – how to and did you know columns

While we are all very proud of our success, we wanted to have an external source verify those feelings. As you all know, measurement is an important part of any successful marketing effort.

That’s why your team submitted the newsletter in the 2014 SMPS National Striving for Excellence Award competition. Last Thursday evening at Build Business, the SMPS Dallas chapter newsletter took home First Place.

What’s next? We intend to focus on quality content that helps you do your job better. We’re also looking at ways to increase our distribution to position SMPS Dallas as a trusted resource for marketing and business development in the AEC industry.

If you have story ideas or would like to join our team, please get in touch with the editors. In the meantime, dust off your most recent issue of AEConnect and see what all of the fuss is about. And while you’re at it, forward it to someone you know who could benefit from the information it contains.

Co-editors Shannah Hayley and Holly Scudder with the 1st place Chapter Communications - Newsletter Award at the 2014 SMPS National Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

EVENT | Tracking Transportation: Traveling through the Boom - July 22nd at 11:30

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy Hutchison) — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 13:32:00 +0000

The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is experiencing record setting growth. New residents, corporate relocations, and new businesses are calling our area home every day. Join SMPS Dallas for a focused discussion covering the transportation sector. Topics will include the upcoming work at DFW Airport including the future terminal, high-speed rail development, and mass transit connectivity.

AGENDA: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm Registration / Networking / Lunch
12:00 pm – 1:25 pm Speaker Presentations
1:25 pm – 1:30 pm Wrap-up

Join us! Get tickets below.

Event Registration Online for Tracking Transportation: Traveling through the Boom powered by Eventbrite

The Latest Edition of the SMPS Newsletter is Out!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 18:44:00 +0000

The latest edition of the SMPS Dallas Newsletter is out and it centers on Getting from Point A to Point B.

Explore what is happening in our industry.

Click to open.

Marketing & Business Development Plans - Pulling Back the Curtain

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy Hutchison) — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 20:01:00 +0000

Mike Wagner, CPSM spoke at TEXO today on the realities of marketing and business development planning in today’s fast paced A/E/C Industry. The presentation included the practical how to’s of planning as well as a look at some simple tools to help get started.

We are sharing the slides if you happened to miss the session. Especially check out the recommended reading list at the end.

Texo mkt bd_plans_june2014 from SMPSDallas

EVENT I Coloring Outside the Lines of Your RFP: Proposals That Comply but Defy (and WIN)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 May 2014 21:52:00 +0000

Join us for this informative session!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm (CDT)

Clampitt Creative Center
9207 Ambassador Row
Dallas, TX 75427

Event details: RFP/Qs are all pretty much the same: firm overview, project approach, resumes - which means the proposals they elicit are likewise similar. Assuming all the responding firms are more or less equally qualified, how do you differentiate? How can you stand apart and get noticed - for all the right reasons? While some RFPs may limit the number of pages you submit, they can’t limit what you say – or how you say it. Learn how you can play by the rules while still making substantial, meaningful changes to your proposals that really tell clients what they need to know, and effectively sell your firm to win more work. This event will serve all experience levels, but will be most helpful to those with basic/intermediate experience. The event will address SMPS Domains of Practice 3 and 4.

Speakers:
Steve Everbach - Market Leader, Dallas/Ft. Worth | U.S. Leader, Agency Leasing
Amanda Wheeler - Associate | Business Development and Marketing Director, JQ
Julie Shaffer - President, Shaffer Creative

Walk-ins are welcome; however, a $5 administration fee will apply at the door.

Registrations must be received 2 working days prior to the event. Cancellations are fully refundable with 48 hours or greater notice. After registration closes you will be responsible for the full cost of the program, even if you cannot make the event. No shows will be billed. To cancel your registration and receive a refund, please contact Jessica Shipley.

EVENT | Powered Up : The Infrastructure of Energy - May 27, 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy Hutchison) — Thu, 22 May 2014 12:35:00 +0000

Join us for POWERED UP: The Infrastructure of Energy on Tuesday, May 27 from 11:30 am to 1:30pm.

CALLING ALL PRINCIPALS/FIRM LEADERS, in addition to Marketing and Business Development Experts-

The energy sector is Powered Up and growth is exploding! Join SMPS Dallas for this energy panel and roundtable program that will address project forecasts, job growth, economic development, and marketplacechallenges such as shortages in infrastructure (many pipelines are at capacity) and skilled labor. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear a presentation on various energy sector topics, followed by in-depth roundtable discussions in the specific area of their choice (see below):

Panel & Roundtable Topics:
Fracking
Alternative/Renewable Energy
Oil & Gas
Electricity Demand & the Grid

Agenda:
11:30 am - 12:00 pm Registration / Networking / Lunch
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Speaker Presentations
1:00 pm - 1:25 pm Round Table Discussions
1:25 pm - 1:30 pm Wrap-up

Speakers:
Ed Ireland; Executive Director, Barnett Shale Energy Education Council
Barry L. Friedman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Carlyle Capital Markets Inc.

