Contributed by Melissa Newton, Portland Marketing Manager at DKS Associates

This is my third year as a participant in the SMPS Senior Marketer Roundtable. Since I have been involved I have gained invaluable insights from other senior marketers, built strong relationships with those in similar marketing roles, learned more on important marketing topics and new trends and had opportunities to challenge myself, resulting in positive career growth. 

Each year there have been new topics to be discussed, new people to meet and new presentations to be given. In fact, just today I co-presented with Beth Flanagan from Alta Planning on the subject of communications. We addressed several topics such as our individual firm structures involving communication roles, our strategic communication plans and I outlined a recent social media campaign we recently kicked-off here at DKS. We started it off by asking all twenty participants how they approached communications at their firms. We encouraged discussion and questions throughout the presentation. The goal is to engage and learn from each other.

It was educational and interesting to learn how different firms are approaching communication roles when it comes to marketing. How the size of your firm can play a big role in that approach. And with both of our firms establishing ourselves in the new/smart mobility market space, how our communication strategies for business development are making a big difference right now.  

In fact, Beth and I hope to propose a session covering this topic at the 2020 SMPS PRC in Las Vegas. If not for this roundtable, this level of coordination and teamwork would not have come about. This roundtable provides a supportive group of colleagues to help encourage and challenge each other in the best, most positive of ways.

And this was only one topic, additional interactive presentations have included, strategic marketing and planning, along with developing marketing budgets, the collaboration between HR and marketing, company brand refresh and tenure marketing strategies, managing and mentoring and training business development staff. There really is a topic of interest for everyone. 

Yet, why I love our topics and discussions, I appreciate the group of friends I have met from my Senior Marketing Roundtable the most. They are the people I can call and ask for advice, meet to talk to about a challenging day or situation or email to be inspired! 

If you are not part of an SMPS roundtable, I strongly encourage you to find one that suits your interests. There are so many great ones to choose from. Otherwise, in all honesty, you really are missing out. 

For more information on the Roundtables offered by our Chapter, visit: https://smpsoregon.org/Roundtables or contact Kelly Johnson, Director of Professional Development.