Call for Nominations 2027
Lead the Next Chapter of SMPS New York
Nominations are open for the 2027 SMPS New York Board of Directors!
SMPS New York has a new structure. With our newly adopted bylaws, the board is now organized around four pillars: Membership, Communications & Marketing, Events, and Education & Professional Development. Every leader has a clear focus, a team behind them, and a defined path to grow.
We’re looking for members ready to step up, whether that means running for an elected Board seat or leading a committee as a chair. If you’ve ever thought “I could help with that!” this is your invitation.
Why get involved?
• Build real leadership experience. Run a budget, lead a team, and present to a board. These are skills your firm will notice.
• Grow your network. Connect with marketing and business development leaders across New York City, Long Island, Westchester/Hudson Valley, and New Jersey.
• Shape what we do. Decide which programs, education, and events the chapter offers next.
• Follow a clear path. Our structure is built as a pipeline: committee member, chair, Director-at-Large, President-Elect, President.
Two ways to serve
1. Run for the Board of Directors
Elected Board members set the chapter’s direction and vote on its decisions. This cycle, we’re electing the Vice President/President-Elect, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and four Directors-at-Large, one to lead each pillar. Directors-at-Large serve two-year terms.
2. Lead a committee as a Chair
Chairs lead the day-to-day work within each pillar. They attend board meetings and share their input but do not vote, which gives them a front-row view of how the chapter runs. Chairs are appointed by the President with Board approval and serve one-year terms that can be renewed. You don’t need a nomination for a chair role; just tell us you’re interested.
Who Can Run
To be nominated for an elected Board seat, you must:
• Be a Regular or Distinguished Life member of SMPS, and have been one for at least one year by January 1, 2027.
• For Vice President/President-Elect: have served at least one year on the Board or as a committee chair.
• For Secretary, Treasurer, or Director-at-Large: have served at least one year on a chapter committee.
• Hold only one Board position at a time.
Not eligible yet? A chair role or committee seat is the best way to get there, and we’d love to have you.
How to Nominate
• Fill out the form. Submit the nomination form by [November 2]. You can nominate yourself, and we encourage it.
• We review eligibility. The Nominations & Elections Committee confirms that each candidate meets the eligibility requirements. No one is nominated without their knowledge and consent.
• The committee proposes a slate. The committee selects one candidate for each open seat, aiming for the best-qualified individuals and a well-balanced Board.
• Petitions and elections. Members may also nominate a candidate by petition signed by at least 10% of chapter members by [November 2]. If an eligible petition candidate isn’t on the slate, that seat goes to a member vote. Otherwise, the slate is declared elected.
[Nomination form link] · [Chair interest form link]
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
| Call for Nominations Opens | Wednesday, October 21 |
| Board Nominations Due | Monday, November 2 |
| Petition nominations due (signed by at least 10% of Chapter Members) | Monday, November 2 |
| Slate announced to Chapter Members | Friday, November 6 |
| Election, if a seat is contested | November 9-18 |
| Results Announced | Friday, November 20 |
| New Board takes office | January 1, 2027 |
The Roles
Every Board member attends monthly board meetings, signs the SMPS Chapter Leader’s Code of Conduct, and helps with sponsorship outreach. The time estimates below are approximate and vary by season. Full role descriptions are linked at the bottom of the page.
Officers (elected)
Vice President / President-Elect
Elected · Voting · Executive Committee · 3-year leadership track (VP/PE 2027 → President 2028 → Immediate Past President 2029) · approx. 8–12 hrs/month, more during election and planning season
What you’ll do
Partner with the President on running the chapter, preside when the President is away, and chair the Nominations & Elections Committee. You’ll lead planning for the next program year — budget framework, priorities, and volunteer recruitment — and represent the chapter at SMPS’s Chapter Leadership Symposium.
Why raise your hand
This is the chapter’s presidential track. You get a full year to learn how the chapter runs before you lead it, plus the kind of strategy, budgeting, and team leadership experience that translates directly to your firm. [SMPS HQ offers the CPSM exam free to Presidents-Elect — confirm before publishing.]
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’ve served at least one year on the Board or as a committee chair (required by our bylaws).
• You think about the big picture and enjoy bringing people along with you.
• You can commit to a three-year arc of leadership.
