Lessons Learned from the 2024 SMPS Southern Regional Conference (SRC)
A/E/C Marketers from six SMPS Chapters across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana made their way to Austin, Texas earlier this month for the annual SMPS Southern Regional Conference. Now in its 22nd year, the SRC provided more than 300 attendees an opportunity to choose from over 20 marketing and business development education sessions specific to the A/E/C industry and spend three days immersed in learning about marketing strategies, proposal writing, AI tools, networking, leadership, and more. The SMPS San Antonio chapter had more than 25 members in attendance and of those members, five of them led education sessions, sharing their experience and knowledge of marketing and business development in the A/E/C industry. SMPS San Antonio is proud that our members made such significant contributions to the conference and are happy to share a glimpse of the insights they shared during their sessions.
1. Your network can include a diverse set of individuals, including business developers, clients, coworkers, peers, mentors, and more! Your network is considered your currency.
2. Career advancement and strengthening your confidence are two ways networking can support your career.
3. Define your own version of success for networking events. This may entail goals such as distributing a certain number of business cards or meeting an X amount of new industry peers.
Mark My Words - How to Craft Your Leadership Journey from Doer to Manager with Maggie Seay, CPSM, Joyce Watson, CPSM, Erin Salinas, and Corryn Williams
1. Be an advocate for yourself, and make sure that you are letting leadership know what your goals are.
2. When the path for growth is not clear, define it yourself. Show leadership what your potential position could look like.
Hash(tag) You’re It: Uncap Your Creativity to Level Up Your Firm’s Social Media with Joyce Watson, CPSM, and Erin Hoy
1. Have one champion to run your social media presence, when it's everyone's problem, it's no one's problem.
2. Choose the platforms that you have the most bandwidth for, you do not want to post for the sake of posting if you do not have the time to dedicate to quality content.
3. User generated content is a great way to get engagement from outside your reach, your employees are your greatest asset when it comes to reach.
The 2025 Southern Regional Conference will continue in the Lone Star State next year in Houston, TX!
