SMPS Houston | 40th Anniversary
Posted by [email protected] on Jun. 10, 2022 / Subscribe 0
SMPS Houston Chapter: The Early Years
The late 70's and early 80's were a boom time in Houston. While firms in other parts of the country were struggling through a severe economic recession, local firms were busy building at home and overseas. Buoyed by oil money, Arab money, and a growing medical center, A/E/C companies in the city were happy to hire well-trained architects and engineers from around the country who were in the market for opportunity. The exodus from the Northeast and Mid-West also a brought pioneers in the marketing of professional services— the first-generation leaders of SMPS.
Talented marketers like Janet Goodman and Diane Creel, having helped to invent SMPS as a national organization, came to town and got to work. I was fortunate to attend an early meeting and recognized that this group was on the move. Soon I was helping to put together programs with a smart group of future leaders that included Kay Lentz, Bill Peel, Rebecca Renfro, Pixie Sykes, Tom Brightman among others.
When national determined that local chapters would serve to involve more marketers at all levels and help to grow the entire organization, the Houston group was the model. We were already holding regular seminars and luncheons, inviting recognized speakers from around the country as well as local business and civic leaders. And we made money, enough to help the national office on more than one occasion.
As we prepared to charter the chapter, Janet and I discussed the best way to strengthen our membership and attendance at our meetings. Good programming was essential, next we realized that having senior level leadership would attract principals and other firm leaders. So, despite who is listed as the first chapter president, both Janet and I remember convincing Hal Bunshaw, who had a senior role at Turner Construction, to take on the presidency. We assured him that we would continue to do the planning and organizing with the great group that had been so successful for the previous 4 or 5 years.
With the chapter well launched, I took on the role the next year 1982. In 1983, with the support of the Houston Chapter, I ran for national SMPS President and won. While I owe my career success to many amazing people in the profession, the Houston Chapter and its remarkable, tight knit team, gave me a strong foundation in marketing and life-long friendships.
- Nancy Egan
New Voodoo
L to R: Unknown, Rebecca Renfro, Nancy Egan, Tom Brightman, Pixie Sykes, and Leslie Gribble Brown
SMPS National Election 1983, San Diego
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