Secretary
Elected · Voting · Executive Committee · 2-year term (2027–2028) · approx. 4–8 hrs/month, heavier around board meetings and elections
What you’ll do
Keep the chapter’s official record: minutes for membership, Board, and Executive Committee meetings, our bylaws and policy archive, the chapter calendar, and board contact lists. You’ll track attendance and quorum, distribute agendas and minutes, and co-sign official documents with the President.
Why raise your hand
Good governance runs through this seat. You’ll see every decision the chapter makes and how it gets made, which is excellent preparation for any future leadership role.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’ve served at least one year on a chapter committee (required by our bylaws).
• You’re organized, detail-oriented, and love a well-run system.
• You’re the person who always knows where the file is.
Treasurer
Elected · Voting · Executive Committee · Chairs the Finance Committee · 2-year term (2027–2028) · approx. 6–10 hrs/month, heavier during budget season, audit, and the January IRS filing
What you’ll do
Serve as the chapter’s chief financial steward. You’ll coordinate the annual budget, present financial reports at every board meeting, handle banking, make sure our IRS filing is on time, and oversee the Sponsorship Chair to confirm sponsor payments and benefits.
Why raise your hand
Few volunteer roles give you this kind of hands-on financial leadership. You’ll keep a nonprofit healthy and gain experience your firm’s leadership will recognize.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’ve served at least one year on a chapter committee (required by our bylaws).
• You’re comfortable with numbers; bookkeeping or accounting knowledge is strongly preferred.
• You care about transparency and follow-through.
Directors-at-Large (elected)
Membership Director
Elected Director-at-Large · Voting · 2-year term (2027–2028) · approx. 1–2 hrs/week · Leads the four regional chairs and the DEI & Community Impact Chair
What you’ll do
Own the chapter’s recruitment and retention strategy. You’ll track membership data from SMPS HQ, oversee new-member onboarding and member surveys, lead regular check-ins with the regional and DEI chairs, and bring a membership health report to every board meeting.
Why raise your hand
You’ll see the whole chapter — who’s joining, who’s leaving, and why — and directly shape how members experience SMPS New York.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’ve served at least one year on a chapter committee (required by our bylaws).
• You’re a relationship builder who also likes digging into data.
• You enjoy coaching a team spread across different regions.
Communications & Marketing Director
Elected Director-at-Large · Voting · 2-year term (2027–2028) · approx. 6 hrs/week · Leads the PR, Social Media, Newsletter/Blog, and Website chairs
What you’ll do
Set the chapter’s brand voice and integrated marketing and editorial calendar. You’ll keep our PR, social, newsletter, and website chairs moving in sync, manage the communications budget and tools, sign off on high-impact messaging, and report communications metrics to the Board each quarter.
Why raise your hand
You’ll run a complete, multichannel marketing program from strategy to execution, which is a strong addition to any marketer’s portfolio.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’ve served at least one year on a chapter committee (required by our bylaws).
• You’re a marketing or communications professional who enjoys both strategy and editing.
• You care about consistency and protecting a brand.
Events Director
Elected Director-at-Large · Voting · 2-year term (2027–2028) · approx. 8–12 hrs/month, heavier before major events · Leads the Programs and Special Events chairs
What you’ll do
Own the chapter’s annual events calendar and events budget. You’ll make sure our programs cover all six SMPS Domains of Practice and offer CEUs where possible, coordinate with communications and sponsorship on promotion and recognition, and report attendance and feedback to the Board.
Why raise your hand
You’ll be behind the chapter’s most visible moments — from monthly programs to signature events like the Liberty Awards and the Marketing & Communications Awards.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’ve served at least one year on a chapter committee (required by our bylaws).
• You have event planning or project management experience; A/E/C experience is a plus.
• You keep a budget in mind while you plan.
Education & Professional Development Director
Elected Director-at-Large · Voting · 2-year term (2027–2028) · approx. 2–3 hrs/week · Leads the CPSM, Mentorship, Marketing Education, and Business Development Education chairs
What you’ll do
Set the chapter’s learning strategy. You’ll build the annual education calendar, manage the education budget, recruit speakers and partners, and lead the chairs who run CPSM support, mentorship, and early-career and business development learning.
Why raise your hand
You’ll shape how the next generation of A/E/C marketers and business developers learns and grows, and you’ll build a deep network of industry experts along the way.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’ve served at least one year on a chapter committee (required by our bylaws).
