Leslie Blaize (MSA) and Larry the Lobster

Regional Conference goes for the checkered flag

by Jill Holstine (J. P. Cullen & Sons)

On your mark! Get set! Go! In the competitive world of the A/E/C industry, firms are like race cars circling the track just waiting for competitors to take a pit stop. During the 2010 SMPS Heartland Regional Conference in Indianapolis, IN on April 28-30, Leslie Blaize, of MSA, and Jill Holstine, of J. P. Cullen & Sons, Inc, and Michelle Smith, of M&I Bank, enjoyed seminars and speakers to help their firms race ahead. Holstine and Smith were winners of SMPS Wisconsin’s breakfast program raffle drawings for free registration to the conference.

The conference provided a “national” appeal to SMPS chapters throughout the Midwest. The three-day conference began with a night of networking and an awards dinner, followed by a day of breakout sessions that kept us on the go all day.

The conference provided three seminar choices every hour and a half that included:

• Storyboarding for better proposals
• Understanding the four basic communication styles and how to more effectively communicate with others
• Developing and executing a winning strategy for major pursuits
• CRM Cradle to Grave – Lessons Learned
• Marketing on a roller Coaster – Lessons Learned from a changing economy
• Developing your unique Value Proposition
• Social Media Panel
• Marketing and Business Development Roundtable
• Winning strategies for powerful project interviews
• DIY: Digital Marketing on a Dime- SEO, Blogging and Social Media
• Accelerate your marketing material with great design
• Business Developers - !LIVE!

In addition, at lunch, attendees were able to participate in a Healthcare Market Panel Discussion, which discussed everything from the new healthcare bill to how healthcare selects a designer and contractor. It was very informative and provided the owners perspective on the A/E/C industry. The day ended with a fun-filled night at Indianapolis’ hot spot “Howl at the Moon,” with special guest, Larry the Lobster!

On the third and final day the Indianapolis Chapter brought in Dr. Will Miller, comedian, minister, and author, to deliver a lively performance packed with perspective and practical tips on achieving equilibrium from his new book “Refrigerator Rights: Creating Essential Relationships.”