2021-2022 SMPS San Francisco Bay Area Board of Directors!
Meet our new Board! The SMPS San Francisco Bay Area Chapter 2021/2022 board term runs September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022. The incoming board has spent the summer planning for the new board year through two virtual strategic planning sessions, reviewing our 3-year strategic plan, and creating goals and objectives for the upcoming year.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Shannon Daggett, CPSM | President
Marketing Manager, Langan
Shannon is the Marketing Manager for Langan, an engineering and environmental consulting firm, for West Coast offices in California, Arizona, and Pacific Northwest. She has over 20 years of experience, the past 10 in the AEC industry. She previously served as Director for the Sponsorship Committee and volunteered on the Outreach & Development and Communication committees. In her role as President, she aims to find ways to recognize achievements of local members and champion growth in professional development via our chapter programs and initiatives. She devotes much of her downtime to Peloton, genealogy, knitting/crocheting, virtual happy hours, and, to be frank, the latest and greatest TV show.
Travel Plans: Ireland 2020 has now turned into Ireland 2022.
Kim Pipkin | President-Elect
Black Kite Consulting
After launching our chapter’s DEI Initiatives, Kim is embracing her new chapter leadership role. Working with the Board, committee members, and volunteers, she will continue to facilitate a shared vision and responsibility for advancing inclusionary goals in the AEC industry. With over 30 years of experience, Kim is highly skilled at positioning companies to generate revenue and has expertise in new media and traditional marketing communication initiatives that support business development campaign strategies. An avid gardener and cook, she has spent time perfecting her apricot jam recipe during shelter-in-place.
Travel Plans: Actual plans, venturing to the 510, 925, and 707 for discreet activities! One-day destinations include Quebec, NYC, and DC.
Allison Halvorson, CPSM | Immediate Past President
Communications Director | Senior Associate, McMillen Jacobs Associates
Allison is the Communications Director for McMillen Jacobs Associates, a multidisciplinary firm providing a comprehensive array of technical services to the heavy civil, underground, and water resources markets. She has over 20 years of broad-based marketing and communications experience. She believes in SMPS’s vision: Business Transformed through Marketing Leadership, and enjoys helping members and volunteers learn, grow, and connect. Allison lives in Walnut Creek with her 18-year old son who just graduated from high school.
Travel Plans: I have finally rescheduled my trip to Greece that was supposed to happen last summer!
Cathy Kohatsu | Secretary
Swinerton
Cathy is a Proposal Manager and Corporate Social Responsibility Ambassador at Swinerton, a full-service, 100% employee-owned construction company with projects across the U.S. With more than 20 years of marketing experience, she rejoins the Board, this time as Secretary. She has been an active SMPS chapter member serving in roles, including Outreach & Development Director, Treasurer, and Job Bank Administrator. She is looking forward to when it’s safe to swing dance again.
Travel Plans: Nothing planned, but I’d love to go to Italy, France, NYC, and Chicago.
Christina Benedict | Treasurer
Operations Accounting, Swinerton
Christina continues her role as Treasurer for the Chapter entering the 2021-22 Board Year. In an accounting role for Swinerton, Christina is well positioned to support the SMPS SFBAC Chapter as Treasurer. Swinerton provides construction services throughout the United States, delivering innovative solutions to clients across every sector, in every industry. Previously the Membership Committee Director, this is Christina’s second year on the Executive Board. She has a passion for helping others and loves the supportive network that SMPS provides.
Travel Plans: Cancun in June (fingers crossed)
COMMITTEE DIRECTORS
Nicole Medina, CPSM | Communications Director
Strategic Pursuits Coordinator, Harris & Associates
Nicole is a Strategic Pursuits Coordinator at Harris & Associates, a firm that provides planning, funding, environmental, civil design, and construction management services throughout the West Coast. She has volunteered on a couple of committees and is excited to step into a leadership role on Communications. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, paddle boarding, reading books, working out, or watching something on TV.
Travel Plans: Actual: Disneyland this Fall, Dream: Greece or Bora Bora.
