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Letter From the President  •  Ice Breakers
Book Review  •  List of Links  •  Restaurant Review
Survey Says •  New Members  •  Upcoming Events  •  Thank You 

I’ve been writing this letter in my heart for fifteen years, my first as SMPS Colorado President. In some ways it’s a love letter to SMPS Colorado. I have a lot of emotions around taking over the presidency…excitement, pride, and, thankfully, even a little fear. Fear is a good way to take your temperature. It lets you know the stakes are high and something really matters. 

When I first joined SMPS in 2008, I didn’t know anyone in this industry, and I was a shy introvert who just wanted to stay behind a computer. To me, SMPS was a place to learn more about the AEC industry and acquire skills necessary to do my job. The more I got to know the people in this organization, though, the more I realized that it was also a place of community. SMPS has pushed me outside my introvert comfort zone and allowed my effervescent personality to be present even when I’m nervous. SMPS has taught me to be brave

For most of my career in this industry, I have been a marketing department of one, but I have never felt isolated. Of course, there are SMPS’s amazing content resources like Markendium and the Marketing Resource Center in MySMPS. But because of SMPS, I also have an amazing network of marketing experts, mentors, co-presidents, and friends. People I can call at any time to ask for advice or just connect over coffee. SMPS has taught me that I’m never alone.

SMPS isn’t just an organization of marketing and business development superheroes. SMPS is a symbiotic relationship. It’s a safe place to test new ideas and ask tough questions. Being president of this chapter feels like the biggest honor and the biggest gift. It’s a way to give back to the organization that has given me so much. It’s also a chance to conquer my fears of public speaking, grow my network, and be a resource for all our incredible volunteers. SMPS has taught me that you get what you give

Thank you for being a part of this organization. Thank you for wanting to give back, keep learning, and connect more. I hope in this coming year you can find a way to step outside your comfort zone and embrace some of your fears!

Be Brave, 
Dana Williams
SMPS Colorado 2023-2024 President

P.S. I am so excited about the upcoming events we have this fall and winter! Whether you want to learn more about AI in AEC, network all along the Front Range, or hear 2024 economic insights, we have the program for you! What can SMPS do for you?

By Taylor Coe, MOA Architecture

On the Humble Icebreaker

+ 38 icebreakers for your next meeting
 

Do you run meetings where getting people to engage feels like pulling teeth? I know I do. I also know of an ancient facilitation technique that helps to break the ice, and make things a little more alive.

Yes, icebreakers can feel a little silly—and they are no silver bullet for the many challenges of running a great meeting—but I would argue that they are still an essential facilitation tool. What can icebreakers do?

  • Give every person a chance to speak. Think of the icebreaker as a warm-up. If your meeting includes open discussion, icebreakers are a must, like stretching before the game. 
  • Break the script. When I think of running meetings—or any event, really—I think of Priya Parker, a meeting consultant who wrote The Art of Gathering, one of my all-time favorite books. Parker observes, “We tend to follow rigid if unwritten scripts that we associate with specific locations.” Icebreakers offer a way to break up that “meeting script” playing in our heads and make your meeting feel a little more, well, alive.
  • Create connection. How well do you really know your colleagues? Well enough to name their go-to karaoke song? While we may think we know all there is to know about our colleagues, icebreakers offer a structured way to generate some unexpected insight into your teams. Like, what karaoke song they would sing if put on the spot. (Mine is Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”)

From injecting hilarity to surfacing wisdom, icebreakers are the Swiss army knife of meeting facilitation. They are handy little tools that can do a lot of things…and they’re also a little dangerous. Don’t let the icebreaker eat up too much meeting time! Get a group of six people talking about Halloween candy and I guarantee that you will waste half of your 30-minute meeting debating your preferred shape of Reese’s. 

Check out my list of 38 icebreakers on the SMPS blog here.

By Max Castillo, Haynes Mechanical

“Start with Why” by Simon Sinek is a thoughtful read on business leaders and political visionaries who have shaped history. A few of the examples in Sinek’s story: Walt Disney, Wright Brothers, Martin Luther King Jr., Herb Kelleher, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Sam Walton. Sinek argues that some did not have first-mover advantage, the best product, nor the most talented team, rather he attributes their success to focusing on the “why.”




