SMPS Names Board, Wins Award

On Sept. 1 the newest group of board members began their term for the St. Louis Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS).

Cindy Hausler, CPSM, manager of marketing and corporate communications for KAI Design & Build, assumed the role of president. Carie Dunn, CPSM, director of marketing for Trivers Associates, transitioned from president to immediate past president. Additional board members are:

• President-elect - Barry Sutherland, LEED® AP, marketing coordinator at HOK
• Secretary - Vicki LaRose, PE, president of Civil Design, Inc.
• Treasurer - Kelley Jundt, business development coordinator at Zak Companies, Inc.
• Communications director - Michelle Yates, APR, CPSM, marketing services manager at Lawrence Group
• Education director - Samantha Allen, marketing coordinator at S.M. Wilson & Co.
• Programs co-directors - Amanda Bohnert, marketing manager at S.M. Wilson & Co. and Jessica Davila, marketing coordinator at McCarthy Building Companies
• Membership director - Nora Bresnahan, marketing coordinator at Geotechnology, Inc.
• Special events director - Jenni Faust, CPSM, director of marketing communications, Spellman Brady & Company
• Sponsorship director - Joe Kolodziej, ET, director of business development at Code Consultants, Inc.

The St. Louis chapter recently received a 2010 Striving for Excellence Outstanding Award in the Medium Chapter category from SMPS National.

The SMPS Striving for Excellence Award "recognizes those chapters who significantly advance and enhance professional services marketing and business development through excellent programs, increased membership, quality communications, and strong financial health." SMPS St. Louis' submission, "Bridging the Gap," highlighted the chapter's programs, with an average evaluation score of 4.35 (out of 5) and provision of 17 hours of continuing education credit, as well as the chapter's financial stability and communications.

SMPS was formed in 1973 in St. Louis by a small group of professional services firm leaders who recognized the need to sharpen skills, pool resources, and work together to create business opportunities. Today, the organization represents a dynamic network of 6,000+ marketing and business development professionals from architectural, engineering, planning, interior design, construction, and specialty consulting firms located throughout the United States and Canada. The St. Louis chapter serves the local A/E/C industry through its monthly educational and client development meetings.

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