Jillian Grabenstein, CPSM, ENV SP | Membership Director
Senior Strategic Pursuits Coordinator, Harris & Associates
Jillian joins the SMPS SFBAC Board as Membership Director, having volunteered on the Membership Committee for over four years. She is a Senior Strategic Pursuits Coordinator at Harris & Associates, a firm that provides planning, funding, environmental, civil design, and construction management services throughout the West Coast. Jillian started her SMPS journey as a student member and enjoys helping
members further their professional development and find ways to get involved. When she’s not at work, you can find her in the barre studio or spending time with her boyfriend and their German Shepherd/Husky mix!
Travel Plans: Cancun in September, Boston in October, and Hawaii in November (fingers also crossed!)
Devon Bacon | Outreach & Development Director
Business Development Manager, BKF
Devon is a Business Development Manager at BKF – a firm that provides engineering, surveying, and land planning services to a wide variety of clients. She will continue her role on the SMPS SFBAC 2021/2022 board as Outreach & Development Director and is looking forward to relaunching a new year of exciting opportunities for our members through programs like Mentoring Pathways, Business Leaders
Forum, CPSM Study Group, and SMPS Gives Back. She enjoys networking and returning to interpersonal connections in the workplace. While not working, Devon enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as travel and outdoor adventures.
Travel Plans: Just returned from Bend, Oregon...Beautiful! I hope our family can plan a trip which requires airplane travel in the next year to really feel like we took a vacation….maybe Canada or Hawaii!
Kate Blocker | Outreach & Development Director
Director of Marketing, Blach Construction
Kate Blocker has more than 30 years of experience across all facets of professional service, B2B, and consumer/retail marketing. She has been overseeing marketing at Blach Construction since 2016, where she spearheads all marketing initiatives to support brand awareness, corporate communication, business development, and project promotion. A member of SMPS since she joined Blach, Kate has enjoyed expanding her network and knowledge of the A/E/C industry, while sharing her marketing expertise and coaching others. She co-led Mentoring Pathways last year and is looking forward to stepping into an expanded role by co-directing O&D this year. In her spare time, Kate loves celebrating life with family and friends!
Travel Plans: It’s football season, so nothing too extravagant...Labor Day at family home on Lake Tulloch, Nov wedding in Pismo, June wedding in Seattle and hopefully a family / family vacation soon, somewhere tropical! 
Lillian Martin | Programs Director
Senior Administrative Manager, Swinerton
As a Senior Administrative Manager at Swinerton, Lillian likes to say that good administrators are like ducks. They always look so calm - you never see how hard they’re working under water! She joins the board as Programs Director after having served in multiple volunteer positions on both the Programs and Membership committees. She is excited to help plan programs that support member learning and
growth. In her free time, she enjoys trying new recipes and collecting Le Creuset cookware!
Travel Plans: No immediate travel plans, but I look forward to being able to travel internationally again soon. I would love to go back to Hong Kong and Japan. Hopefully we can also pull off an Italian trip for my husband’s milestone birthday.
Tyler Chartier | Programs Director
Owner, Tyler Chartier Photography
Tyler Chartier is a commercial photographer and educator who shoots architecture and people for regional and national companies. He helps clients build stories that create strong connections between their brand and their audience. Joining the Board as Programs Director, Tyler is passionate about the SMPS community and contributing to the success of our members. He lives in Petaluma with his wife, 2
sons, 1 dog, 2 cats and 11 chickens!
Travel Plans: Boat camping on the Tomales Bay with family and a fall 2021 road trip to visit a few National Parks.
CHAPTER ADVISOR
Marion Thatch, FSMPS, CPCC | Chapter Advisor
Consultant, Distinction in Marketing
Marion has been a Chapter Advisor for many years. A Past-President and SMPS Fellow, she has been involved with SMPS since 1987 in multiple roles at both the Chapter and Society level. An expert at strategic planning and executive coaching, she is a marketing consultant who provides clients with high-level marketing expertise and training. Marion believes in giving back and enjoys staying active with SMPS to help others grow and become leaders.
Travel Plans: Portugal in September (although may be postponed) and Hawaii in October for a family wedding that was postponed from last year.