 

The paradigm shift of starting with “why do something” rather than “what are we doing” can be a game-changer. According to Sinek, “the why” is a more effective way of defining your business objectives, which enables the team to clearly understand the mission and how to get there. This is part of the golden circle framework, which has three layers. First, “the why-” the core purpose / cause, then “the how-” the processes to get there, and lastly “the what-“the products or services offered. When the golden circle is properly executed, the team has a greater sense of purpose and appreciation for the cause, which leads to more trust, loyalty, and profitability. 

I think there is a lot of merit in this work; nevertheless, at times I am not sure the “why” was the driving factor for the success of the company. Could it have been market timing, innovation, or dogmatic determination...? I sense confirmation bias may be at play. Nevertheless, I think considering “the why” can be a productive exercise for a marketer, or for a company to contemplate their mission. 

How does this book tie into marketing? According to Sinek, marketers should often focus on the “why” rather than the “what” for customers. Sinek explains that when you market “the why” there is more of a subconscious appeal at a biological level. Some examples that Sinek breaks down: Apple’s: “Think different,” which implies challenge the status quo. Southwest: “Democratize the skies-” make it easy and affordable to fly. In other words, competing against all forms of transportation, not just other airlines. Microsoft: “Have a computer on every desk and every home.” Albeit, Microsoft was not originally in the PC business, they knew the more computers sold, the more opportunity for Microsoft. Go on, what is your company’s why...  

Compiled by Angie DeBolt, Mark Young Construction, LLC
 

The Content Strategist

Contently is a blog that takes readers on a dive into the world of content marketing, strategy, and social media in a wide range of industries.

https://contently.com/strategist/?ref=buffer.com

 

Nurturing creativity.

This is a LinkedIn post from Abdelaziz Almaazmi about nurturing creativity and using it as secret weapon for problem solving while thinking outside the box. It’s worth a watch.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/abdelaziz-almaazmi-304a261a_nurturing-creativity-in-a-world-of-constant-activity-7121110935624151040-_StL?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop 

 

80 Cheap Dinner Recipes

Skip takeout and try these tasty recipes. Camille Lowder, a digital food producer at Delish provides fabulous meals for the oven, Instant Pot, stove top and more.  These meals are cheap, easy and quick to prepare for weeknight meals. 

https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g3166/cheap-easy-recipes/ 

 

Best gift ideas for 2023

Searching for a gift for someone that has “everything”?  This link has a ton of great ideas. Divided up into categories for men, women, teens and much, much more it easy to find a gift for the person you are looking for.

https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/gifts/gift-ideas 

 

The 15+ Best Digital Marketing Tools for Marketers and Agencies

I’m sure you’re already using or are familiar with a few of these tools, but hopefully there are a few new ones to help your marketing processes to move even more smoothly.

https://dashthis.com/blog/best-digital-marketing-tools/ 

By Diana Carr, R&R Engineers-Surveyors, Inc.

Back in Kansas, where I’m from, we take our barbeque (BBQ) very seriously. I can still remember eating ribs at KC Masterpiece, no BBQ sauce needed because I was raised that you only need the sauce if the meat isn’t what it could be. As I got older, a pulled pork sandwich from Oklahoma Joe’s, which was actually out of a gas station, was all a BBQ lover could ask for. 

Now, like Dorothy, we’re not in Kansas anymore, but having lived in Idaho Springs, Colorado for almost 4 years, Smokin’ Yards has become the place that takes, at least our taste buds, back home. 



To be completely honest, being a local in a touristy mountain town like Idaho Springs, we don’t “go out” to eat often, but Smokin’ Yards makes it easy to call in our order and pick it up at the window outside in less than 30 minutes. They are also great about double-checking you’re calling in your order to the right spot since they also have a Denver location (900 W. 1st Ave, Denver, CO 80223), which also serves some fantastic BBQ! But I am here to speak to the amazing Idaho Springs location we visit on an all-too-regular basis. 