• You love learning, teaching, or building curriculum; CPSMs are especially welcome.
• You can spot an industry trend and turn it into a program.
Committee Chairs (appointed)
Interested in a chair role? Submit the [chair interest form]. You can express interest in more than one.
Executive Committee pillar
Sponsorship Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Treasurer · 1-year term, renewable · approx. 4–6 hrs/month, heavier at year-end renewals and major events
What you’ll do
Make sure every sponsor gets what they were promised. You’ll keep the sponsorship tracker current, follow up on invoices and confirm payments with the Treasurer, and coordinate with chairs across the chapter so logos, recognition, and complimentary registrations are delivered. (Securing new sponsors is a shared board effort led by the Executive Committee.)
Why raise your hand
You’ll build relationships with the firms that make our programming possible, and it’s a natural path to Treasurer or a Director-at-Large seat.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You have strong organization and follow-up skills.
• You have a client-service mindset.
• Prior committee or board experience is helpful but not required.
Membership pillar
Regional Chairs — New York City, Long Island, Westchester/Hudson Valley, New Jersey
Appointed · Reports to the Membership Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. 1–2 hrs/week, heavier 2–3 weeks before each event · Four seats, one per region
What you’ll do
Be the local face of SMPS in your region. You’ll host quarterly in-person networking events (think coffee meetups, knowledge exchanges, and roundtables), personally welcome new members, check in with members whose memberships are about to lapse, and lead a small local committee.
Why raise your hand
You’ll become a go-to connector in your local A/E/C market and help members feel at home in the chapter close to where they work.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You know your region’s A/E/C community, or want to.
• You like hosting and making introductions.
• You can keep a regular rhythm of outreach.
DEI & Community Impact Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Membership Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. 1–2 hrs/week, heavier 2–3 weeks before each event
What you’ll do
Run the chapter’s scholarship program with a fair, blind evaluation process, and build partnerships with minority-owned business associations, student groups, and universities. You’ll also partner with the events and education teams on speakers, venues, and vendors so our programs are welcoming and representative.
Why raise your hand
You’ll help widen the path into the A/E/C industry and make inclusion part of how the whole chapter works, not a single program.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You care about access and representation in the industry.
• You’re fair-minded and process-oriented.
• You like building partnerships outside the usual circles.
Communications & Marketing pillar
Public Relations Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Communications & Marketing Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. [3–5 hrs/month — confirm]
What you’ll do
Raise the chapter’s profile beyond our membership. You’ll build a media list of trade journalists and editors, write press releases for milestones and signature events, cross-promote with peer groups like AIA, ACEC, and WTS, and pitch chapter leaders for thought leadership placements.
Why raise your hand
You’ll build press relationships and earned-media wins you can point to in your own career.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You have PR or writing experience and enjoy pitching.
• You’re comfortable reaching out to people you don’t know yet.
Social Media Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Communications & Marketing Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. [4–6 hrs/month — confirm]
What you’ll do
Bring the chapter to life on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. You’ll design and schedule weekly posts from the communications calendar, capture live content at events, and keep conversations in our comments and messages professional and welcoming.
Why raise your hand
You’ll grow a real audience and sharpen your content creation skills with a creative team behind you.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’re creative, visual, and quick on your feet.
• You already think in posts, reels, and carousels.
Newsletter / Blog Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Communications & Marketing Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. [4–6 hrs/month — confirm]
What you’ll do
Edit and publish the chapter’s monthly e-newsletter and blog. You’ll gather upcoming programs and notices, write or source event recaps, interview members for spotlights with the Membership Director, and copyedit everything before it goes out.
Why raise your hand
You’ll own a recurring publication from start to finish and tell the stories of our members.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’re a strong writer and editor (AP style is a plus).
• You like deadlines and a steady publishing rhythm.
Website Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Communications & Marketing Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. [3–5 hrs/month — confirm]
What you’ll do
Keep the chapter website accurate and easy to use. You’ll post event pages and speaker bios, keep sponsor logos current, improve SEO and accessibility (like image alt text), manage the job bank with the Treasurer, and run monthly link and layout checks.
Why raise your hand
You’ll gain hands-on web administration and SEO experience on a site our members and sponsors use every week.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’re comfortable with web tools (StarChapter experience is a plus).
