Welcome to the Nov/Dec 2024 Issue of the Marketer

Be sure to dive in and peruse the full lineup of articles in this issue of the Marketer titled Reflection. Our contributing writers share personal stories of lessons learned and winning approaches from their career paths. You will also find practical insights on the value of taking time to assess your or your firm's recent past and current state as you look forward to growth and new objectives for 2025.

In "The Race for Growth," Jennifer Hafferbacker points out, "Marketers are the drivers of business growth, always fine-tuning their strategies to handle the twists and turns, ensuring your firm crosses the finish line first, with the right clients and projects." She shares six actionable marketing and business development strategies to thrive amidst uncertainty. In my interview with SMPS Foundation Trustee Sarah Kindard, Sarah talks about how the Foundation took time to reflect on past work and asked, 'How can we deliver something annually that our members anticipate?' The result was the Foundation's 2024 report, Building Resilience, AEC's Path Beyond 2025. Bernie Siben, CPSM provides advice from his long A/E/C career, along with insights from Jen McGovern, CPSM, and Jeffrey Taub, FSMPS, CPSM, about how to bring value to yourself and your firm by expanding your job description one step at a time. Bernie states, "Remember that if you want to move up, you must look for skills, knowledge, and tasks that will be of direct benefit to your department and your firm." In Emma Boghossian's article, "From Engineering to Marketing," she relays, "My journey from engineering to marketing was not a straight path—it was a series of bold leaps. Over time, I came to realize that both disciplines are about creating value and driving progress, whether through engagement, trust-building, or measurable business growth." Stacy Stout, FSMPS, CPSM, who leads the Pinnacle Experience, provides highlights from this year's conference. She believes the 2024 event was "A call to action for senior marketers to redefine their roles as strategic leaders. By embracing discomfort, building confidence, and taking ownership of their unique expertise, attendees acquired a toolkit of strategies to make a lasting impact on their organizations." In "The Power of a Visual Asset Library," Ely Hemnes, CEO and Founder of The Unfound Door, gives this perfect description of the purpose and value of a visual asset library — "The foundation of your brand's visual storytelling, a tool that helps you share your 'Why,' and a resource that creates efficiencies across all aspects of marketing and communications." As always, your voice, perspective, and experience are essential as we continually strive to deliver excellent content for SMPS members through the Marketer. Reach out to marketer@smps.org with your article ideas or questions. Thank you.