Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
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The Marketing Education Series is designed to provide architects, design professionals, business managers, marketing professionals and firm principals the knowledge and tools needed to improve professional success in managing the business component of marketing, and enhance marketing effectiveness through application of key principles. Sessions will cover:      The goal of this session is to provide knowledge and tools to improve A/E/C professional success in managing the business component of marketing, and to enhance marketing effectiveness through application of key principles.The workshop outline includes measuring marketing effectiveness; understanding key financial ratios; and incorporating information into firm strategies. In addition, key learning objectives include collecting and evaluating firm financial information; understanding context to marketing initiatives, and effective application to improve success rates and profitability. Successful and effective marketing initiatives positively impact a company's bottom line. To that end, participants will learn how to measure the effectiveness of marketing initiatives, identify financial indicators, determine their relationship to marketing initiatives, and integrate this information to make better marketing and business decisions in alignment with strategic plans. Instructor: Julie Olson Julie Olson is a Fellow of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. With over 25 years of experience, she provides a balanced approach to management and marketing, heightened by her years as partner in an architectural firm with multi-state offices. Julie is a past President of the Oregon Chapter of SMPS and has been active on numerous SMPS committees. Other leadership positions include 2002-03 Women in Action president and 2003-04 Women in Action Foundation president; 2004-05 Clark County Historic Museum Board of Trustees; and 2004-05 Silver Buckle Youth Equestrian Center Board of Directors President. Register for this individual session here.  In a recession, marketing tends to be the first victim of budget cuts when, in reality, it is the most important tool a business has during this difficult time. This session will focus on understanding the value in marketing, marketing consistently and strategic planning for budget and resource usage. Marketing is an investment, not just an expense.
Instructor: Renee Godwin Renee Godwin, with over 20 years experience, is known for her integrated approach to marketing communications and management. The bulk of her career was spent leading a large multi-state marketing team through ownership changes, company restructuring, and rapid growth. She established streamlined systems, process improvements, and customer service policies based on her business-within-a-business philosophy while serving on the Senior Management Team. Her background includes project and event coordination, training, writing, data management and organization, public relations, marketing materials development, website development, and strategy development. Renee is a board member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. Register for this individual session here.  Promotional activity involves developing, implementing, and coordinating efforts to promote the firm through advertising, public relations activities, and media outreach. Advertising is a marketing tool that uses purchased space to deliver a message to a targeted audience. Learn how a successful communications program, including publicity and public relations as part of the marketing plan, will reap many rewards both internally and externally. Instructor: Janice Thompson, Lease Crutcher Lewis With a degree in public relations from the University of Oregon, Janice Thompson is marketing manager at Lease Crutcher Lewis in Portland. Since joining the firm in 2001, Janice has contributed to the successful pursuit of numerous new business ventures and increased the company's visibility with public relations and community outreach efforts. Prior to joining Lewis, she worked for public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard, in support of accounts such as PGE and Intel. A member of SMPS, Janice has served as board member and Oregon chapter president in her eight years with the organization. Register for this individual session here.  This session focuses on the organizational performance through effective leadership in dealing with all members of the professional services firm. Filling this role effectively requires acquiring a keen insight into the personalities of the firm's staff and principals, and learning what it takes to bring about effective group dynamics leading to a shared commitment to excellent client-centered service.During the workshop, you will learn about management and motivational techniques, records management systems, leadership and team-building principles, evaluation techniques for design/production efficiency and quality control, promoting and rewarding high-quality team performance and effective client service and techniques for resource management and costs/benefit analysis. Speaker: Katherine Robinette, David Evans and Associates Katherine Robinette is the current Senior Water Marketer for David Evans and Associates, Inc. in Portland. A graduate of the University of Oregon in English and Theater, she developed her marketing skills lobbying for public funding for the arts. Katherine "fell" into professional services marketing more than eight years ago, transforming her non-profit advocacy skills into marketing for the A/E/C industry. She joined SMPS in 2002, and has served on the membership committee, as treasurer, and is currently the Resources Director. Katherine has been providing training to marketers and technical professionals for more than four years, blending her knowledge and experience with her theater background to create engaging and informative sessions. Register for this individual session here. Earn 2 AIA Learning Units per session; 14 AIA Learning Units total |
| Cost Series: Member $250.00 Non Member $400.00 Per Session: Member: $50.00 Non Member: $80.00
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 take this opportunity to hone your artistic skills with an expert! |
