Meet SMPS Connecticut's 2023/2024 Board of Directors
Posted by Marta Dabrowski on Aug. 28, 2023 / SMPS CT / Subscribe 0
Meet SMPS Connecticut's incoming 2023/2024 board of directors and learn more about their journey with SMPS !
- DANA LEE | 2023/2024 President| Senior Proposal and Content Management Specialist, Tighe & Bond
- JULIA DEFRANCES | 2023/2024 Immediate Past President | Senior Marketing Coordinator, BL Companies
- MARIE PROTOMASTRO PATEL | 2023/2024 Director | Director of Marketing, Redniss & Mead | Founder, Girl On The Ball Solutions LLC
- CYNTHIA COLÓN | 2023/2024 Director | Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator, Centerbrook Architects and Planners
- STEPHANIE BEALS | 2023/2024 Director | Director of Marketing, TSKP Studio
- LAURA BERDEBES | 2023/2024 Director | Marketing Coordinator, Martinez Couch & Associates, LLC
- KATELYN BIRGE | 2023/2024 Secretary | Manager of Business Development and Administration, Sustainable Engineering Solutions, LLC
- CHRIS ABEL | 2023/2024 Treasurer | Membership Director, Associated Builders and Contractors of CT
DANA LEE | 2023/2024 President | Senior Proposal and Content Management Specialist, Tighe & Bond
Dana Lee is a Senior Proposal & Content Management Specialist with Tighe & Bond where she works closely with technical staff in the preparation of proposals and qualifications, in addition to marketing and communications content development. Dana first started in the A/E/C industry in 2001 with a firm in New Haven, CT. After having the opportunity to work with various firms around the country, she is happy to be back home where she first got started. Dana recently served as Committee Chair and member of the Mentorship Committee and is beyond excited to start her role as President of SMPS CT. When she’s not working, she can be found spending time with her family, including her two dogs, Olive and Rocky, as well as reading, writing, and gardening.
"I got involved with SMPS Connecticut when I first started in the industry in 2001 with a small firm in New Haven. My boss at the time was and remains an integral part of SMPS Connecticut and she encouraged me to join. Since then, I’ve moved around the country and have been involved with other chapters, but there is nothing like being back with SMPS Connecticut."
"Build your network – it’s a small community and the connections you make will last a lifetime. Things often come full circle in this industry!"
"Meeting new members, connecting with the old, and the chance to work with my peers to plan some amazing events. I’m loving getting back to in-person events again!"
"Lifelong friends, mentors, invaluable knowledge, leadership and communication skills, and connections that have lasted my entire career."
"As President, I am excited to get started implementing all I’ve learned over the past year in preparation for this role. We have a fantastic and wildly talented group of volunteers at SMPS Connecticut and I’m excited to see what we will accomplish!”
JULIA DEFRANCES | 2023/2024 Immediate Past President | Senior Marketing Coordinator, BL Companies
Julia DeFrances has worked in the AEC industry for ten years and has been a member of SMPS since 2013 – both as a student and as a professional member. Throughout her time in SMPS, she has served as Committee Chair, Treasurer, President-Elect, President, and now as Immediate Past President. In 2021 she received the Trailblazer Professional Achievement Award from SMPS Connecticut. As a Senior Marketing Coordinator at BL Companies, Julia is able to combine a love of creating with a passion for writing by developing communications collateral, proposals, articles, award submissions, and more.
" It’s no surprise that I first heard about SMPS through my mother, Cathy Vittorio. As a two-time past president herself, she has always encouraged me to get involved with SMPS."
"There’s so much to look forward to each year, but by far my favorite part of each program year is getting to work with all of our chapter’s amazing and talented volunteers. The connections I make each year are always so rewarding!
"It’s hard to overstate how much I’ve gotten out of SMPS – I’ve gained everything from professional development, education and experience to an expansive network and life-long friends. I know I wouldn’t be nearly as successful if I’d never joined SMPS."
MARIE PROTOMASTRO PATEL | 2023/2024 Director | Director of Marketing, Redniss & Mead | Founder, Girl On The Ball Solutions LLC
Marie is a marketing specialist with over twenty-five years of professional services marketing experience including 12 years of experience in the A/E/C industry. Marie’s career has been focused on developing her marketing knowledge and networking to build her sphere of influence. Before Marie’s career at Redniss & Mead, she worked as Communications Specialist for IBM and as Marketing Manager for several professional services firms. She currently dedicates her time to both Redniss & Mead and to clients at her own fractional marketing management firm, Girl On The Ball Solutions.
