Great in 2007-2008
September 15, 2008
Much like your favorite television clip shows or season re-caps, SMPS/LA would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of its members, accomplishments and events that contributed to the success of the 2007-2008 board term. Rest assured, there is no cliffhanger, but there is a 2008-2009 SMPS/LA Board of Director ready take the Los Angeles Chapter to new heights through education, communication and most importantly, overall member satisfaction.
President-Elect(ion)
With organizational changes amidst in late December 2007, President-Elect Brandy Little of S&K Engineers accepted the challenge to serve as acting president. With the board’s full support, Little challenged the organization to provide full member services that encapsulated the nature our industry through effective education and networking opportunities. This led to a 2008 calendar year chock full of great programs backed by an enthusiast board and a new leader that became fully engrossed in the mission of SMPS/LA.
The 2008-2009 board term will be no different. With Little in full presidential form, she is supported by President-Elect Gina Webster of International Parking Design. Under the leadership of these two very committed individuals, the SMPS/LA membership will find opportunities and resources to be plentiful and rewarding.
People of the Year
Much of SMPS/LA’s success is directly related to volunteer participation and sponsorship. In a new awards platform slated to become an annual tradition, SMPS/LA combined its member and board appreciation events to create a casual evening in which everyone could gather to celebrate the year’s accomplishments. Awards were given in the following categories:
Model Citizen Award - Andrea Walden, Vantage Technologies
Most actively engaged member in the chapter
Frequent Flyer Award - Ford Graphics
Most generous and frequent sponsor
Rising Star Award - Jason Hamlin, HOK
Committee member for exceptional dedication and potential
ABCD Award - Megan Folland, Morley Builders
Board member who went Above & Beyond the Call of Duty
It is SMPS/LA’s sincere intention to create a variety of educational opportunities for our membership through committee involvement. If you are interested in participating on a committee, please contact Brandy Little of S&K Engineers at blittle@skengineers.com or contact the committee chair in which you are interested in participating.
President-Elect National
Congratulations to Tom Smith of Bonterra Consulting for his appointment to President-Elect of SMPS National. Smith took time to address the Los Angeles membership the annual appreciation event in late 2008, offering his positive approach and outlook, which will ultimately propel both the national and local organizations of SMPS.
Program of the Year
The highlight of this year’s program schedule was the 27th Annual Leonardo Awards Program and Marketing Communications Awards. With great wine and conversation, snazzily dressed ladies and men clad in their Sunday best gathered at the California Club to honor A/E/C’s best and brightest in the Los Angeles region. Leonardo nominees included Paula Stamp of PCL Construction Services, Inc., Andrea Walden of Vantage Technologies and winner Daniel Slater of Smith-Emery Group.
Marketing Communications Awards featured its second year in Los Angeles, and honored Zimmer Gunsul Frasca (ZGF), Killefer Flammang Architects, Morley Builders and Vantage Technologies for outstanding communication through a variety of mediums. ZGF took home the People’s Choice and Best in Show, leaving them with awards in triplicate.
The Leonardo Awards Program and Marketing Communications Awards of 2008 were recognized by our membership as the best event yet. SMPS/LA would like to extend a sincere thanks to Past President Tonya Giebel of HNTB Architecture and her committee for their outstanding achievements in showing us, well simply put, a great time.
Pop-Up Chapter
SMPS Orange County is in full swing! For those members who have Orange County zip codes, your membership has been re-assigned. This does not, however, mean you can’t join the fun and excitement in Los Angeles. In fact, we encourage both Los Angeles and Orange County members to take advantage of all of the educational and networking opportunities throughout the southland!
