Blog

I am the Marketing Director for Kirkegaard. This role piqued my interest because they had not had a Marketing Director before, so I was given the opportunity to not only work with amazing acousticians and integrated systems consultants but the liberty to really build this position and the branding of the firm. Our home office is in Chicago with additional offices in Houston and St. Louis. It has been exciting to work alongside Brian Corry, Partner for Kirkegaard, growing our network here in St. Louis. Building relationships has always been one of my strongest skills and this role is allowing me to really use that. 

I have been a member of SMPS off and on since 2007. The professional development and networking were always great assets for me since I was 19 years old and new to the industry, when I benefited from the mentors and opportunities to learn. Recently, I joined the Mentor/Mentee program as a Mentor.

What led you to get involved with the chapter’s Mentor/Mentee program? Have you been involved in the program prior to this year?

Throughout my career, I have had the fortune to work with many great individuals. I have always admired and appreciated women inspiring other women. We were NOT always invited into the workforce, so I recognize the importance of lifting one another up. After I completed the Communication Management graduate program at Webster University, I decided I wanted to take my experiences and mentor others. I know if I don’t have answers, I can still reach out to my former mentor. Donna Gamache, former Public Relations Director for The Lawrence Group, is someone I call for career advice and often just for her opinion on personal life situations too! I hope I can be the inspiration for women the way that Donna and so many others have been for me.

I have not been involved in the mentor program before this year but would love to continue!

What are your thoughts about the program? What do you think are the benefits for all involved parties for a program such as this?

The program is wonderful because it’s setting up success for people that are new to this industry. It helps to have that person you can depend on for guidance. There is a large percentage of marketing professionals that do not have backgrounds in architecture or engineering.  We must lean on one another to understand the terminology, the trends, and leads that are happening in the industry. And, it’s interesting, I’ve found that architects or engineers that are in marketing or business development roles can also use this program to better understand marketing. This program helps in a variety of ways, meeting professionals where they are in their careers.

I firmly believe the mentee teaches the mentor too! My mentee has been very resourceful for me and has become my study buddy for the CPSM exam.

In the AEC industry, everything is usually moving at the speed of light, how have you and your mentee tried to stay connected? How often do you meet? Are you hoping to stay in touch after the program is over?

My mentee and I connected in multiple ways – we shared phone numbers, email addresses, became friends on Facebook, and followed one another on LinkedIn.

For now, we meet once a month, but I am hoping we continue the connection beyond the program and reach out to one another as often as needed.

Do you think it’s important to have a mentor in one’s life, whether professionally or personally? If so, why?

Yes, and yes. I had to independently put myself through college. I was a first-generation graduate student. The people that helped me persevere were my mentors like Donna. I was also inspired by Chancellor Beth Stroble to continue at Webster University and, through her example as a female in leadership, I was able to stay on course. I completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees and was the first in my family to do so because of these mentors in my life.

You never know the extent of someone’s home life or social disadvantages, so it’s important to always be kind and willing to offer any assistance or direction someone needs. Those moments can mean influencing them in ways you never imagined.

How did you come to be in the AEC industry? What do you think are the pros and cons of our roles?

Accidentally. I finished high school and because of social disadvantages, I did not see college as an option for me. I knew someone that worked for The Lawrence Group, and she told me they were hiring interns. I worked in the marketing department for Michelle Yates. At the end of the summer, Michelle offered me a full-time position and I stayed for 2 ½ years. During this time, I became hooked on the concept of taking buildings from nothing to something or from one version of itself to a completely reimagined space. I also gravitated toward the Media group and was very fascinated by the details that went into the design of recording studios. The grand opening of Shock City Studios was an exciting time. Little did I know this would play into my future marketing role with Kirkegaard. I didn’t see myself as an architect or a designer, but I knew I could write about it and promote inspiring projects.

The pros are the professionals you get to work with and the opportunities to see a project come to life through the hands of architects and engineers. I have a deeper admiration for buildings and their surrounding spaces because of this industry. Today, I walk into a space and immediately notice the sound quality. Now that I work for Kirkegaard, my ears have become sensitive to sound reverberation.  It can be distracting, but I appreciate having the knowledge to identify spaces where the sound is off-balance. So, for me, it’s a huge pro to be in my role because I am an infinitely curious person who nerds out about learning how spaces within buildings function.

The cons are the challenges of an uncertain market. Today one industry can be booming with projects but next week you may need to pivot to appeal to the next shift. Market shifts are not for the faint of heart. It’s tough and, in this industry, a recession is always a risk for us and the clients we serve. Firms rely on marketing professionals and business development experts to navigate them through uncertain times and remain profitable.

Another con is that it’s also a role that demands flexibility with last-minute deadlines and RFQs that drop from the sky that may need immediate attention with a short turnaround.

Summer has started! Do you have any big summer plans for you and your family? If so, what are they? Are they any specific things that you try to do every summer with your family?

We don’t have any big travel plans for this summer. My husband is finishing graduate school and will have to complete a residency for two weeks in the summer. However, we are planning a celebratory vacation in early Spring 2023 to Estes Park with the family to celebrate completing our graduate degrees and our 10^th wedding anniversary.

Our kids are 6 and 1, and we just adopted a 5-month-old pug, so we are still establishing our “Jenkins” traditions, but I’m excited about what that may be. Everything is an adventure with our brew. We could not be prouder of our little family.