"As soon as I checked out the mailer that was sent to Redniss & Mead, I knew I needed to be a member! I had been working as a team of one in my current role for 5 years and was excited to learn about the existence of a professional society of marketers in AEC – I had finally found ‘my people’!"
"My favorite SMPS events have been the socials which I had been directly involved with planning as a member and then as co-chair of the programs committee. I had gotten involved to expand membership and bring programs to Fairfield County. We had planned a golf social – and then COVID happened - so we pivoted to virtual and got creative – we “Traveled to Hawaii”, we were “Mad Men Marketers” and we hosted fireside chats in front of real fireplaces in the featured guests’ homes! The creativity from the minds of these committee members has been astounding!"
"Now that we are having in person events, I enjoy getting together and getting to personally know the members I’ve met and networking with members I have not met yet."
"Volunteering with SMPS CT has been fun! I appreciate the many events that have been opportunities to meet extraordinary marketers. Because I am a marketing department of one in a firm of AEC professionals, I now have a fabulous network of colleagues."
"I hope to continue to have fun and build more relationships with this wonderful cohort! I also hope to help bring valuable learning programs to our members and further develop my marketing expertise from the many SMPS educational and mentoring programs."
CYNTHIA COLÓN | 2023/2024 Director | Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator, Centerbrook Architects and Planners
As Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator of Centerbrook Architects and Planners, Cynthia is engaged in all things marketing, combining writing expertise, design sensibility, and project coordination to lead publicity efforts. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in professional writing, she joined the A/E/C industry in 2019. Since then, Cynthia has been recognized for expeditious growth as a marketing professional and her notable contributions to SMPS. She has served as Secretary on the Board of Directors, received the 2020 Trail Blazer Award, and is an active member of the Communications Committee and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce.
"After graduating college, I landed a job at an architecture firm. Almost immediately, the marketing director at the time suggested I join. It became obvious that SMPS was the place for marketing professionals in the A/E/C industry, though, to my surprise, not exclusively. I’ve seen SMPS become a resource for marketing and technical professionals alike, in and out of the A/E/C industry."
"Collaborating! We have an incredible Board of accomplished professionals and a wonderful, dedicated group of volunteers. I look forward to working with these great minds to discover new ways we can promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and continue to extend our reach beyond what we thought was possible. I’m continuously amazed by what we accomplish. "
"Guidance, support, confidence, community. I owe a lot of my growth as a marketing professional to SMPS. Being a member and volunteer has given me countless opportunities to hone my skills, meet and connect with truly remarkable people, and become an integral part of something bigger. "
STEPHANIE BEALS, MBA | 2023/2024 Director | Director of Marketing, TSKP Studio
A self-described smile creator, Stephanie Beals is the Director of Marketing, where she is responsible for all things marketing. On a mission to work smarter, not harder, she is focused on professional development and creating connections. She has spent the last 14 years creating winning proposals, and newsworthy content, and growing the company brand. W
“I had been in the industry for 10 years when a colleague and longstanding member of SMPS encouraged me to attend an SMPS CT social media event. It was great meeting the marketers I had been emailing for years and learning something new.”
"At every event I attend, I have at least one takeaway. At a CPSM information session, one of the CPSMs said, “Little hinges swing big doors.” That reminded me to appreciate that small things can make a big difference. Without that “little hinge,” the big door will not swing.'
"Continuing to build those relationships. Networking events used to terrify me. Now, I plan my schedule around them. I’ve realized I have the opportunity to learn something from every single person I talk to. As Bill Nye The Science Guy, says, “Everyone you'll ever meet knows something you don't.”"
"Friendship, confidence, knowledge, and memories. Many of us are competitors, but that only strengthens our bond. We know what each other goes through, and I have a network of people I can learn from. Being a part of SMPS CT has taken me out of my comfort zone and has grown my confidence. Joining SMPS was a game-changer for me.
