SOCIETY FOR MARKETING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES – ATLANTA (SMPS-ATL) ANNOUNCES 2022/2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Society for Marketing Professional Services – Atlanta (SMPS-ATL) Chapter is pleased to announce its 2022-2023 Board of Directors.

President Michele Redmond Holcombe has over 20 years of experience in marketing and sales and is the Marketing Lead for Foundation Technologies, Inc. Her strengths include marketing planning and organization, event preparation and execution, attracting and retaining customers and building key relationships. Michele received her BBA in Marketing from the University of Georgia where she nurtured her love for all things sports by cheering on the National Champion ‘Dawgs.

President-Elect Megan Kopacko has over 10 years of experience and is a Marketing Coordinator at SSOE | Stevens & Wilkinson. She is a passionate marketer focusing on operational and communication marketing for architecture and engineering. Prior to serving as President-Elect, Megan served as Treasurer. She also serves in the Chapter’s DEI and Membership Committees. In her spare time, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, experiencing new restaurants, and traveling.

Immediate Past President Laura McDonald, CPSM is a Marketing Manager at Terracon and provides marketing support and management for Terracon’s Gulf Coast Division. She supports strategic regional marketing efforts, federal data calls, client interviews, and award submissions. Working in the A/E/C industry for 14 years, Laura has gained most of her marketing experience in the engineering consulting field. She is passionate about mentoring, educating, and sharing with other marketing professionals so that they may elevate the role of a professional services marketer. In addition to providing traditional
proposal management and support, Laura acts internally as the division’s Major Pursuit Champion, Regional Federal Team Champion, is an internal CRM trainer, and was selected to be in Terracon’s Emerging Leaders and Influencers program. These experiences earned her the SMPS Atlanta Chapter Marketer of the Year Award in 2019. Laura is a graduate of ACEC Georgia’s 2020-2021 Future Leaders Program.

Secretary Cecilia Arango, CPSM is Marketing Manager for Thomas & Hutton with 21 years of experience overseeing the firm’s overall marketing operations, communications, and community relations. A member of SMPS ATL since 2006, she is a Certified Professional Services Marketer and serves on various professional and community boards, including past president of the Metropolitan Savannah Rotary, past chair of Savannah Sports Council, Resource Development Chair of Park Place Outreach, and Leadership Southeast Georgia. Cecilia is a graduate of Leadership Georgia (20/21), Leadership Southeast Georgia (2018), and Leadership Savannah (2016). Named a Georgia Trend 40 Under 40, she is an avid runner on a quest to run a marathon in each state and is the founder of running book club, Read, Run & Rant. Cecilia resides in Savannah with her husband and two kids.

Treasurer Callie Peterson graduated from the University of Georgia 2019 with a degree in Marketing, and a focus in Digital Marketing. As Catamount Constructors’ Marketing Coordinator, Callie’s strengths include proposal management, social media, video editing, and event planning. In addition to her role as SMPS Treasurer, she serves on the Membership and Communications Committees. Outside of work, Callie enjoys playing tennis and pickleball, reading, playing with her pup, and cheering on the Dawgs!

Director-at-Large (Chapter Development) Eric Keens, CPSM is a Certified Professional Services Marketer with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, coaching, communications, client and team development, and research for professional design services and engineering firms. A member of SMPS Atlanta since 2008, he has served on the Board for over a decade and was named the SMPS Atlanta Marketer of the Year award for exemplary service in 2018. Eric’s passion for professional development includes formal and informal mentoring, and he applies his passion as SMPS Atlanta’s Director for Chapter Development. In his spare time, he cooks and enjoys recreating recipes from scratch, camping with friends, traveling, and spending time with his Dalmatian mix.

Director-at-Large (Communications) Sarah Batchelor works in Account Services for Modo Modo Agency, a full-service strategic marketing firm serving billion-dollar companies and hyper-growth mid-market companies. She has over 10 years of marketing experience across various industries, including economic development, higher education, and AEC. Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in Economics & Organizational Management from Agnes Scott College, and a Master’s in Business Administration from
East Carolina University. She is an active member of the Atlanta Chapter of SMPS since 2017.

