Member Spotlight | Danielle Bergmann
Posted by [email protected] on Apr. 12, 2021 / Subscribe 0
SMPS Member Spotlight – Danielle Bergmann, Poettker Construction Company
I am the Director of Marketing at Poettker Construction Company, a multi-generation family-owned construction management, design-build, and general contracting firm headquartered in Breese, IL.
My family has been part of the Poettker Team for four decades, with my grandpa, dad, brother, and I all working in various roles throughout the company. I joined Poettker 15 years ago as an administrative assistant, working my way through college. I assisted all departments from accounting, estimating, project management, and field operations on any tasks they needed help with. I also spent six months on-site at a retail project supporting the project team led by my dad. Upon graduation from college with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and Public Relations, I transitioned full-time into marketing with an initial focus on proposal preparation. My responsibilities expanded each year to include the full array of marketing tasks. Currently, I oversee all Poettker’s marketing team and efforts from proposal pursuits, communication, digital marketing, CRM administration, and more.
Looking back, my development at Poettker has been very unique. Although at the time, I did not realize how valuable my experience in each department was, this path provided me with a full view of the companies’ operations. This has given me a true appreciation for the hard work and dedication the entire Poettker Team puts forth every day.
What made you choose to get involved with SMPS? Do you think it was a good choice to join the organization? If so, why?
I have been a member of SMPS since March 2017 but attended many SMPS St. Louis chapter events and served on the communications committee before that. When I transitioned into marketing full time, my manager, Keith Poettker, recommended that I participate in marketing organizations to help me grow and understand the new role I was taking on. SMPS was a great choice. I love that members know what I am going through. I previously thought I was in a select group of people trying to multi-task between drastically different tasks and strict deadlines. I quickly realized this new level of multi-tasking is happening industry-wide, with many serving as a team of one, just like I started. SMPS has shown me that we are all in this together and can grow and learn from one another.
Do you remember who your first SMPS ‘friend” was when you started attending events? What was the first event you attended?
One of the first events I attended was an 8 on 8 Lunch Meeting. I believe I was sitting in for another team member because this was completely out of my comfort zone. During the event, I remember checking my phone multiple times, trying to stay updated on the progress of a proposal we had due by the end of that week.
The event was very well organized and beneficial for both business development and marketing professionals. Shane Harris was one of the SMSP members at my table. He was so personable and made me feel comfortable with the group. We collaborated through the years on several project-specific pursuits and now get to work together daily at Poettker.
The AEC Industry can definitely have its many ups and downs. What would you say are the biggest challenges and rewards of your position?
I would say the biggest challenge in the AEC industry is juggling the unique marketing elements from proposals to digital marketing and everything in between. It is amazing the vast difference in tasks that marketing professionals are responsible for. Overlapping, hard deadlines elevate this to a whole new level. With team collaboration and support from your peers and team partners, anything can be accomplished.
The most rewarding is when we land a significant, specialized pursuit. As Poettker expands into new markets and regions, we are looking for new innovative ways to build relationships and connect with our clients. Client marketing initiatives often span many years before winning a project, with promotional material presented across numerous platforms along the way. Watching all the pieces come together and ultimately winning the project, is icing on the cake.
What is the best advice you have received regarding your career or working in the AEC industry?
Never stop looking for opportunities to learn. The AEC industry is very exciting and changes quickly. There are tons of options available at all career levels to grow and develop new marketing skills. SMPS does an outstanding job offering opportunities for everyone to learn new tips and tricks in various platforms to help you succeed in this industry. Some of my personal favorites to date have been the InDesign/Photoshop Hands-On Learning Labs, the Strategies to Build Connections with Colleagues Workshop by Mary Abbajay, and most recently, the Marketing Manager’s Guide. Take advantage of these opportunities, both with the local chapter and national association.
What is something you love to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I love spending time with my family. Over the last four years, my husband and I have been blessed with three kids in a very short amount of time. My twins are starting to get involved in tumbling, karate, and soccer, while my youngest, who is 2, tries to keep up with every move they make. Together, we enjoy impromptu picnics, side-by-side/four-wheeler rides, cooking, coloring, and visiting with our grandparents and extended families.
Before kids, I was an avid gardener. I easily grew enough food for a small Army each year. Besides eating what we could fresh, I would make and can salsa, spaghetti sauce, pepper jellies, and much more to last all year. I look forward to getting back to this, at least in moderation, as my kids continue to show interest in helping us in the garden.
What is one place on your travel bucket list? And why?
This is a toss-up. In the near term, my travel bucket list is more centered around my kids, including a Disney Cruise, waterparks, and off-road trails to ride our side-by-side and four-wheeler.
My ultimate goal is to spend some time in Germany. During my senior year in high school, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks traveling to several European countries with my mom but missed Germany. Besides being from a predominately German-heritage community, my husband, a 4th generation farmer, has extended family that lives and farms there. We would love to visit them and see how their daily farm life compares and differs from ours. We have seen pictures of their farmstead being on a steep hillside, which is completely different from the flat plain area where we live. Who knows, by the time we make it there, our kids may want to come too.
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