In honor of Women’s History Month, we reached out to SMPS HQ staff members to commemorate this observance. Below, they share their thoughts on women they admire.

Natalie Gozzard, Chief Advancement Officer
To me, retired tennis player Serena Williams is an icon of strength, resilience, and excellence. I admire her not just for her unmatched dominance in tennis but also for her determination to break barriers in a historically exclusive sport. Her relentless work ethic, fearless attitude, and ability to rise above challenges—on and off the court—inspire me. Beyond her athletic achievements, she’s an advocate for gender equality, diversity, and empowerment, using her platform to uplift others. Serena’s legacy is not just about Grand Slam titles; it’s about proving that with passion and perseverance, anything is possible.

Nandi Rice, Chief Growth and Marketing Officer
Yara Shahidi is an inspiration to me. She is an actress and activist who starred in various movies and TV shows since the age of five. She uses her platform to speak on issues like racial justice, gender equality, and climate change, and has worked as a Gen Z ambassador for organizations like UNICEF. Before starting Harvard University, she founded a platform encouraging young people to vote and engage in civic issues. Most recently she started a podcast called “The Optimist Project with Yara Shahidi” where she engages in conversations with guests about joy, happiness, and ways to cultivate the practice of optimism in our own lives.

Linda Smolkin, Senior Manager, Marketing
Many know Audrey Hepburn as an actress and fashion icon. But she was much more. During WWII, Audrey helped the resistance by taking messages and food to Allies who were hiding. She also volunteered at a hospital and hid a downed paratrooper in their home. After her career as an actress, she became involved with UNICEF and in 1989 was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador. She went on various missions, including those in Ethiopia to visit orphanages and Turkey as part of an immunization campaign. Hepburn received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work with UNICEF, and UNICEF honored Hepburn’s legacy of humanitarian work by unveiling “The Spirit of Audrey” statue at UNICEF’s New York headquarters.

Devin Stubbs, Manager, Digital Marketing
During Women’s History Month, my mind goes to one woman who has always been an inspiration—my sister, Shannon Cronan. She has not only shaped my view on life and the world itself, but she has also given me the greatest gifts in the world—my nieces. We’ve traveled together, laughed together, and grown together, and I am endlessly grateful to share my life with her. Shannon is and will always be the strongest woman I know, proving it every day. She stands up for those without a voice, never hesitating to advocate for those who need it most. Through her work in occupational therapy, she changes lives—sometimes in just a single meeting—leaving a lasting impact with her compassion, hard work, and contagious smile.

I’m Here Because I’m As Good As You. This declaration is bold, provocative, inspiring.

These words and title come from a 2021 article in Harvard Business Review, which features an interview with Ursula Burns. Are you familiar with the name? Ursula Burns is the former CEO of Xerox. She also happens to be the first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.

Ursula’s story is a fascinating one. She’s a mechanical engineer with a master’s degree from Columbia University. Ursula stepped into her role as CEO in 2010, months after Barrack Obama became the first Black president of the United States. The fact that this “first” happened so recently may surprise you. What surprised me more was what Ursula was told about her life options and what she could aspire to be. As a young woman, she was told she had four choices. She could be a nun, nurse, secretary, or teacher. That’s it. That’s the list. I’m glad she didn’t let someone else’s limits for her become her own.

Since leaving Xerox around 2017, Ursula has served on the boards of several companies, including American Express, Uber, and ExxonMobil. In a recent podcast while Ursula was being interviewed, she brought up the quote in the article title. It turned out not to be a flex. Quite the opposite. She pointed out how people seemed to need to make her some kind of anomaly, as she rose to success. She had to be classified as exceptional because there was no other explanation for her ascension. Her response was, “I am not amazing; I am here because I’m as good as you.”

I was totally captivated listening to Ursula talk. She said when she looks in the mirror, she sees her eight-year-old self, staring back at her with all her fears and insecurities. That one stayed with me. Who do you see when you look in the mirror?

This month, I’m especially proud to celebrate the accomplishments of high-performing, high-achieving trailblazers like Ursula Burns. SMPS is blazing trails of its own. It’s not lost on me that this organization has trumpeted for diverse representation that can now be seen throughout its leadership. My hope is that more organizations will ignore the noise and provide opportunities to talented, diverse candidates who are not only supported but celebrated.