Industrial design is the professional service of creating and developing concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of both user and manufacturer. Designed for architects, design professionals and the general public, this series is intended for those looking for a refresher course or looking to extend their artistic skills. May 19: Perspective and Line weight June 16: Markers and Marker Techniques July 21: Clean up and Composition August 18: Color September 15: Guiding the Viewer's Eye The Center for Architecture 403 NW Eleventh Avenue 5:15 pm - 7:00 pm Earn 8.75 AIA Learning Units for the entire series (must attend 4/5 classes to receive) Greg Stoermer Greg Stoermer attended the well renowned ArtCenter Collage of Design in Pasadena, California for transportation design where he graduated with honors in 2007 and was hired as an exterior car designer with Honda R&D Americas. While at Honda, Greg's interests in other areas of design was piqued. He ventured into his own design company, with a focus on design-driven vehicular design. Clients include Disney/Pixar, National Geography, Design by 11 in association with Aptera and Electro-Mariner, Prologue Films and others. He is also an Instructor for Industrial design at the Art Institute of Portland teaching basic sketch techniques, the design process, as well as digital media for the advanced level students. Assistive listening devices and large print materials available upon request. Payment is required at time of registration; cancellation/refunds accepted until 5 work days prior to workshop. Certificates of attendance may be purchased by non-members at time of registration for $10. Two scholarships are available to AIA/Portland members. To apply for consideration, please complete a request form (download here) and return to Sarah McNay at smcnay@aiaportland.org or fax to (503) 220-0254. |
Series Cost: Member $175.00 Non Member $225.00
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The Financial Management Series is designed to provide architects, design professionals, business managers, and firm principals the knowledge and tools needed to improve professional success in managing the financial component of your business through the application of key principles. Sessions will cover:  Reading and interpreting financial statements is an integral part of doing business; however, it can be quite confusing. This session will re-introduce you to standard financial statements: Balance Sheets, Profit and Loss, and Cash Flow. You will be able to see how changes in pricing, profit margins, accounts receivable collections, and operating expenses affect your cash flow. This workshop wil be beneficial to both start-up and existing business owners who want to learn the basics of forecasting income and expenses and analyzing basic financial statements. Instructor: David E. Adams David Adams' expertise ranges from hospitality, manufacturing, and mortgage brokerages, to real estate, and construction. When working with clients, he listens intently: that way, he is able to learn as much as possible about their struggles and accolades on an ongoing basis. He has found it to be the best way to help them set and achieve their goals. He also finds it very rewarding when a client is able to improve overall financial reporting and control expenses. Register for this individual session here.  Very few architects have aspirations of becoming collection agents at the beginning of their careers; however, some have found themselves in this unwelcome role. Developing a consistently successful accounts receivables program does not have to be daunting. By following some time-tested guidelines, you can implement a "win-win" strategy that gets your invoices paid on time and allows you to maintain positive, long-term business relationships with clients. With tough economic times, nonpayment is a serious issue. Learn how to protect yourself against delays and how to ensure payment. Specific topics will include: contractual provisions and statutory rights to ensure payment, liens and lien foreclosures. Instructors: Michael Lortz Michael's career at Geffen Mesher began as a summer intern in 2001 after working at a small local firm for three years. Over time, he has developed significant expertise working with business owners and investors in the real estate, construction, and professional services fields. He also provides a significant amount of tax and business planning for business owners in a variety of other industries. Shawn Lindsay Shawn is a skilled IP/business lawyer for Lane Powell, and acts as general counsel to international sofware consortia negotiating, drafting, and overseeing enforcement of domestic and international software licenses and managing IP litigation. Shawn's experience includes representing clients with a wide variety of IP needs, including representation in the following areas: software licensing, internet, domain names, establishing IP rights, acquiring and transferring IP rights, preserving IP rights, and enforcing and defending IP rights. He also works with start-up ventures and mature companies in corporate formation/structruring, securing IP rights, and finances. Register for this individual session here.  Learn how to plan for taxes from cradle to grave in your business: formation, operations, and exit strategy. Topics include how entity choice impacts taxation, tax deductions that favor professionals including deductions specifically for architecture firms, maximizing employee benefit plans, and exiting the profession gracefully (and tax-efficiently). In addition, we will discuss the latest tax planning strategies and discuss how they could apply to architects and their firms.Instructor: Michael Lortz, Geffen Mesher Michael's career at Geffen Mesher began as a summer intern in 2001 after working at a small local firm for three years. Over time, he has developed significant expertise working with business owners and investors in the real estate, construction, and professional services fields. He also provides a significant amount of tax and business planning for business owners in a variety of other industries. Register for this individual session here.  The Center for Architecture 403 NW Eleventh Avenue Earn 2 AIA Learning Units per session; 8 AIA Learning Units total |
Cost Series: Member $150.00 Non Member $275.00 Assistive listening devices and large print materials available upon request. Payment is required at time of registration; cancellation/refunds accepted until 5 work days prior to workshop. Certificates of attendance may be purchased by non-members at time of registration for $10. Two series scholarships are available to AIA/Portland members. To apply for consideration, please complete a request form (download here) and return to Sarah McNay at smcnay@aiaportland.org or fax to (503) 220-0254.
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