• You notice broken links and inconsistent formatting.
Events pillar
Programs Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Events Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. 5–8 hrs/month, heavier 2–3 weeks before each event
What you’ll do
Run the chapter’s recurring programs: luncheons, panels, project and firm tours, and happy hours. You’ll secure speakers and venues, build agendas, emcee or host on the day, and send promotional content to the communications team at least 30 days ahead.
Why raise your hand
You’ll meet speakers and leaders from across the industry and decide what conversations the chapter has next.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’re curious about A/E/C industry trends.
• You love hosting and keeping an event on schedule.
• Prior committee experience is helpful but not required.
Special Events Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Events Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. 5–10 hrs/month on average, 15–20+ hrs/month in the 4–6 weeks before signature events
What you’ll do
Lead the chapter’s signature events — the Liberty Awards Reception, the Marketing & Communications Awards (MCAs), and our annual kickoff. You’ll own budgets and timelines, negotiate with venues and vendors, recruit an event volunteer team, and reconcile event financials with the Treasurer.
Why raise your hand
These are the chapter’s biggest and most visible nights, and you’ll be the one who makes them happen.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You have large-scale event logistics experience (strongly preferred).
• You stay calm when there are a hundred moving parts.
Education & Professional Development pillar
CPSM Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Education & Professional Development Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. [3–5 hrs/month, heavier during study sessions — confirm]
What you’ll do
Guide members through the Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) journey. You’ll organize study groups and review sessions with SMPS Upstate, answer candidate questions about eligibility and the exam, and make sure CEU documentation reaches members on time.
Why raise your hand
You’ll help colleagues earn the industry’s top credential and raise the professional bar for the whole chapter.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You hold the CPSM, or are deeply familiar with the process.
• You enjoy encouraging others toward a goal.
Mentorship Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Education & Professional Development Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. [3–5 hrs/month, heavier during matching and kickoff — confirm]
What you’ll do
Design and run the chapter’s mentorship program. You’ll manage applications and matching, host the kickoff, check-ins, and closing events, provide discussion guides and goal-setting tools, and step in when a pairing needs support.
Why raise your hand
You’ll build relationships that shape careers and help develop the chapter’s next generation of leaders.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’re a natural connector who reads people well.
• You like designing programs and keeping them on track.
Marketing Education & PD Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Education & Professional Development Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. [3–5 hrs/month — confirm]
What you’ll do
Build a learning path for early-career A/E/C marketers. You’ll plan workshops, bootcamps, and skill-building sessions, create practical learning materials, and recruit experienced marketers to share what they know.
Why raise your hand
You’ll help newer marketers get up to speed faster and keep them engaged with SMPS as their careers grow.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’re an experienced marketer who enjoys teaching.
• You can explain complex concepts in plain language.
Business Development Education & PD Chair
Appointed · Reports to the Education & Professional Development Director · 1-year term, renewable · approx. [3–5 hrs/month — confirm]
What you’ll do
Lead the chapter’s business development programming. You’ll plan workshops and panels on client relationships, opportunity identification, capture planning, and proposal strategy, and bring in seasoned BD professionals to share real-world lessons.
Why raise your hand
You’ll help members win more work, and sharpen your own BD thinking along the way.
You’d be a great fit if…
• You’re a seasoned business developer.
• You like turning experience into practical, usable lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I nominate myself?
Yes, and we encourage it. Self-nominations are welcome.
Can I nominate someone else?
Yes. We’ll contact them to confirm they’re interested and eligible before they’re considered.
What if I’m not eligible for a Board seat yet?
Apply for a chair role or join a committee. Along with at least one year of SMPS membership, one year of committee service makes you eligible for Secretary, Treasurer, or Director-at-Large, and one year as a chair makes you eligible for Vice President/President-Elect.
Do chairs have to attend board meetings?
Yes. Chairs attend board meetings and share their input, but only elected Board members vote.
What happens if more than one person wants the same seat?
The Nominations & Elections Committee recommends one candidate per seat. If an eligible candidate is also nominated by member petition, that seat goes to a vote of the membership.
Who do I contact with questions?
[Nominations & Elections Committee contact / email]
Resources
• [SMPS New York Bylaws (link)]
• [2027 Organizational Chart (link)]
• [Full Role Descriptions (link)]