Article written by Antonio Payne, CPA. Antonio is chief financial officer and chief diversity officer for SMPS HQ in Alexandria, VA. He can be reached at antonio@smps.org.

This time last year, I wrote about how reading can open our minds to new ideas. But if we only read what we’re accustomed to, we can’t continue to evolve. And, for me, evolving as a person keeps me going and growing.

Recently, I came across an article titled “100 Best Books of All Time”—featuring my favorite author Zora Neale Hurston and others I’m putting on my list. Most of the books are fiction, leaving room for nonfiction in my never-ending goal of lifelong learning.

At the end of the day, we can’t forget that, as professionals, we’re here to help our firms thrive. And we can do that by staying knowledgeable—and passing on our knowledge to the team.

Here are a few SMPS publications that can help, some of which are complimentary to SMPS members:

• June/July issue of Marketer: This exclusive edition features articles such as “Perfect Your Proposal Planning” and “Putting the Thought in Thought Leadership” (for SMPS members only and available on MySMPS under the Marketing Resource Center)
• SMPS Foundation report all about positioning and differentiation in A/E/C marketing (complimentary to SMPS members)
• Blueprints 3.0, your resource to elevate marketing and business development
• Markendium, the SMPS Body of Knowledge, with six books on proposals to client development

Alice Walker once said, “I think the foundation of everything in my life is wonder.” To me, that means appreciating the spontaneity of life, to always be questioning, and to be open to learning something new. What do you think it means? And are there any publications I should put on my list? Let me know by reaching out at marci@smps.org.

Article written by Marci D. Thompson, DES, chief strategy officer for SMPS.

Do you know someone who would benefit from SMPS membership? Learn how you can earn an additional three months of membership by referring a friend who joins SMPS as a new member.

If you want to learn more about the value of your membership and how to make the most of it, please contact a member of the membership team.

Jackie Asekhauno, who’s senior project manager of learning and experiences at SMPS HQ, took time out of her busy day to answer a few questions. Jackie calls Cary, NC, home and works remotely from there.

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Herndon, VA. I loved growing up so close to the nation’s capital—dad was a retired military officer and worked at the Pentagon, which brought my family to the area. When I was really young, my family moved frequently due to my father being in the Navy, so finally settling down in one place was such a joy.

What was your favorite pastime growing up? If you could find me, I was outside coordinating a kickball, baseball, or basketball game with friends or riding bikes.  I was terrible at sports (I still am!), but I just wanted to be social.

Tell us a little bit about your experience before joining SMPS. I’ve been working in the nonprofit space for over 20 years. I started my career at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and fell in love with volunteer and event management. From there, I spent a few years with the American Association of Anatomists as a meeting planner, which gave me experience in the scientific space. After relocating to the Raleigh-Durham area, I found a home at the American Camp Association and helped accredit summer camps and plan their events. Next, I joined the NC Association of Certified Public Accountants and spent about 15 years there, first working in chapters but then found my strength was content development. I loved working with volunteer committees to develop unique content to offer at conferences and identifying new speakers to deliver online learning programs.

Tell us about the Day in the Life of Jackie Asekhauno. My day starts with gathering the troops (okay, just my son, Liam, and my dog, Ginger) and heading out the door for drop-offs. While elementary school carpool starts early, Ginger gets dropped off at daycare first. That’s right, my dog goes to daycare most days. She’s a high-energy dog and has destroyed too many blinds so daycare has saved our relationship.

After carpool, I start my day at SMPS in my home office. Working from home was tough as first, but even as an extrovert I’ve been able to adjust to the new normal. I force myself to get outside to go on a walk or sit outside to eat lunch because otherwise I can get “in the zone” and never get up from my desk.

After work, I pick up my son from his grandmother’s house who lives a few blocks away then grab Ginger from daycare and head home. Fortunately, my son’s school has a no-homework policy, so I get to enjoy my evenings hanging out with him. He’s an avid video game player, and I often serve as commentator while he enjoys his hobby for a bit, or we head out to meet friends.

How would you describe your current role at SMPS? As the senior project manager within Learning and Experiences, I coordinate and manage the logistical aspects of several programs and events that SMPS offers, such as Amplify A|E|C, The Pinnacle Experience, and Chapter Leadership Symposium. This means working with committee volunteers, speakers, vendors, and staff to get these events to the finish line. My favorite days are being onsite for the events and seeing everything happen. It’s very rewarding and wonderful to work with such amazing members while witnessing a flawless execution of a year’s worth of preparation.

