A message from Your President: September 2026
Posted by [email protected] on Sep. 9, 2026 / Subscribe 0
Dear SMPS Tampa Bay Members,
As we enter the final months of our chapter year, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey this board, our committees, and our members have been on together. What started in October with a simple promise has become something our chapter can be deeply proud of. Learn More. Win More. With SMPS. has shown up in every program, every partnership, and every connection we have made this year.
And we are not slowing down.
The Successful Return of Education Industry Event
After a decade plus hiatus, SMPS Tampa Bay brought back one of our most important signature industry events. The revamped and first annual Education Event took place last Thursday and focused on the state of Florida's education system, and how local leaders from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are dealing with the demographic and financial challenges, while also finding opportunities that benefit students, faculty, and the communities that depend on a robust and healthy public education system.
Our keynote speaker, Laura Hine, Executive Director of Educating Florida's Future and current Pinellas County School Board Member, shared some eye-opening statistics and trends that set the stage for a morning of meaningful conversation. Anna Corman, Chief Program Officer at the Hillsborough Education Foundation, facilitated a wonderful discussion with panelists Lauren Otero, General Manager of Construction for Hillsborough County Public Schools, and Scott Livernois, Manager of Facilities Design for Pinellas County Schools about the impact of evolving demographics, facility planning, and how changing learning models are influencing the design of next-generation learning environments.
A sincere thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible: CPPI (Platinum), Engineering Matrix and Williamson Design Associates (Gold), Skanska, Wharton-Smith, Sutter Roofing, (Table), WJ Architects (Lanyard), Wilder Architecture, Long & Associates and WGI (Silver), and Pure Project Management, Creative Contractors, and Campbell Spellicy Engineering (Bronze).
This program was a long time coming, and our planning committee put together something truly special. A huge thank you to Co-Chairs, Maggie Briggs and Jennifer Peppers Rees for leading the charge, and to our planning committee, Shannon Stein, Nikki Alvarado, Laura Crowdis, Alyssa Johnson, Angela Somerville, and Marcía Alvarado! I cannot thank you all enough, and I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to work closely with such great people and leaders who made this event such a success.
If you'd like to join the planning committee for next year's Education event, please reach out to our President-Elect, Jenn Collins.
September 15: CREating Partnership Event at Tropicana Field
Next week, SMPS Tampa Bay is teaming up with CREW Tampa Bay, AIA Tampa Bay, CMAA Florida, and Tampa Bay Retail Alliance for a night at the ballpark. Join us in the SkyDeck at Tropicana Field on September 15th as we cheer on the Tampa Bay Rays and network with professionals from across the AEC and commercial real estate communities. Complimentary ballpark food and drinks are included with your ticket. Check out the event page to sign up!
This is one of those events where the setting does the heavy lifting. Good people, good food, and a baseball game. Sometimes that is exactly the kind of connection our industry needs.
September 17: Coffee & Connections!
We have 3 Coffee and Connections events coming up next Thursday in Tampa, St. Pete, and Lakeland! Sign up today and grow your network in this low-pressure casual setting.
October 22: Marketing Boot Camp Returns
Mark your calendars now. On October 22nd, we are bringing back Marketing Boot Camp with an all-new focus: AEC Communications.
This full-day workshop at the Center for Architecture and Design in Tampa is built specifically for entry-level AEC marketers, communications coordinators, and professionals looking to strengthen their communications foundation. Our presenters will cover strategic communications, social media planning and execution for small marketing teams, and the responsible use of AI in graphic design and content creation.
Kaitlyn Perez, Founder and CEO of Kaitlyn Perez Communications, will lead a session on strategic communications philosophy and how communications supports marketing, business development, brand reputation, and crisis readiness. Noel Russell, Marketing Manager at GM2 Associates and one of our chapter's most impactful past board members, will walk attendees through building sustainable social media systems for small AEC teams. Morgan Rola, Marketing and Communications Manager at ELEMENT Engineering Group, will lead a hands-on session on graphic design principles and the practical use of AI in everyday marketing work. And Amanda Hamende, Senior Communications Coordinator at PGA, will moderate the morning Q&A panel.
Our first Marketing Boot Camp earlier this year sold out. Registration is open now, and if you have emerging marketers on your team or colleagues looking to sharpen their communications skills, this is the program to send them to.
Gratitude
With only a few months remaining in this chapter year, I want to take a moment to thank our board of directors and committee volunteers. Every program, every event, and every new initiative we have delivered this year exists because of people who raised their hands and gave their time. Behind every sold-out event is a planning committee that spent months building something meaningful. Behind every Coffee and Connections meetup is a volunteer who showed up early to welcome new faces. Behind every newsletter, social post, and registration page is someone on our communications team making sure our members stay informed.
You know who you are, and I hope you know how much your work matters to this chapter and to the professionals we serve.
Looking Ahead
Our year may be winding down, but we have a lot more in store for our members! Stay tuned for future event announcements!
As we approach the transition to a new chapter year, I want to share how proud and excited I am for our incoming President, Jenn Collins. Jenn has been an extraordinary President-Elect, and watching her prepare for this role through her Chapter Leadership Symposium experience in Washington, D.C., her engagement with our board, and her genuine care for our members has only reinforced what I already knew: this chapter is in excellent hands. An announcement about Jenn's incoming board is coming soon, and I cannot wait for you to see the team she has assembled.
Your Feedback Matters
As we shape the final stretch of this year and lay the groundwork for the next, your feedback remains extremely important. The programming we build is for you, and we want every event, conversation, and resource to reflect what matters most to our members. If you have questions, ideas, or thoughts on where we should be headed, please reach out to me directly. My door is always open.
Thank you for being part of SMPS Tampa Bay. Thank you for showing up, for investing in your growth, and for making this chapter what the industry needs.
With gratitude,
Jonathan Santiago
President, SMPS Tampa Bay (2025-2026)
0 Comments