Director-at-Large (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Felita Bunn is the Marketing Lead for Brown and Caldwell (BC) in Atlanta. She works with client service teams on pursuits for the Mid-South Area and East Business Unit and is involved in pursuit strategy and execution, client account maintenance and facilitation, and other strategic marketing endeavors. Felita holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations from Norfolk State University and a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development from George Washington University. She was elected Scholarship Director for Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), the DEI Advisor for SMPS ATL, Leadership DeKalb Class 2022 class participant, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated. In her leisure time, Felita enjoys traveling (especially to the beach) and playing golf with her husband.

Director-at-Large (Membership) Molly Miller Patel is the Marketing Coordinator at Eberly & Associates, Inc. Born and raised in Atlanta, Molly lives just outside of the City with her husband and two animals. She joined her firm and the AEC industry shortly after college and just recently celebrated six years with Eberly & Associates, Inc. In her free time, Molly enjoys traveling and exploring new places, but most of all spending time with her family and friends.

Director-at-Large (Programs) Angel Jones, CPSM is the Marketing and Business Development Director for SLS Consulting, LLC. She creates opportunities, builds new relationships, and grows brand awareness to help position SLS for success. Angel is a Certified Professional Services Marketer and uses this knowledge to critically review marketing and business development efforts to determine if they align with and help further the firm’s strategic plan. In addition to her extensive AEC industry experience, Angel is a licensed real estate agent with over 13 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate. Angel holds a BA in Communications from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA. She has a subsequent degree in Theatre and a true passion for performing arts. She lives with her husband on a beautiful little family farm in Powder Springs, GA.

Director-at-Large (Professional Development) Susan Johnson, CPSM has more than 15 years of experience in the A/E/C industry and is a Certified Professional Services Marketer. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a Minor in Spanish. She is a Manager for Client Experience + Marketing at TYLin, where she supports the Rail + Transit Sector. When not at work, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Director-at-Large (Sponsorship) Nate Hammond, PE has over 17 years of engineering and business operation experience and received his Mechanical Engineering degree from Florida State University. Nate is Vice President of Hammond & Associates, Inc. and is the Atlanta Office Managing Director accountable for overall client satisfaction, project management, design production, and quality control for all disciplines including Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection.

Coastal Committee Chair Louise Nelson Roux is Marketing Manager for JE Dunn Construction’s Coastal team comprised of the Savannah and Charleston offices. Louise graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Psychology and minor in Sociology. She has 18 years of marketing experience with 10 in the A/E/C industry. Louise lives in Savannah with her husband, William, and two dogs, Ace and Tiny Bernice. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, boating, cooking
and jogging with her dogs.

Chapter Administrator Joan Borchardt is Owner of Moxie Meeting Planning, LLC and has more than 20 years of experience planning and implementing corporate meetings, regional and national conferences, training workshops, annual award programs, and social networking events. A graduate from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, she earned her Master’s degree from Emory University in Atlanta. Joan is a highly organized and detail-oriented meeting and conference planner with an exceptional ability to multi-task and oversee client events from initial planning to successful
implementation.

For more information on SMPS Atlanta or its newly elected Board of Directors, visit www.smpsatl.org

About SMPS Atlanta
The Atlanta Chapter of SMPS is comprised of collaborative and forward-thinking professionals. SMPS ATL provides opportunities to connect with peers and achieve growth through networking, professional development, and involvement in the architect/engineering/construction industry throughout the state of Georgia. SMPS is the only organization dedicated to creating business opportunities in the A/E/C industry. SMPS was created in 1973 by a small group of professional services firm leaders who recognized the need to sharpen skills, pool resources, and work together to create business opportunities. Today, SMPS has a membership of 7,000+ marketing and business development professionals from architectural, engineering, planning, interior design, construction, and specialty consulting firms located throughout the United States and Canada. For information, visit www.smpsatl.org or www.smps.org