President's Message

Become a CPSM - Do yourself a favor!

As a marketer in the AEC industry, you work hard. Deadlines are a way of life, pleasing many internal and external clients simultaneously. How can you get the knowledge and skills that are most critical to professional competence in this vital area?

SMPS-OC is here to help. SMPS offers many benefits and services for its members, such as national and regional conferences, seminars and workshops, awards programs, publications, and educational resources that highlight the latest trends and best practices in marketing and business development in the AEC industry. In addition, networking at the local level happens each and every month at SMPS-OC. In just eight short months, our local chapter has grown to 87 members. This local presence, coupled with a powerful national network, is committed to enhancing your professional career.

The one benefit I would like to highlight today is that of the SMPS’ Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) credential. The CPSM credential is a certification designed to elevate the professional standards of marketing and business development in the AEC industry. The CPSM designation serves as a mark of distinction for professional services marketers and business developers. Currently, there are nearly 600 CPSMs nationwide, including business developers, marketers, engineers, architects, surveyors and construction managers. A CPSM is recognized as an individual who has demonstrated his or her knowledge of the practice and related disciplines through a timed, 150-question examination of marketing competency. The six domains of practice include:

• Market Research
• Marketing Plan
• Client Business Development
• Statements of Qualifications (SOQs)/Proposals
• Promotional Activity
• Informational, Resource, and Organizational Management

Membership

SMPS-OC is proud to announce that we are at 87 members! We are the first chapter to exceed 51 members in a 10 month period!

To continue to offer a meaningful membership base, we encourage our current members to reach out to their colleagues and continue to diversify our group with principals, business developers and technical professionals. Renew now and continue to participate in one of our region’s strongest A/E/C organizations. The tangible benefits of the SMPS-OC membership include discounts for events and educational seminars, access to our membership directory (over 6,900 SMPS professionals nationwide), the Marketer magazine, etc. The intangible benefits are numerous and invaluable. Especially in this economy, the relationships you build in relevant settings, such as SMPS-OC, will help bring success to your firm and your individual careers.

Membership Benefits:

• Discounted fee for luncheons and workshops
• Eligibility to participate on Board/Committees
• Membership Directory and Resource Guide (over 6,900 members nationwide)
• Marketer magazine from SMPS National
• SMPS Annual Member’s Only Event
• Most importantly...the forum to network with leading client/industry speakers, A/E/C owners, clients and consultant firm principals, business developers, and technical professionals

 
The member application for SMPS Orange County Chapter is available on our website at http://smps-oc.org/membership.asp. If you would like to join, please fill out the application and be sure to make a note that you would like to be a part of the SMPS-OC Chapter. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call.

Jenny Seaver
SMPS OC Membership Chair
(949)330-4184
jseaver@rbf.com

SMPS-OC Sponsor Highlight

Dahlin Group Architecture Planning

Founded in 1976, Dahlin Group Architecture Planning is dedicated to the enhancement of community and the built environment through creative, quality, and appropriate design. Its expertise in urban design, community residential, custom homes, commercial recreational, and design visualization is the breadth of its professional services. The company’s offices are in Pleasanton, San Francisco, Irvine, and Solana Beach, California; and in Beijing, China. The firm’s Digital Imaging Studio maintains the latest computer animation technology. Pictured here, Dahlin Group Architecture Planning announces its completion of Renaissance ClubSport in Aliso Viejo, the second in a series of innovative designs that meld upscale hotel lodgings with fitness and leisure facilities that are also available to the company’s communities. Created for Marriott International and ClubSport developer Leisure Sports Inc. of Pleasanton, the Aliso Viejo facility is a signature property of the concept’s national expansion.

Hill Partnership Architects

Hill Partnership Inc. (HPI) was founded in 1975 and has provided over 30 years of continuous service  to a variety of public and private clients. Services offered include facility programming, master planning, architectur,e and interior design, specializing in the education and senior living arenas. HPI’s overall body of work ranges from education to hospitality, from civic to healthcare, and from commercial office to retail. One of its key representative projects is displayed in the photo above, Watson Hall on Orange Coast College Campus in Costa Mesa, a 57,000 square-foot student services building.

HPI is a proud Bronze sponsor of SMPS-OC. Kathie Bloomfield, Business Development Director, can be reached at (949) 675-6442, ext. 303.

P2S Engineering, Inc.

