A Twist of Fate: Founder of SMPS SFBAC's Founders Award Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Judi Sayler, CPSM, was awarded the lifetime achievement award last month at the SFBAC Founders Awards. The celebration at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco was complete with glitter and crowns; as Judi put it: “it was such a wonderful night, a truly magical and elegant evening, that turned out so beautifully.” I sat down with Judi for an interview on her amazing history within the industry and how much she has contributed to SMPS.
Am I correct in stating that you in fact developed the original Founders Awards and Lifetime Achievement Award for SMPS SFBAC?
I did! I got a committee together and we wrote all of the criteria and executed it. I was asked to start the Founders Awards by the local chapter, since I had served on the AIA design awards for 7 to 8 years prior. We used this as a template to adapt to our awards and build it from there, flying by the seat of our pants a bit. There are so many elements to the awards, with call for entry and judging; the first year we didn’t ask for enough binders for everything, so I stayed up the whole night copying submissions! The history was very important for the chapter in starting the Founders Awards, with so many well-known members, people who were previously known as “BD Anonymous,” who had felt that they had to hide from their employers.
How did you react when you found out you won the Lifetime Achievement Award?
I was thrilled! Being honored was so special for me; it was dazzling, and with the little crown it was a really special evening. I am so grateful for it. It couldn’t have gone any better!
You’ve been involved in SMPS since 1986, what first drew you to the organization?
It was at the first firm I joined, as an administrator, just after getting my Master’s degree from San Francisco State. The firm had a person there who did marketing; his name was Ken Lerch, who became my mentor. Ken drove a little red scooter and wore a bowtie and would come into the office mid-morning with a chronicle tucked under his arm and latte in his other hand, sit back in his chair, and read the newspaper. On top of that he was always getting calls from people wanting to go to lunch and coffee with him. I thought, what does this guy do? So, I finally asked, and he told me he “does marketing and BD” and part of that was staying informed and regularly meeting with clients. I asked: how do you get this job? And he told me, “you can do it, if you’re interested.” He was part of BD Anonymous at that time, and so I started going to meetings with him.
Once I formally joined SMPS, after moving up from marketing coordinator to manager I got involved on the marketing committee right away, then became treasurer and eventually President. You just sort of increase your involvement according to your history and interests. I recognized the importance of being involved in your organization so you can develop your network and maintain it.
What is the most valuable thing you have learned from SMPS?
Stay connected. Your network is everything. I really think SMPS supports you to build that network. Everyone in SMPS is really willing to share; you can use that network forever and you never know where people are going to end up.
What is your best SMPS memory?
Other than winning the lifetime achievement award?! I’d have to say, my presidency, even though I was dreading it. Everyone was helpful and I had a great board. I still remember very plainly our strategic planning meeting we held at the yacht club in San Francisco where we set mentorship as our top goal. I was really proud during my presidency that we started the mentoring program that is still running today!
Mentorship has been an important aspect for you and your relationship with SMPS, having started the Mentorship Pathways and other mentorships programs. What advice would you give to younger members?
Get a mentor, especially if you are new to the industry; find someone you admire. Someone might have 4 to 5 mentors throughout their life. During the early stages of your life you need a different kind of mentor than you do later on; It will change in your career according to your job responsibility and where you are in your life.
What’s next? Now that you’ve achieved this honor, what are your next goals?
Retirement! Figure out where I want to live. I want to live where there is sun and sand and surf and water. Also trying to volunteer for more things. I do a lot with IFMA (International Facilities Management Association)—such as volunteering and running their mentoring program. And I’m a big animal lover and believe everyone has the right to eat, so I’d like to volunteer in those areas as well!
Thank you to Judi for taking the time to share her story and for her many contributions to SMPS throughout the years. Lastly, congratulations for winning this well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. You rock!
Katelyn Surprenant is the Senior Business Development Coordinator for DCI Engineers in the San Francisco Bay Area. With more than six years of A/E/C industry experience, she naturally applies her communications and anthropology background when pursuing and strengthening relationships for DCI. She is a passionate environmentalist and will jump on any chance to get out into nature! She is currently an active member of the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) and Commercial Real Estate Women (CREWsf).