If you had to choose a few words to describe yourself, what would they be? For right now, they would be: work in progress. I’ve been focusing a lot on self care and mental health the past several years and I couldn’t be prouder of the progress I’ve made.

What’s your guilty pleasure? I’m 100% guilty of binging Netflix shows. If I find myself with time on my hands and don’t occupy my mind, it will race with to-do lists and that’s not how I want to spend my time. My viewing choices run the gamut: from reality cooking shows like The Great British Baking Show, oldies like Seinfeld reruns, Ozark (my favorite!), to documentaries like Our Great National Parks. I’ll pretty much enjoy anything to avoid my chores at home. If anyone is looking for a new show, feel free to hit me up for a recommendation.

Do you have any hobbies? If so, what are they? This is a bit of a sore spot with me. I attempted to pick up a hobby recently and chose crocheting. I thought it would not only be relaxing but, ideally, you get a nice keepsake as a result—cool, right? I had no idea how to crochet and watched a few YouTube videos and was struggling, so I found a local yarn supply store that would provide a short series of private lessons. Well, after my three lessons ended, it was determined that I was the first and only student who couldn’t learn to crochet. To be honest, I just wanted to learn how to make a coffee mug coozie.

Where would you travel next if you didn’t have to worry about time or money? I would love to go on a guided African safari with my son. My son has always been an animal lover and being able to experience the national wildlife preserves in Kenya has always been a dream of ours.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we reached out to SMPS HQ staff members to commemorate this observance. Below, they share their thoughts on women they admire.

Semra Ergun, Senior Manager, Learning & Experiences

My mom is a huge influence not only to me, but to every person I’m friends with who has met her. She came from practically nothing and helped raise her siblings, all while trying to pave a better path for herself. She was able to do that by becoming a Pam Am flight attendant in the 1960s. As she flew around the globe, she was always a present mom to my brother and me, and she was even able to get her Masters in Psychotherapy when I was in elementary school. From that, she become a crucial part in helping other flight attendants cope and work directly after 9/11, as a practicing psychotherapist and working flight attendant. She works as a psychotherapist today in Washington, D.C., and has since retired from being a flight attendant, but her impact is felt in everything she does—which I witnessed growing up. Watching someone go beyond and keep evolving and growing no matter what age is the main lesson I will always carry with me while helping others along the way.

Natalie Gozzard, Vice President, Component Relations

As a past Little League Baseball player in my youth (and the only girl to play in the league for two seasons), I admire Mo’ne Davis. Mo’ne made history in 2014 when she became the first girl to ever pitch a winning game in the Little League Baseball World Series. She was one of only two girls to play that year and the first African American girl to play in the series as a whole. She was also the first Little League baseball player to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a Little League player. Mo’ne is currently playing softball for Hampton University.

Tina Myers, Deputy CEO

During this month, I reflect on the four women in my life that have always been by my side, helped shape me to be the person I am today—my sisters. I am the youngest of eight (three boys, five girls), grew up in Roxbury, MA, and in challenging family dynamics. In spite of our economic circumstances and other issues of the day, each of my sisters always made certain I was by their side, well taken care of, and loved. As an adult, there is so much more I have learned that show me just how strong these women were and are. They are my dearest friends. It is painful that I lost my eldest sister a few years back to cancer, but her spirit is always with me.

Linda Smolkin, Senior Manager, Content

Many know Audrey Hepburn as an actress and fashion icon. But she was much more. During WWII, Audrey helped the resistance by taking messages and food to Allies who were hiding. She also volunteered at a hospital and hid a downed paratrooper in their home. After her career as an actress, she became involved with UNICEF and in 1989 was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador. She went on various missions/visits, from Ethiopia to visit orphanages to Turkey as part of an immunization campaign. Hepburn received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work with UNICEF, and UNICEF honored Hepburn’s legacy of humanitarian work by unveiling a statue, “The Spirit of Audrey”, at UNICEF’s New York headquarters.

Devin Stubbs, Senior Coordinator, Digital Marketing

During Women’s History Month, my mind goes to one woman who has always been an inspiration. My sister, Shannon Cronan, has greatly shaped my view both on life and the world itself. My sister has and will always be the strongest woman I know, and each day she proves it. Consistently standing up for those who don’t have a voice, or aren’t strong enough to speak for themselves, she’s never been one to leave people alone. Through her work in occupational therapy, she helps to change the everyday lives of people she may only meet once. Through a contagious smile and her hard working will, Shannon will be sure to leave a lasting impression.

