President's Message - June 2022
Originally planned for April 2020, my family of nine adults finally toured Ireland. For most of us, this was our first time visiting the country that our six direct ancestors left during the Great Hunger in the 1840s and 1850s.
I didn’t bring my laptop, and midway through I stopped checking email. I am grateful to work for a company (shout out to Langan!) that supports and even encourages us to fully unplug during our vacations.
Still, I felt like I was using the skills I developed as an A/E/C marketer, and I wonder if this is the case for many of you? I planned the itinerary. I herded the cats. I made the decisions, sometimes by saying “I suggest we do this…” I balanced different needs among the group, and ensured some people had a day off from others. I even edited my genealogy report on a particularly long drive. And though I lack an engineering background, I still caught myself kneeling down on the ground to look closer at the foundation level of a structure, wondering how these structures have managed to stay upright for hundreds and even thousands of years.
(PHOTO: Me at the Spain Tower in Southwest Cork, Ireland)
Now I am back, and I have some wonderful Chapter news to share with you.
On the people front, we have a new Fellow within our Chapter: Joy Woo, FSMPS, CPSM, LEED AP. Congratulations Joy! SMPS Fellows represent the highest level of experience and leadership in our industry. Joy is the fourth Fellow within our Chapter.
Our Executive Committee voted to name the Volunteer of the Year award after the late Catherine “Katie” Spurlock. This is a rare recognition fitting for someone who exemplifies volunteerism for SMPS. Katie served on every Chapter committee before becoming President in 2015-2016, and then continued to volunteer. As a member of our Awards Night Task Force this year, she came up with the name “Topaz” in our rebrand. And so, it will be bittersweet to honor Katie at our Topaz Awards Night on Thursday, June 23 with the Catherine F. Spurlock Volunteer of the Year Award. Early bird deadline for ticket pricing to attend the program ends tomorrow (Friday, 6/10 at 5:00PM).
Speaking of volunteerism, we will be celebrating our current volunteers next month for our Volunteer Appreciation Event. In August, we will be hosting the Volunteer Day with our nonprofit partner, Common Vision, and Ruby Ridges Elementary School.
If you are a new member or thinking about becoming a member, you can learn more at our Taste of SMPS next Wednesday (it’s free and virtual).
My presidency ends August 31st and I will pass the torch to Laurie Lumish, CPSM. My last goal I hope to achieve is launching a new salary survey. Our Chapter last conducted a survey in 2018. A lot has changed since then. It’s time to collect new data. Stay tuned for details on the survey.
Shannon Daggett, CPSM
Marketing Manager, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc.
[email protected]
President, SMPS SF Bay Area Chapter
