Member Spotlight | Jenn Hasamear
Posted by Jennifer Hasamear on Feb. 8, 2021 / Subscribe 0
SMPS Member Spotlight – Jenn Hasamear, FGM Architects
I am the Regional Marketing Manager with FGM Architects (FGMA). I have been a member of the SMPS St. Louis Chapter since 2014. For the last six years, I have served on the Communications Committee where I could contribute best to the Chapter using my skills in communications. While on the Communications Committee, I have spent my time getting to know so many of our members through the chapter’s Member Spotlights since this is my sole responsibility since joining the committee, and I have loved every second of it.
Why did you join SMPS?
In 2014, I joined the AEC industry with around 15 years of marketing communications experience under my belt. My boss indicated SMPS is one of the best organizations for me to start connecting in this industry. In fact, on my first day of work, I found my supervisor had already signed me up as a member in the St. Louis Chapter.
Once I began attending events and meeting people, I found that it was a gold mine of marketing professionals who could help me navigate the AEC industry and understand this part of the marketing world. The people were amazing then and continue to be today. I would tell anyone starting out in this industry to join their local SMPS chapter, especially if it is as awesome of a chapter as St. Louis. Everyone has always been so welcoming, friendly and eager to help at a moment’s notice.
What do you see is the biggest benefit of being active in SMPS?
While 2020 proved to be a bit difficult for everyone to truly stay connected and involved with anyone outside of the comfort of their remote work situation, the St. Louis Chapter did its best to offer great virtual events to keep people engaged and active. Like any organization membership, I really believe that a SMPS membership is only as valuable as one makes it. Years ago, as a new member, I tried to attend as many events as my schedule would allow, joined a committee as soon as I could, and connected with as many members as possible.
Over time, I determined the best course of action is to attend the programs that make the most sense for me with the possibility of bringing a wealth of information back to the rest of the Marketing Department that can help us be more efficient, more resourceful and, of course, more creative. I still love meeting new people and making connections that have continued to strengthen over the years. This chapter continues to provide me with new programs, friendships and additional resources that have proven extremely beneficial.
How did you get started in the AEC industry? Any advice for someone just starting out?
I was referred to the industry by a close high school friend who believed in me and never stopped, of which I will never be able to put into words my gratitude…
I started my career as a journalist with the Suburban Journals and then quickly moved to the Belleville News-Democrat. After nearly 10 years in newspapers, I was ready for a change, so I switched gears and moved to nonprofit marketing communications with the United Way of Greater St. Louis in their Illinois office. Then after a few years, I went to Saint Louis University where I worked in the Stewardship Department as a Development Marketing Specialist. Throughout this time, this close friend of mine helped push me even harder to determine the best course of action to develop and build my skills and expertise to eventually have the experience needed to get noticed by an AEC firm, to finally start my journey into this industry. I came to FGM Architects in 2014 as a marketing coordinator for the firm’s southern region. I left briefly to perform a dual role position as a business developer and marketing director. To gain additional knowledge in the industry, I briefly served as a marketing manager with a local engineering firm. Since 2019, I have been back at FGMA and have felt like I have finally come home while continuing to navigate my newly created role. FGMA is a 135-person architecture firm with six offices in four states – Illinois, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin. Our design team works hand-in-hand with our clients to create amazing spaces that both look incredible and will last for generations to come. FGMA has been in existence for over 75 years and it is the people who continue to make it a great place to work every day. Check out what FGMA has to offer at: fgmarchitects.com.
As far as advice for someone just starting out? That’s easy. Life is truly about the journey, not the destination. All of the experiences I have gained along the way and the people I worked alongside have all helped shape the person I am today. While there have been both good and bad experiences at every place I have work, I haven’t hated any one of those positions. We must continue learning from our mistakes to understand how to do it better the next time. Writing has always been the foundation of much of my career; this has helped provide me with the opportunity to continue developing my skills as a marketer, a communicator and a manager.
How do you tackle the many competing deadlines and responsibilities inherent in marketing for the AEC industry?
When I came into this industry, I have to admit that I thought I understood multi-tasking especially after being a journalist. This industry takes it to a whole new level. While it may sound crazy, I think that is the exciting part of our jobs. Having competing deadlines, multiple responsibilities and working with varying personalities makes every day unique and unexpected. While some people would absolutely hate it, I love the idea that one day I may be working on a set of qualifications for a new recreation center, the next day a social media campaign for opening a new office and the following day working with the design team on an interview presentation to become a school district’s lead architect. Of course, this is on top of all the other deadlines and requests that continue to filter in throughout the day.
While there is never a dull moment, I love my team at FGMA. And hectic, busy and insane are just another part of the AEC marketing world that we continue to navigate together to make sure all of us find our way to the other side in one piece.
What was your childhood dream job?
Since I was a little girl, I always dreamed of writing the Great American Novel. I have stories swimming through my head and I just need to find the courage to write everything down. While that might sound weird, I have had this paralyzing fear that if I were to write a novel or five that no one would ever want to read it which has led to me never getting far in the writing process and actually finish a book. Before my stepson’s passing in 2009, I promised him that one day I would write the novel. So now on the pointer finger of my right hand, I have a gentle reminder every day that I need to just put my fears aside and write the book(s). For on that finger is the tattoo of my stepson’s signature, gently telling me to believe in myself like he did and just start typing.
Before the dream of becoming a novelist though, there was also the brief dream of being a poet. Understanding early in my life that I would never be able to truly make a living doing this, I have been able to use my gift of writing prose to craft poems over the years to help me heal and to help me remember how to live. As an adult, I have written poems to help put my emotions into words to remember people our family has lost that have been included in wedding programs, read at funerals and posted on memorial cards.
I write because I love it. I write because it allows me to put my emotions and feelings into words. I write because it is a part of who I am.
What would you do with a year off?
Would I have unlimited resources? If my husband and I could both take a year off and had unlimited resources, I would take my kids out of school and find an incredible homeschool program for them, and then devise the most amazing plan to travel to as many places as we could so that we could take in as many sights, as much culture, eat great food and live as much life as we could in one year. With no rest for the wicked either, we would go until we dropped from exhaustion every day because I would want to try to experience as much as humanly possible to soak in everything.
So, the long and short of it, I would travel.
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