Now let’s get to “the meat of it,” shall we? From the Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich to the Burnt Ends, from the Sliced Beef Brisket to the Baby Rack Ribs, and from the Chicken Fried Steak to the Fried Catfish, each option easily meets the high standards of the Midwest.

One more thing worth mentioning, and if you’re a BBQ enthusiast, you’ll likely agree that the sides are just as important as the main course. Our go-to sides are the fried okra, smoked baked beans, country-style mac & cheese, and the southern-style green beans. And if you order the Chicken Fried Steak, you obviously want to go with the mashed potatoes and gravy.  

 

My husband and I may not have tried EVERYTHING on the Idaho Springs Menu quite yet, which FYI can differ slightly from the Denver options, but between our almost weekly visits and all the times we’ve ordered it for out-of-town family, we really have tried almost all the items offered and have always had a great experience. Everything we’ve tried so far, we have loved every bite. Should your taste buds be calling out for some excellent BBQ and you happen to be headed up the mountain, you will not be disappointed. 

Pros: The meat, the sides, and yes, even the staff are always fantastic, and it’s super affordable! 

Cons: Honestly, my husband and I can’t think of any complaints! I’m sure the wait to sit inside can be a bit long since they’re always busy, but since we always call ahead we never have to worry about that. 

Recommendations: As I’m sure you can tell if you’ve made it this far, everything is a good decision, but my weekly order normally goes something like this: Pulled Pork Sandwich with a side of fried okra and mac & cheese. 

As we enter into ski season and you head up the hill, I highly recommend you either swing by or call ahead for a pickup order at Smokin’ Yards BBQ in Idaho Springs!

303-567-9273   |  2736 Colorado Blvd, Idaho Springs, CO 80452
Hours: Sun–Thur. 11:00am–8:00pm   |   Fri & Sat 11:00am–8:00pm

By Martha Wright, Harris Kocher, Smith

The temperatures dip, the days get shorter, and marketing planning and budgeting for a new year begins! Marketers on all levels, from coordinators to directors, are crunching numbers, reflecting on the past year, and planning for future efforts. 

What does the future look like? What challenges do marketers anticipate in the year ahead? Over 80% of respondents identified economic instability as the primary challenge they are facing, with intense competition (72%) and shifting customer preferences (55%) following closely behind. 

When it comes to planning itself, 75% of respondents indicated that their firm sets strategic goals each year. Strategic marketing planning is enormously helpful to ensure you and your business partners are aligned on goals. Strategic goals ensure firm resources (time and money) are spent on efforts that your leadership team has identified as priorities for the firm. If you are a lone marketer in a firm, identifying these priorities can go a long way in helping you manage your time and energy. 

Brand awareness (83%), customer retention (67%), and market expansion (67%) landed in the top three spots as primary marketing objectives for the upcoming year. Respondents indicated that they plan to use a variety of marketing channels to achieve their goals, with account-based (one-to-one), content, and social media marketing flagged as budget priorities. Email marketing, conferences, and SEO/SEM rounded out the tactics marketers plan to use to achieve strategic goals.  

When discussing goals and campaigns for the year ahead, you may be thinking, “how on earth do I get this all done?” Exactly half of marketers polled indicated that their firms utilize outside consultants to help them achieve their goals. Most utilize help in the areas of content marketing (67%), followed by email marketing, social media, SEO/SEM, and account-based marketing (all at 33%). 

To round out the survey, we asked marketers what new technologies they planned on adopting in the new year and (surprise, surprise) AI tools topped the list. Be sure to check out the SMPS Colorado calendar for upcoming events focused on implementing AI tools into your marketing processes: Improve your IA IQ (November 17) and Fireside Chats: ChatGPT and AI in Proposals (November 30). 

Welcome new SMPS Colorado Members!
Lisa Hicks, CMP, MIRM
FitzGerald Associates Architects PLLC
 
Justin Merrill
Saunders Construction, Inc.
 
Laura Andrews
Rocky Mountain Student Media
 
Nick Kirkpatrick
BT Construction
Learn more about SMPS Membership.
Thank you to the SMPS Colorado Communications Committee members and others who helped compile, edit, and produce this newsletter!
Copyright © 2023 SMPS Colorado, All rights reserved. 

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