Event registration for POWERED UP: The Infrastructure of Energy powered by Eventbrite

EVENT | 2014 Dallas Awards Gala & Auction

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy Hutchison) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 13:02:00 +0000

Don’t miss the 2014 SMPS Dallas Gala and Charity Auction! During the 1940s-themed evening, we will announce the winners of the 2014 Marketing Achievement Awards, celebrate the 40th birthday of SMPS, and hold a silent auction benefitting our longtime partner charity, The Bridge. There will be food, music, networking, and fun for all!

Dinner will be served, and two drink tickets will be given to each attendee. A cash bar will also be available (beer/wine only).

Schedule of events:

5:30-6:00 Registration, networking, musical entertainment, Silent Auction opens to Sponsors

6:00-7:00 Dinner, networking, musical entertainment, Silent Auction open to all

7:00-8:15 Presentation of Marketing Achievement Awards

8:15 Silent Auction closes

8:30 Silent Auction winners announced

For sponsorship or silent auction information, please contact Ashley Roberts.

Sell Tickets through Eventbrite

EVENT | Healthcare Owner Spotlight | Texas Health Resources - Tuesday, March 25

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy Hutchison) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 17:55:00 +0000

Join SMPS Dallas for this high-caliber, unprecedented “behind-the-scenes” look into the operations of one of the region’s most recognized healthcare systems, Texas Health Resources (THR). This unique panel discussion will provide SMPS attendees with critical business insights into the inner-workings of Texas Health Resources including growth plans, operational strategies, and future service offerings. Attendees will gain in-depth insight that will provide strategic intelligence for marketing and business development decisions for professional services, including how new facility types and the medical office boom are shifting the delivery of A/E/C projects. This program will provide unmatched details, key performance indicators, statistics and information drivers that will truly serve as valuable marketing intelligence for AEC firms.

Principals and firm leaders are strongly encouraged to attend!

* Attendees for the Healthcare Marches On Owner Spotlight will be receiving confidential information relative to the THR operation and may be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement at registration.

Panelists include...

German Galaso, Strategist, Planning & Business Development, Texas Health Resources
Jared Shelton, Senior Director, Professional & Support Services, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
Tricia Anderson, Zone Director, Business Development, Texas Health Resources

Online Ticketing for Healthcare Marches On - Owner Spotlight: Texas Health Resources powered by Eventbrite

The Winter Edition of the Newsletter is Out

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 23:44:00 +0000

It's here. The latest edition of the newsletter is out which features the story of the Revival of West Dallas.

Check it out.

EVENT | Southern Regional Conference (SRC) Rewind

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 20:53:00 +0000

Thursday, March 6, 2014 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (CST)

SRC Rewind is BACK! Didn’t make it to SRC this year? No problem! Come and interact with speakers and others who were there, and hear a recap of the three SRC tracks:

CREATE(Marketing); CONNECT (BD); COMMAND (Leadership).

Even if you attended SRC, there is still valuable information from knowledgeable speakers to be shared at this event. We've revised the agenda to make it more conducive to everyone's busy schedule.

This event is good for 2 CEUs and speakers will touch on knowledge areas for all Six Domains of Practice. REGISTER EARLY - SEATING IS LIMITED!

SCHEDULE

11:00 am – 11:30 am Lunch and Networking
11:30 am – 12:00 pm CREATE: Marketing Recap - Asheya Warren
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm CONNECT: Business Development - Mike Wagner
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm COMMAND: Leadership - Julie Huval

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Asheya Warren, CPSM
Asheya Warren is the founding principal of Creative-Workx, a Dallas-based professional services marketing firm meeting the marketing and design needs of small/emerging businesses in a variety of sectors, with a concentration in the architectural/engineering/construction (AEC) industry. Asheya has ten years of professional services marketing experience, offering consulting and business development, including proposal development, branding, and strategic planning. She is an active member of the A/E/C community and currently serves on the communications committee for the U.S. Green Building Council North Texas Chapter, in addition to her role as Programs Director for the Dallas Chapter SMPS.

Mike Wagner, CPSM

Mike Wagner is the Chief Marketing Officer for Alan Plummer Associates, Inc. a regional civil and environmental engineering practice solely devoted to the planning and design of public water resources and infrastructure. Mike has been with APAI for nearly 8 years and has more than 24-years of experience in professional services marketing and business development at the executive level. Mike has been a member of SMPS Dallas since 2009; he earned his Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) credential in 2011; and he currently serves as the President of the Dallas Chapter.

Julie Huval, CPSM

Julie Huval is the Senior Marketing Coordinator for Beck Technology which is a sister company of The Beck Group in Dallas, Texas. Julie joined Beck Technology in 2012 and manages the company’s brand identity, communications and market strategy. She graduated from Baylor University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations and Environmental Studies. Julie also earned a Master in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Arlington in 2009. Additionally, she holds the Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) credential. Julie serves on the board of SMPS Dallas as Past President and was the co-chair of the 2014 SMPS Southern Regional Conference. She is also the creator and coordinator of the SMPS Dallas Speakers Bureau as well as a contributing author in the upcoming Marketing Fundamentals book.