P2S Engineering, Inc. (P2S) is a full-service mechanical, electrical, and telecommunications engineering firm with a reputation for providing high-quality professional engineering services that are responsive to its clients’ needs. In addition to design, the firm has had extensive experience with studies of all types. Projects have included electrical distribution, telecommunication infrastructure, lighting, energy reduction, controls, thermal storage, cogeneration, and central plants. Other services include master planning, conceptual design, commissioning, constructability reviews, and project management. Retrofit, upgrade, and renovation projects make up the majority of the firm’s work.

P2S has been designing high-performance systems for buildings since its formation in 1991. As the need and appreciation for sustainability has broadened throughout the building industry, so has P2S’s participation in support of this effort. P2S has LEED-Accredited Design Professionals to guide clients that have a project goal of LEED certification. The firm’s staff has the special expertise required for industrial and institutional projects. Its experience has included providing engineering services to the Campus Engineers at California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Fullerton; California State University, Bakersfield; Long Beach City College; Cypress College; and Fullerton College. Its experience also includes several annual/open-end contracts for universities/colleges, the Boeing Company, and the Port of Long Beach.

P2S is a proud Bronze sponsor of the SMPS-OC. Jessie Urquidi, Electrical Designer, can be reached at (562) 497-2999.

Mentorship Program

Dave Atkinson, Mentorship chair for SMPS-OC, has been the senior engineer and project manager for GMU Geotechnical, Inc. (www.gmugeo.com), formerly Goffman, McCormick & Urban, Inc., since 1996. He has been married for over 23 years to his wife, Arlene, who is a public elementary school teacher. He has two sons, Matthew, 21, and Jonathan, 18. With over 30 years of experience from laboratory and field engineering technician to senior engineer and project manager levels of involvement on a wide variety of geotechnical and construction materials engineering-related projects, Dave has been involved with such Orange County landmark projects as the mass development of Irvine Spectrum and University Research Park, Jamboree Center, MacArthur Court, Koll Center Irvine/Sports Club, and Executive Parks East and West. He recently completed numerous Class “A” office campuses in Irvine for The Capital Group, The Koll Company, and Bacchus Development. He is proud to have managed construction services for such recognized retail projects as Crystal Court/Nordstroms at South Coast Plaza, Bridgepark Plaza/Mercantile East and West/Terrace Shops in Ladera Ranch, and Santa Margarita Town Center and Plaza El Paseo in Rancho Santa Margarita. In addition, he has worked over the years on such projects as the Anaheim Arrowhead Pond (now Honda Center), Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Fashion Island, the Four Seasons Hotel (now Island Hotel), the Hotel del Coronado, Disney Studios Feature Animation Building, and various existing and new attractions at Disneyland, which were very rewarding and exciting. On the public works side of engineering, Dave has worked and continues to work for such clients as Irvine Ranch Water District; the Santa Margarita Water District; the South Coast Water District; and the Cities of San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Chino Hills. 

As a consulting engineer and resident of Orange County for over 22 years, Dave is looking forward to starting the SMPS-OC Mentoring Program and will make sure that it adds value, meaning, and a “leg up” to interested members of our new Orange County chapter! Feel free to contact Dave at datkinson@gmugeo.com with any questions regarding mentoring.

Community Involvement

CANstruction, a charity committed to ending hunger, just completed its 1st Annual Orange County Design/Build Competition. The event was held at the South Coast Plaza Mall from Sept. 5–21. All proceeds benefited the Orange County Food Bank. There were definitely some great designs! Thank you to the following firms for their participation in this wonderful charitable event: Disneyland Resort Facility and Operations Services, Thomas P. Cox Architects and VanDorpe Chou Associates, Inc., RBF Consulting, LPA, Inc., Gensler, KTGY Group, Bassenian Lagoni Architects, Dougherty + Dougherty Architects LLP and Saiful/Bouquet Structural Engineers, Fluor, Jacobs Engineering, MBH Architects, and MVE Partners, Inc. Thank you again for all your support to end hunger in Orange County.

Educational Opportunities/ Continuing Education

CPSM

Time to put your thinking caps on! 

The SMPS-OC Chapter will be offering a voluntary study group to assist you in obtaining your Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) credential. An information meeting will be held in January (date and time to be announced). 

Study group plans are forming now, so check the SMPS-OC Web site for more information and updates. Questions? Contact Kathie Bloomfield, Education Chair at kathie@hillpartnership.com or (949) 675-6442, ext. 303. Come find out what it’s all about!