Marci Thompson, Chief Strategy Officer
Zora Neale Hurston, known as a genius of the South, novelist, folklorist, anthropologist. Zora wrote one of my favorite books of all time, Their Eyes Were Watching God.  She inspired me as a multi-faceted woman, so much more than a writer in the Harlem Renaissance.

The critically acclaimed television series “Black·ish” is currently airing its eighth and final season. The show is a satirical look at the Black experience through the eyes of three generations of the Johnson family. Those very different perspectives are shared cleverly and hilariously as they take on some real-life sociopolitical issues.

My favorite episode is about Black History Month. Andre, played by Anthony Anderson, must give a presentation at his young twins’ school and the family gets into a heated debate about which famous person should be featured in the presentation. The moral to the story winds up being that our history is so rich and full, it cannot be properly reduced to the same handful of people annually or celebrated in just 28 days.

I am a seventies baby. My first heroes were Muhammad Ali and Dr. J. They were both larger than life figures in their respective sports during my formative years. Growing up in a time where most of the Black public figures I was exposed to were athletes or entertainers, naturally, I aspired to be what I saw. I wasn’t shown or told that I could be a doctor, lawyer, CPA, architect, or engineer, own my own construction company, or become a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM).

What draws me to “Black·ish” most is the beautiful images of a family that looks like mine. Seeing those positive images is so important to my community. I’m hopeful that more thought-provoking, inspiring shows will continue to make their way onto the small and big screens. Equally important in real life is seeing people we can relate to, aspire to be like, in our personal and professional lives. Far too often in my work, I’m in rooms where very few people look like me. Representation matters!

During the pandemic, I discovered a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. A core mission of this work, for me, is to help increase participation in SMPS by members of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups. I’m so proud that SMPS and the SMPS Foundation provided student memberships and $1,500 scholarships to 14 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Currently, about 2% of all licensed architects are Black. Depending on your source, the number of Black engineers stands somewhere between 3 and 5%. Data on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) representation in the field of professional services marketing is scarce. For that reason, SMPS has partnered with Kanarys to survey our membership to collect demographic data because diversity is about counting the numbers. I know from experience that what gets measured gets managed. Collecting this data will allow us to develop metrics and to hold ourselves accountable to them as we seek to improve representation at all levels of our organization.

Of course, counting the numbers is just the first step. Making the numbers count is the most critical one. Growing the organization literally and figuratively, while providing platforms with safe spaces for all, is the endgame.

Failure is not an option, and I hope you’ll join me as we continue to impact our organization and the A/E/C industries in a positive way. A great way to start is by taking the Kanarys survey.

Article written by Antonio Payne, CPA. Antonio is chief financial officer and DEI advocate for SMPS HQ in Alexandria, VA. He can be reached at antonio@smps.org.

Nandi Rice, director of marketing for SMPS HQ, is responsible for leading the marketing strategies and messaging to promote SMPS and the SMPS Foundation. She took time out of her busy day to sit down with us virtually to answer a few questions. Nandi calls Charlotte, NC home and works remotely from there.

Where did you grow up? New York City (in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens)

What did you want to do/be when you were a kid? I wanted to be an actress or a TV show host.

What did you study at university? I double majored in Media & Communications and American Studies

What’s a Day in the Life of Nandi Rice like? The pandemic created an opportunity for me to work from home and keep my children home with me as well. I’m usually up at 7:30 a.m.; I get myself dressed, then my two kids. I make breakfast and spend time with them before logging on for work. I’m lucky because they will usually entertain themselves in their playroom while I work. We take short breaks throughout the day to have meals and snacks and spend some time cuddling. When the workday is over, we try to watch a movie as a family if we don’t have any errands to run. I usually make dinner if we don’t order out and my husband and I will tag-team bedtime for them. I spend the last few hours of my day reading, catching up on one of my shows, or just talking with my husband.

If you had to choose a few words to describe yourself, what would they be? Driven, funny, adventurous.

How would you describe your current role? As director of marketing, I’m responsible for creating an effective strategy for marketing all the Society’s programs, products, and events.

How would you define success (either on the personal or professional front—or both)? To me, success is waking up every day getting to do something that you enjoy and are passionate about. So many people don’t have the opportunity to get paid for their passions.

