Programs
Mark your calendar for the 4th Tuesday of each month!
Monthly programs are typically held at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM unless otherwise noted. Content subject to change.
For more information regarding our programs please contact Sarah Wortman.
SMPS Programs are a great sponsorship opportunity! Contact Jennifer Van Vleet to inquire about sponsorship opportunities for events listed.
Upcoming Programs SMPS Seattle/ACEC Washington Present GRACEWORKS Education Seminar
The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Seattle Chapter and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington are pleased to bring you an exciting dual-course communication and marketing seminar presented by Graceworks, Inc. Attendees have the opportunity to attend either the morning or afternoon session, or both for a discounted, full-day rate. The morning session includes a plated breakfast, and the afternoon session includes a plated lunch.
When: Wednesday February 29, 2012 - 8:00AM to 5:00PM
Where: Red Lion Bellevue Inn - 11211 Main Street, Bellevue, WA 98004
Registration Fees:
Early Registration by 2/15/12 Fee after 2/15/12 SMPS/ACEC Member Full-Day Registration $245 $295 SMPS/ACEC Member Morning Registration $145 $195 SMPS/ACEC Member Afternoon Registration $145 $195 Non-Member Full-Day Registration $345 $395 Non-Member Morning Registration $245 $345 Non-Member Afternoon Registration $245 $345 ACEC Members, please click here to register.
MORNING SESSION
The Human Connection: Bring Your Presentations to Life!
8:00am - 8:30am Registration & Networking
8:30am - 12:15pm Breakfast & Presentation
Strengthen your presentation skills in this highly interactive workshop. Through teaching/discussion, theater games and exercises, and individual coaching opportunities, you will learn to:- Connect with your audience, large or small
- Identify & drop nervous habits
- Experience freedom & self confidence as a presenter
- Simplify & strengthen your message with your Personal Positive Passion!
- Make technical material interesting
- Use your graphics and props wisely
- Prepare & practice your materialYou'll learn more than just public speaking skills. These principles apply to all types of interpersonal communication - from one-on-one and team meetings to networking/social events and phone calls/conference calls.
Finally, due to Graceworks' interactive approach, this teaching goes well beyond intellectual understanding. You will actually experience the presentation/communication principles being taught.
Each participant will receive a handout, outlining the presentation/commuincations principles.
AFTERNOON SESSION
Marketing With Your Whole Brain
12:15pm - 1:15pm Registration & Lunch
1:30pm - 5:00pm Presentation
In this afternoon breakout session, you'll explore the power of using your whole brain as a marketer. In this new economy, as available work fluctuates and competition rises, successful firms are finding new ways to capitalize on their talent, connect with their prospects, and satisfy their clients. To optimize these areas, you and your teams should be applying Whole Brain Thinking to your marketing efforts.
In this fun, interactive workshop, you will discover how you, and others, prefer to process information. You'll see the benefits of thinking in your own style, start to recognize and appreciate the cognitive diversity in your firm, and learn the keys to crafting a marketing message that speaks directly to your targeted audience's thinking preferences.
Participants will:- Identify their own thinking preferences and see how their preferences affect their communication, problem solving, decision-making, and work with others
- Begin to analyze the cognitive diversity in their firm in order to add depth and impact to their marketing campaigns
- Practice developing "whole-brained" messages that speak directly to their target audienceABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Carol Doscher, President and CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer) of Graceworks, has connected with audiences since she performed in Broadway's "Sweeney Todd." And it's not so far from the boards of Broadway to the boardrooms of America. Since founding Graceworks Inc. in 1995, she has trained hundreds of A/E/C professionals globally to make that vital "human connection" in sales presentations, client meetings and lectures. Having been featured in The New York Times and on Bloomberg television, Carol has published numerous articles on presentation skills. Carol is also certified to use the Whole Brain® Thinking Assessment Tool (HDBI), helping her clients understand their thinking preferences. Prior to her current work, she marketed design and construction services for many years.
Judy Straalsund, Freedom Finder, has spent over 15 years working with corporations, providing creative solutions for a variety of programs, presentations and workshops. A dynamic combination of experienced corporate trainer, artistic director, political campaign manager and mountaineering guide, she's a born leader who aspires to help people achieve their best. Based in Portland, Oregon, she's worked with firms ranging from Intel to Hewlett Packard to the Portable Sanitation Association (i.e., the "Porta-Potty" folks). So, whether it's rock climbing or preparing for your own Mount Everest of a shortlist presentation, Judy is here to empower you to meet any challenges!
PAST PROGRAMS SMPS Seattle: Strategic Marketing - The first steps to Market Domination
How do you really achieve a competitive advantage? How do you integrate marketing and operations and why is that important? What is the single most important marketing initiative a firm can take? What skill sets do you need as a Chief Marketing Officer and what should a CMO be thinking? And just what is Strategic Marketing anyway, and how does it impact the tactical, day-to-day marketing, business development, and sales efforts we’re more accustomed to?
These are the kinds of questions we’ll tackle together as we explore marketing at 10,000 feet. Randy Tuminello will lend his 25+ years of experience as a CMO and consultant and will teach you how to develop a strategic marketing program that will set your firm on a path to high performance growth, profits, and professional fulfillment. Attendees will come away with real world examples and practical tools for the creation and implementation of a strategic marketing effort. If you ever wanted to know how to connect the dots between marketing strategy and tactical results, this is the presentation you want to attend.
SMPS Fellows Forum: How important is the marketing budget?
It’s no secret that marketing departments are finding themselves under increasing pressure to justify their spending, prove the effects of their marketing campaigns, and demonstrate program success, or risk losing their budgets for the following year. So why do so many A/E/C companies go without one, or prepare a budget that sits on a shelf? C’mon, ‘fess up, we all know it happens—a lot.
Just in time for your 2012 Marketing Budget, we are proud to welcome our five SMPS Fellows to share their insights and stimulate debate on this increasingly important topic. If you’ve ever had to ask permission to spend money for a specific marketing campaign, or have been asked “What did this marketing expense do for us?” this program is for you.
You will be up close and personal with some of the top marketing professionals in the country for an open, candid exchange. We will be serving wine, assorted beverages, and light bites. There will be time beforehand for networking with the Fellows—so bring your principals and marketing team members and come join the conversation!
