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Chapter Leader Newsletter

January2026

Start the year with fiscal-year transition guidance, membership resources, recognition opportunities, and learning programs for your chapter.

6 sections24 updates

Section 01

Feature Story

1 update

New Fiscal Year Transition What to Expect

As shared prior to the holiday, updated model bylaws have been distributed to support SMPS’s transition to a calendar-year fiscal year. These changes are designed to create greater consistency, clarity, and alignment across chapters.

We recognize that fiscal-year transitions can raise important questions, particularly around implementation, timing, and financial considerations. To support you through this process, SMPS HQ will be hosting a series of workshops and guidance sessions to help chapter leaders navigate the transition with confidence.

Fiscal Year Master Class Series

As chapters transition to the new fiscal-year cycle, SMPS HQ is offering a fiscal-year master class series to provide focused training and real-time guidance. These sessions are designed to help chapter leaders understand the changes and implement them smoothly.

Our initial workshop will be the Bylaws Rollout Workshop, which will provide guidance on adopting the updated model bylaws, including timelines, voting requirements, and best practices.

Choose the session that works best for you:

  • Friday, January 9 | 1–1:30 p.m. ET

  • Friday, January 23 | 1–1:30 p.m. ET

Additional workshops addressing financial considerations and implementation details will be announced soon.

Thank you for your leadership and partnership as we move through this transition together. Our goal is to ensure chapters feel informed, supported, and confident every step of the way.

Section 02

Chapter Updates

2 updates

January 8

Celebrate AEC Growth Professionals Day on January 8

On January 8, we’re shining the spotlight on those who make it all happen during AEC Growth Professionals Day. Join us in honoring the marketers and business developers, like you, who are driving growth in the AEC industry. You should have received a link to a media kit with graphics and sample posts. If you missed it, there’s still time to grab the media kit!

CX Workshop Series Recap

In 2025, we held several Client Experience (CX) Immersion workshops in partnership with ClientSavvy, a ClearlyRated company. The one-day, hands-on program, designed for AEC marketers and business developers, offered workshops, collaboration, and real-world applications. Thank you to SMPS Maryland, SMPS New York, SMPS Palmetto, and SMPS San Francisco for participating and co-hosting. If your chapter would like to host a CX workshop in 2026, contact Associate Director of Volunteer Relations Kai Wright at kai@smps.org.

Section 03

Membership Corner

Happy New Year, chapter leaders! Here are a few membership-related resources that may come in handy.

6 updates

Share Your Nonmember Data

Share your non-member data! Thank you to all chapters who’ve provided the data! For all others, please don’t forget to forward your non-member data to memberprospects@smps.org. Be sure to let us know how the data was gained. (e.g., chapter job board, education or networking event).

Take the Chapter Preparedness Survey

Chapter preparedness survey: Please help us to identify ways to support your chapter. Take the quick survey.

Request Membership Training

Training: Are there membership operational or strategic training sessions that would benefit your chapter? If so, please email bryan@smps.org to coordinate schedules.

Explore the MySMPS Member Directory

MYSMPS member directory: In response to our request, over 1,300 members logged into smps.org and verified their personal and firm demographics. As a result, we’ve made additional filters available, making it easier for you to connect with other members. If you don’t appear in search results based on select criteria, ensure your information is accurate by logging into smps.org > My Profile > Account.

Access Member Demographics

Member demographics: Active members’ demographics are now available via a new query. Please encourage members to log in and confirm/provide missing details. As noted above, the member directory is informed by this same information. Here are the steps for chapter query access: smps.org > Start (left-hand margin) > Queries > Query Center / All queries or bookmarked queries (body)

Membership Activity Alerts

Membership activity alerts: HQ is working to replicate email notifications sent out to chapter leadership when select chapter activity occurs. Like Member Max, this requires a custom solution. We’re waiting for re:Members to confirm final requirements, cost, and timeline.

Any questions? Please reach out to Director of Membership, Bryan Lipps, at bryan@smps.org.

Section 04

Recognition and Resources

6 updates

2025 Season of Giving

Thank you, chapters, for participating in our 2025 Season of Giving! We held a friendly competition through January 5 to see which chapters showed the most love to the SMPS Foundation. Four winning chapters (one in each category) will be recognized. We’re in the process of tallying the results and will let you know soon! Each winning chapter will receive two prizes: 1) one night at the Amplify A|E|C host hotel in Las Vegas during the 2026 conference and 2) one registration to the Emerging Trends Roundtable at Amplify A|E|C 2026. Chapters will decide who will receive the prizes.

Nominate a Chapter President of the Year

And don’t forget about our Chapter President of the Year award. Nominations are now open. If your chapter has an immediate past-president who inspires others, fosters collaboration, and continues to elevate SMPS, this is the moment to shine a light on their impact. Submit a nomination and help us celebrate the exceptional leadership across our Society.

The Society’s Year in Review

Back in December, we shared our 2025 Year in Review. If you haven’t seen the infographic, download it today! We accomplished so much, and we couldn’t have done it without our fabulous volunteers, so thank you!

Complimentary Personal Branding Webinar

Spread the word about our complimentary webinar empowering students, ACE Mentor alumni, and anyone looking to explore the fundamentals of personal branding. This session, held in partnership with ACE Mentor, helps build confidence and lay the foundation for future academic and/or career success. During this online event, discover how to:

  • Present yourself in a digital environment to showcase your goals and strengths

  • Craft a compelling brand statement that works across platforms

  • Build a LinkedIn presence by optimizing a profile that gets noticed

Section 05

In Case You Missed It

4 updates

Section 06

Save the Dates

5 updates