Member Spotlight | Ellie Kasparie
Posted by [email protected] on Aug. 7, 2023 / Subscribe 0
As a Marketing Manager at O’Shea, I wear a lot of hats! Some of my responsibilities include social media, website management, trade shows, branding, and client experience. I’ve been a member since 2019 and I’ve loved participating in educational webinars and Amplify A/E/C.
1) Congratulations on recently obtaining your CPSM Certification! What drove you to obtain this professional certification?
I wanted a better understanding and knowledge of how marketing works in the Construction world. I had learned a lot in my first few years at O’Shea, but I knew there was so much more out there. For me, it was a good push to dive into all the materials and really get a hold of how this world works.
2) Since the test is only offered twice a year now, when did you decide that this was the year that you were going to get your CPSM? And why now?
I had been looking into the CPSM for a couple of years but wasn’t eligible to take it. September of 2022 was the first time I met the qualifications to take it and I decided to go for it! It made sense for me and it was the next step for my career path.
3) If someone were thinking about trying to go after this certification, what advice would you give them? Study tips? Study group? Guidance on how to approach it? Is this something that someone should study for over many months and not just take on a whim?
Find a study buddy or group to study with!! It was very helpful for me to have someone to study with and keep me accountable. It was also helpful to have someone to study with when I didn’t quite understand a concept. We’d talk about it and if we needed to, we’d look up more information or ask about it in the larger study group we were in. One thing that I was told and found to be very true was to not worry about memorizing definitions. It’s important to know what the key terms mean but it’s so much more important to know how they’re used in different scenarios.
4) You joined the St. Louis Chapter of SMPS in 2019. What led you to join SMPS in 2019? Have you found it beneficial?
I started in the construction industry right out of college in 2018 and after getting settled in, my boss recommended joining SMPS! I have found so many of the webinars and educational sessions helpful. When it came to getting ready for the CPSM, Loren Boyd, the St. Louis Education Director, was very helpful in finding studying resources and groups to join.
5) What was your all-time favorite vacation? And why?
France! I had wanted to go to Paris for a long time and when my sister studied abroad a few years ago it was the perfect opportunity! My dad and I met up with her in Paris where we hit all the major sites. Then we went to Normandy, Le Mont St Michel, and ended in Rennes. The Palace of Versailles was probably my favorite because of its rich history and how beautiful the palace is.
6) When you were a child, what did you dream of becoming when you grew up? And why?
I always dreamed of becoming an actress! I’ve always loved singing and performing in school plays and at my local community theater. There’s nothing quite like the energy of a crowd when you’re performing on stage!
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