LAURA BERDEBES | 2023/2024 Director | Marketing Coordinator | Martinez Couch & Associates, LLC
Laura is a Marketing Coordinator with a decade of experience in the AEC industry. Throughout that time, she has become adept at crafting and executing impactful marketing strategies that drive brand recognition, client engagement, and business growth. Laura began her career in the AEC industry at a nationally recognized Geotechnical Engineering Firm. There, she honed her skills in crafting effective proposals that contributed to market growth. Currently, she is the Marketing/Proposal Coordinator at Martinez Couch and Associates, a multidisciplined Engineering and Surveying Company. In this role, she uses her industry knowledge and experience, combined with her creativity, to implement effective marketing strategies, create compelling proposals, and foster meaningful connections to deliver results that align with company objectives and growth
“I joined SMPS in 2021 when my manager recommended it to me. From my first mentoring meet-up, I knew SMPS was an organization I wanted to be a part of. The connections I made were immediate and I’ll always be appreciative for how they helped me navigate my way around!
"I am looking forward to volunteering as co-chair on the membership committee and continuing to have fun while collaborating on new ideas for member recruitment, engagement, and growth."
“Valuable industry insight, tips, and tricks on how to stay organized and productive, mentoring, and a strong professional network have all contributed significantly to my professional development as a marketer.”
"I hope to learn from my peers, grow as a leader, and continue to build on the connections I have while building new ones. SMPS has provided me with so many valuable resources that have impacted my career. My goal is to take what I have learned from it all and share it with others starting out in the A/E/C Industry."
KATELYN BIRGE | 2023/2024 Secretary | Manager of Business Development and Administration, Sustainable Engineering Solutions, LLC
Katelyn Birge is the Manager of Business Development and Administration at Sustainable Engineering Solutions. She made the leap from the insurance industry to A/E/C in 2017. Katelyn wears many hats at SES, from HR and Payroll to proposal writing and market research. In addition to SMPS CT, Katelyn is a Director on the board for Connecticut Building Congress. She enjoys exploring local bookstores and vegan restaurants throughout Connecticut with her fiancé and curling up with a good fantasy book at home with their two dogs.
"Client panels are always my favorite events. The panelists provide incredible insight from a much different point of view than marketers. It's a great way to learn how to better serve the building owners we work with.
"I look forward to the strategic planning session every summer. It's exciting seeing how far we've gotten with achieving the goals we set the year before. Brainstorming new strategies to help make SMPS CT even better and seeing those ideas come to life throughout the year is always rewarding."
"I'm really excited to help with the CPSM study groups this year. I couldn't have gotten my certification if it weren't for the amazing domain champions and my study buddies. I can't wait to give back and help more SMPS CT members obtain their CPSM certification.
CHRIS ABEL | 2023/2024 Treasurer | Membership Director, Associated Builders and Contractors of CT
Chris Abel is the Membership Director for the Connecticut Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC), the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for SMPS Connecticut, and the Co-Host of The Real Estate Roundtable Podcast. Since 2018, Chris has grown ABC membership to a chapter high and has maintained 92% retention, while directing and administering the association’s marketing efforts. Prior to joining ABC, Chris managed territories throughout the northeast in the post-secondary education space where he maintained relationships with over 200 high schools. As an experienced public speaker and broadcasting professional, Chris delivered workshops and presentations to thousands of students with an emphasis on the importance of careers in the construction industry.
"My first introduction to SMPS came from seeing social media posts shared by few members who are also involved with Associated Builders and Contractors, where I am the Membership Director. This opened up more conversation with people like Nichole Peterson and Jessica Parkins."
"My favorite event over the last program year was the Business Development Bootcamp. The information was valuable. Some of it new, some just a refresher, but all valuable. The room was filled with a great roster of marketing pros and the table where I was sitting was a dynamic group."
"I became a member of SMPS to continue networking and learn more while networking. I consider myself more of a non-traditional marketing professional, meaning it is part of my job, but not the main objective. SMPS programs allow me to constantly grow and learn more about marketing while supporting my industry peers."
"I have been able to naturally establish new relationships with so many true professionals in the industry, but more importantly so many of them are just good people."
"I am a true believer that every time you communicate with someone there is positive to be taken out of that interaction, so I am always looking forward to continuing the time spent sharing ideas with all of the SMPS CT members in an effort to strengthen our association."
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