Member Spotlight: Rochelle Beckel
Each month we try to feature a Chapter member, asking them about SMPS and more. Find out below how Rochelle got into the A/E/C industry, her favorite TV shows and movies, and her amazing secret skill!
Rochelle Beckel
Assistant Manager, Communications
Webcor
What led you to the A/E/C industry?
In early 2019, my longtime friend Ava Cunningham (this year’s Catherine F. Spurlock Volunteer of the Year and current Vice Chair of the SMPS-SFBAC Communications Committee) shared with me via LinkedIn an opening for a Marketing Coordinator role in her now-former team at Webcor. The timing was perfect because my now-husband had just accepted a job in the Bay Area that would begin once he completed his Master’s Degree at the University of San Diego a couple of months later, so we were beginning to plan our move back to the Bay. I’d just begun my Bay Area job search for marketing/communications-related roles, so seeing Ava’s LinkedIn post felt a bit like fate. She very successfully sold me on the idea of joining the Webcor Marketing Team and assured me that my lack of construction knowledge wouldn’t be a major issue, so I sent her my resume, scored an interview with her team, and was offered the Marketing Coordinator role a couple of weeks later.
Why did you join SMPS and/or why do you continue to be a member?
Once again, I have Ava to thank, as well as my former teammate Emily McAtee and former boss Tom Soohoo. They all strongly encouraged me to get involved and explained that joining SMPS would be a great opportunity to learn more about the A/E/C industry and connect with marketing professionals of all levels who understood the highs and lows of being A/E/C marketers. Although I transitioned from Webcor’s Marketing team to Communications about a year ago, I still enjoy being part of SMPS and appreciate the many learning opportunities offered. It’s also been a great way to meet more people in marketing/comms within the A/E/C industry. One of those people was Katie Spurlock, who was my assigned SMPS “buddy” when I joined. When we met, she immediately put me at ease with her genuinely kind nature as I confided that I felt like I was way in over my head in this somewhat intimidating new industry. I always knew I could go to her for professional input/advice without being remotely judged—I’m incredibly lucky to have known her and been supported by her on some small level.
What’s your favorite job task?
Now that I’ve transitioned to Communications (encompasses internal and external communications), I get to write employee-focused stories, such as the amazing work some of my colleagues are doing in our communities regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR), which includes sustainability, DEI, and other community-related efforts. These are by far my favorite types of stories to write.
Do you work from home, in the office, or a hybrid?
I think I’m one of the very few people who prefer to work from the office—I was going in 4 to 5 days per week for a while, but since updating my at-home office space I’ve been more motivated to work from home a couple of days per week on a regular basis!
Favorite TV show?
I’m a HUGE fan of television and have completed an embarrassing number of TV series. Right now, I’m watching the current seasons of Ramy, Atlanta, Industry, and Abbott Elementary. I recently finished Mo and The Bear and absolutely loved both of them. Shows I tend to watch on a loop are Gilmore Girls, Friends, and The Office (original, I know). All-around excellent TV shows that I recommend to anyone include Six Feet Under, Shameless, and Insecure.
Favorite movie?
Hard to say, but the first ones that come to mind are Bridesmaids, Trainwreck, and Juno.
Do you have a secret skill?
If someone tells me their birthday once, I’ll probably remember it forever. I think it’s because I was always the youngest in my grade growing up and hated it, so I always remembered the people who were actually younger than me!