Have you had a mentor in your life? I haven’t had any “official” mentors in my life, but I have had a lot of people who have poured into me professionally. Many of whom did so unintentionally. I like to learn from anyone who is in a position that I aspire to be in.

What does Black History Month mean to you? To me, Black History Month is an opportunity to acknowledge all the accomplishments and contributions that African Americans have made to this country. I grew up learning about slavery and all the brutality that African Americans endured for centuries. Black History Month doesn’t erase that past, but it’s an opportunity to talk about African Americans in a positive light.

I’m a Hispanic male, but I often find myself forgetting that. I was reading Alicia Washington’s article from last year, and I thought to myself, “Yep, uh-huh, oh me, too!”—particularly the parts where she shared how she felt like she didn’t belong at a certain point in her professional career.

There have been many events where I look around and think, “Dang, I’m the only Hispanic here.” It’s something I just pick up on the moment I enter a room, and at some events, it feels like I’m the only minority altogether.

That said, I still live a pretty normal American life. I was born here. I speak perfect English (although I do sometimes trip myself up on words that sound similar in Spanish). My favorite show is “The Office.” And my day-to-day life is probably no different than yours.

But I still am (and look) Hispanic, and I’ve had a fair share of comments made to me. Some of those include:

“They need to hurry up and build that wall!”

“The workers here don’t speak any English, WTF!”

I don’t really take offense to it—ignorance is ignorance—but I often think about my mom and what she endured to ensure I lived an American life. So, I’ll share my mother’s story instead; and don’t worry, I’ll address those two comments above.

My mother is from El Salvador and grew up dirt poor. Poor as in when I visited El Salvador as a child and into my teens, the bath was a bucket of (cold) water, and the toilet was good ole Mother Earth. She would tell me stories about how when they got new (or new to them) clothes for the beginning of the school year, they made sure it was a white or light shirt.

Her brothers would rotate their shirts and her sisters would rotate theirs—not so crazy, right? Well, once that shirt got a bit too dirty, they would dye it darker and darker to get as many uses from that shirt as possible.

She also constantly shares that the only food they had growing up was beans, rice, Salvadorian cheese, and tortillas. A McDonalds Big Mac is considered fancy by her standards.

Now that I’ve shared a little about my mother and her childhood experiences, it’s time to address those comments I’ve heard time and time again.

“They need to hurry up and build that wall!”

My mother did come to the U.S. illegally 35+ years ago and crossed that border. She did so to escape the El Salvador Civil War, which lasted from 1979 to 1992. One of her ten siblings crossed first, got a job in the U.S., and worked their butts off to send money back to the others. The rest of her siblings then came in waves as the previous wave made money to send back for the next wave. So, yeah, she crossed that border and has since become a U.S. citizen and never stopped working her butt off.

“The workers here don’t speak any English, WTF!”

My mother also, for as long as I can remember, worked two jobs to support me and my brother. I specifically recall she would come home around 4-5 p.m. to cook for us, and then she was gone again for the night shift. She never had the time to learn English. And she tried and failed many, many times. I recall the Inglés Sin Barreras (English Without Barriers) VHS tapes she would try to pick up on, but work and bills always got in the way.

So, yes, if you run into my mom and speak English, she will understand some, but she can’t speak it very well. That’s the case for many Hispanics. I often think to myself, “Well, if I knew I was moving to France and had to live there the rest of my life, I would learn French.” While that’s true for me and most of my friends and cousins, we only have that privilege because of our parents’ sacrifices. They crossed so we could flourish in this country.

Some people you run into may have similar stories. They may have never worked in an English-speaking setting or had to jump into a labor gig immediately because those are the jobs most people don’t want—or the only ones they can find since they’re entirely new to the country. I ask that you give some grace. Because the grace you give may be to someone’s mother, like mine, or someone’s father, sister, or brother. Or it simply may be someone who might turn into a new friend one day.

In closing, I’ll lighten the mood and leave you with a challenge—and it involves food. Pupusas are THE Salvadorian dish. You probably wouldn’t believe me, but I had pupusas two nights in a row while writing this.

I challenge you to find a local pupusa spot, try a few (my limit is around six) with the red tomato sauce and curtido (pronounced kr·tee·dow)—no need to look that up, just ask for it when you get there. And please make sure it’s a small business and owned by Hispanics, because it really does make a difference.