Diana Alcazar - SMPS NERC 2026 Event Recap
Posted by Communications Committee on Apr. 20, 2026 / Event Recap / Subscribe 0
There are only a few reasons why I’d wake up before 5am… and one of them is for travel. Lucky for me, the 2026 Society of Marketing Professionals (SMPS) Northeast Regional Conference (NERC) was just a train ride away in Washington D.C.
Stepping into the conference as a first-time attendee I was delighted to meet all kinds of consultants of the A/E/C industry. From CRM software gurus to marketing firms specialized in proposal development, each consultant brought something special to NERC.
The conference, spanning three days, included sessions related to branding, public relations, proposal writing, business development, thought leadership, email marketing and more. The plethora of information made my wrist quite sore from scribbling quotes and insights from both session speakers and fellow attendees. These sessions further underscored the importance of communication. Whether sharing a success story or a lesson learned – so much can be discovered with a quick chat.
The conference brought together a diverse group of marketing professionals, ranging from first-year associates to C-suite executives. One round table session invited groups of professionals to respond to several prompts related to their daily roles and responsibilities, creating an open forum for learning across differing experience levels. It was meaningful to see senior professionals actively listen to junior colleagues and offer thoughtful guidance. A key takeaway from these conversations was that communication styles vary widely—there is no “cookie cutter” one-size-fits-all approach. Each and every individual brings a unique perspective, a way of working, and it is this diversity of thought that promotes effective collaboration among teams to create exceptional work.
My learning continued outside of the classroom, as I was able to admire Hoffmann Architects + Engineers’ work on the facades of DC’s most notable buildings and historical landmarks. From the Renwick Gallery to the U.S. Capitol Dome to the Taft Memorial – not to mention all of the Smithsonian Institution buildings that remain pillars of our nation’s history and continue to inspire innovation. For nearly 50 years, Hoffmann’s focus has been exclusively on renovating building exteriors with aesthetics, sustainability, and longevity in mind.
Another exciting excursion during my trip was seeing the cherry blossom trees. A few of my fellow SMPS CT chapter members and I strolled along the Tidal Basin to marvel at the pink trees in peak bloom. Endless smiles and selfies… I’d say our camera shutter buttons got as much of a workout as we did.
Overall, NERC 2026 was truly a ~ monumental ~ experience (pun very much intended). The insightful workshop sessions, connections with northeastern SMPS members, and DC’s historic landmarks were essential to my professional development. This experience reinforced why community and continuous learning matter, and I look forward to putting these learnings into practice in meaningful ways.
-Diana Alcazar
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