SMPS 2012 Southern Regional Conference

2012 SRC Program Book now available for download!

amy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:52:52 +0000

Get all the inside scoop before the conference! Click HERE to download the official 2012 SRC Program Book!

SRC Memories

amy — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:05:13 +0000

My road to the Southern Regional Conference (SRC) began with a conversation with Houston Chapter Member Karla Kahn, co-chair for the Southern Regional Conference in 2009. We talked about my being involved in the conference, and then I received a phone call from Jana Monforte asking me if I would serve as Programs Chair. I was so excited to be part of the SRC Planning Team. This is an outstanding group of professional in different cities who work together virtually and achieve great things. My co-chair, Chris Rickman and I met for the first time in Oklahoma at the 2009 conference. We worked together for the 2010 as if we had known each other for years.

The Southern Regional Conference has its 10^th anniversary this year and returns to San Antonio where it all began. The Houston Chapter played an integral part of the formation of the Southern Regional Conference with Doug Parker, FSMPS, CPSM and Carolyn Ferguson, FSMPS, CPSM being part of the first SRC. All of the past conference chairs are still active in the conference as the Advisory Board. All of this effort is to ensure that the Southern Regional Conference remains a leader in SMPS.

I hope you can join us in San Antonio for excellent programming, great networking and a wonderful Thursday night party – Southern Region Style.

Thanks to our Past Chairs

amy — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:13:18 +0000

As we celebrate our milestone 10th Anniversary we reflect on the hard work and dedication of our conference committee members—past and present. Thanks to all those who have lead the conference each year to make it what it is today—a SUCCESS!

2012: San Antonio, TX (10^th Anniversary)
Lauren A. Guido, CPSM — Guido Brothers Construction
Kristi A. Pempin, CPSM — Redbud Marketing, LLC

2011: Houston, TX
Jennifer Ornelas-Soto — Goetting

2010: Austin, TX
Kim Icenhower, CPSM — Icenhower Consulting, LLC
Chris Rickman, CPSM — Zahl-Ford, Inc.

2009: Oklahoma City, OK
Jana Monforte — Wallace Engineering
Karla Kahn

2008: Dallas, TX
Maggie Seay, CPSM — Cude Engineers
Amanda West — HNTB Corporation

2007: San Antonio, TX
Brad Thurman, P.E., FSMPS, CPSM — Wallace Engineering
Susan Charles

2006: Houston, TX
Jennifer Campbell, CPSM — WinMore Marketing Advisors
Larisa Langley, CPSM — Coyle Engineering

2005: Austin, TX
Doug Parker, FSMPS, CPSM — BoyarMiller

2004: Dallas, TX
Dana Duran

2003: San Antonio, TX
Scott Milder, CPSM — SHW Group

My SRC love affair

amy — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:36:21 +0000

The year was 2003, the location was Fort Worth, Texas, and the reason I was there was to attend my first ever Southern Regional Conference. I suppose you could say that is where I fell hopelessly in love with SMPS…and Doug Parker! The love affair had officially begun.

Little did I know then that this affaire de coeur would later lead me to serve as the Southern Regional Conference’s 2008 programs chair, the 2009 co-chair, and the 2010 treasurer. How blessed was I to learn from and be surrounded by so many genuine, talented and incredible marketing professionals! Attending the Southern Regional Conference is much like attending a family reunion. One of the Southern Region’s greatest assets is their welcoming arms…once you attend, you are forever known as family.

The outstanding keynotes, sessions, and networking events offered at SRC are in a class of their own. I have learned more A/E/C ‘tricks of the trade’ than I ever thought possible and made so many amazing friendships along the way. Relationship building is the foundation of what marketing and business development is all about. The network that I have gained in the eight years that I have attended this conference has been priceless to both my professional and personal growth.

This year we celebrate our 10^th anniversary, how spectacular is that! Congratulations SRC on ten years of success…I know an even bigger and brighter future awaits us. I hope that you plan to be a part of it as I look forward to learning, networking and celebrating with each and every one of you in San Antonio and in the years to come.

Jana J. Monforte has been part of the A/E/C industry for over 19 years and a proud member of SMPS since 2000. She is an Associate at Wallace Engineering, a structural and civil engineering consulting firm headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jana is a past president of SMPS Oklahoma, a past co-chair of SRC and is currently serving on the 2011-2012 Chapter President of the Year/Striving for Excellence National Committee.

Brad Thurman shares his first SRC experience

amy — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:06:12 +0000

My first Southern Regional Conference was in Fort Worth in 2003, the second year it was held. It was a fabulous event, but was going through the growing pains that all new ventures go through. I remember bringing drinks in and icing them down in Dana Duran’s bathtub (Dana was chair that year). I remember Dana and Scott Milder huddled up in the corner of her room, adding up invoices and filling out depos it slips because they’d used their credit cards to secure things. I remember the haze (and the aroma) in downtown Fort Worth because of the Saturday morning cattle parade kicking off the rodeo.

Most of all, I remember how much I enjoyed meeting other AEC marketing folks in our region and how I much looked forward to the following year.

Fast forward to 2012. SRC is a thriving regional conference that still provides unparalleled educational opportunities. The conference has been able to become financially secure, providing scholarships back to member chapters to help them send people to attend. I believe that SRC’s committee structure and financial approach is second to none, and it has become a model for other regions. It makes me so proud to see where it is today.

And, still, what I love best and look forward to the most is the people.

Many of the friendships forged in Fort Worth are still strong today, still the people I look forward seeing again. And in the years since, I’ve made other remarkable friendships, and met and worked with some of the most amazing people I’ve ever known. The great programs, keynotes and receptions are just icing on the cake.

Writing this makes me excited for SRC 2012. See you there.

Brad Thurman, P.E., FSMPS, CPSM is a principal and CMO of Wallace Engineering. He is a past president of SMPS Oklahoma, a past co-chair of SRC and is currently serving as At-Large Delegate on the SMPS National Board.