Online Ticketing for SRC Rewind powered by Eventbrite

Walk-ins are welcome; however, a $5 administration fee will apply at the door.

Contributions to SMPS are not tax deductible as charitable contributions.

Webinars 101

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy Hutchison) — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 20:13:00 +0000

The first time I was ever responsible for hosting a webinar, I really could have used a "Webinars 101" synopsis. Since I didn't find the synoptic version I was looking for, I thought I would create one and share it here:

What it is

A web conference (or webinar) is a presentation live via the Internet. While desktop video conferencing is great for smaller groups with bi-directional communication, webinars are primarily one-way with a speaker presenting content to a large audience. In a webinar, each participant sits at his or her own computer and is connected to other participants via the internet. The thing that makes a webinar different from simply watching a video presentation is the real-time aspect. Webinars are typically an “event.” The content is presented live and there is opportunity for Q&A from attendees.

Webinars can be a valuable way to present content to geographically diverse audiences or for local audiences to receive content from geographically diverse presenters. Also, webinars can be an effective way to gather groups around topics about which they are passionate.

What to look for in a platform
There are a variety of webinar host providers such as GoToWebinar, Cisco’s Webex, Microsoft Office Live Meeting, AdobeConnect, InstantPresenter and others which vary greatly in pricing structure and features.

On the pricing side, some charge a flat rate on a monthly basis, others charge per attendee and for some the minutes involved are a factor. Some services allow you to have participants register and pay their own fees. (You can charge more for the presentation than the actual cost of hosting.)

Another influence (especially for international participants) will be the method used for the audio portion of the presentation. Most of the services give the option to participants for connecting via VoIP (voice over internet protocol) which requires a microphone and headset or using a call in number to receive the audio by telephone. (Depending on the country, the telephone option can be very expensive for the participant.)

While attendees will access the webinar via their browser, most will typically need to load a plug in the first time they attend. When selecting a service, you will want to go through a demo to make sure the process is intuitive—not just on the attendee side, but also on the organizer/presenter side.

Planning your webinar
It is helpful to look at the webinar in three phases: promotion/registration, the event itself, and follow up. The best hosting software offers support for all three phases including automating registration and reminders, easy tools for the presenter and response surveys to attendees.

While you can host sporadic webinars, those with the best traction are typically part of a series so it helps to think of your sessions holistically. So, you might ask yourself:

- What is the purpose of the webinar? Would it work better as a series?

- Who is the target audience?

- How many should be in the series and how frequently should they occur?

- What is the optimal time frame for the people I would like to attend? (Note that bridging time zones will be the limiting factor here.)

- What is my promotion strategy (frequency of communication, outlets, etc.)?

It is probably significant to mention that you have to provide content that will draw an audience. Even if you do not charge for the webinar, time is a valuable resource for your participants. The content has to have value to them or they won’t attend. Spending time “thinking like your participants” (or better yet asking your desired participants) is absolutely essential for success.

Phill Martin, Director of Education for NACBA has hosted Webinars for membership over the past seven years. Phill recommends beginning promotion no more than two weeks before the session and says that most attendees won’t make the decision to register until the day of the webinar, so don’t be discouraged if there are no early results.

Most software handles the invitation and reminders once participants register via the weblink.

The Event
There are multiple roles in the event: organizer, presenter and participant (attendee).

While the organizer and presenter could be the same person in sessions of 25 people or less, for larger groups, it is helpful to have an organizer separate to the presenter. The organizer can monitor the participants and answer questions (typically sent in via text) and allows the presenter to focus solely on delivering the presentation.

Presenters will essentially be sharing their computer screen allowing them to show content from virtually any program: MSPowerpoint, PDF, a web browser, document, spreadsheet, photo file, video, etc.

GoToWebinar allows you to easily schedule a practice session prior to your event which can be very helpful for your organizer and presenter to make sure that things run smoothly prior to the event. Note that there are differences in support for Mac and PC. Find out where the gaps are ahead of time because you will likely have mixed platforms on both the attendee and presenter side.

One of the best things you can do for your audience is to set expectations up front. Quickly explain the format of the presentation, how Q&A will be handled and what control they have in the presentation (if any).

Though webinars are presentational, most of the webinar hosts/software allow you tools to engage participants. For example, some hosts allow guests to “raise their hand” which enables presenters to ask questions and ask for a “show of hands.” Most have a text feature which allows participants to text questions to the organizer. Some have polling features which allow participants to click their screen and answer a question with the posting of results in real time. GoToWebinar even allows you to put up a blank screen and allow some participants access to drawing tools.

Be disciplined to keep your webinar to the scheduled time frame. You won’t be able to get the same sense of engagement (or lack thereof) that you get with a live audience. It is important to fulfill expectation.

Follow up
Most of the providers offer reporting on your audience and the registration information (including questions you select for the registration process) are reported back to you.

Some offer features allowing you to record the webinar which gives you the option to either use for archival purposes or to redistribute.

It is important to decide your follow up methodology in the planning session so that you don’t miss opportunity and are able to get the full value of the webinar.

— Cathy Hutchison