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Celebrating SMPS-NY’s Immediate Past-President Katherine DeMercurio

Posted on Aug. 12, 2021  /  SMPS News  /  Subscribe 0

We’re proud to announce SMPS New York’s 2019-2020 Chapter President Katherine “Kat” DeMercurio was recognized as the 2021 Chapter President of the Year!

Kat is the ultimate example of a fearless leader, elevating the New York Chapter to new heights in the face of all challenges and leaving it in a stronger position than before. An extra-large chapter must be led by an extra-large personality with her own magical touch. Kat not only personifies both those qualities, but complements them with a heaping dose of love, laser-focus on success, and Sharing Your Sparkle – Kat’s year-long theme inspired by the book Be More Unicorn: How to Find Your Inner Sparkle, by Joanna Gray.

“Leadership requires confidence to make the decisions that advance agendas and achieve goals. Sharing sparkle led the SMPS New York board to success; though many new paths had to be forged as a team.” – Kat DeMercurio

Kat bolstered the brand awareness and value of SMPS throughout the region, empowered our Board of Directors and encouraged them to capitalize on their leadership opportunities and take the time to engage in “Share Your Sparkle” moments. Her leadership, passion for others, and dedication to the AEC industry has seen her champion our renowned one-day symposium as Director of Professional Development and THE Marketing Event, depart the New York Board for a role as Foundation Committee Chair for CREW New York, and earn our chapter’s inaugural Humanitarian of the Year award.

Despite 2020’s tremendous obstacles, Kat:

• Expanded Chapter Reach: Expanded the chapter’s Westchester Affiliate to service members within five additional counties as the new Westchester-Hudson Valley affiliate.
• Created New Initiatives: Oversaw the creation of two new chapter committees—Technology Task Force and Diversity & Inclusion.
• Increased Free Programming: Influenced a chapter calendar containing 36 events over 12 months, including a 500% increase in free events (24 total) and eight members-only programs—a 50% increase in free events and nearly doubling the total despite two months without programming due to the regional pandemic shutdown.
• Donated to Non-Profits: Contributed time and chapter resources to benefit other regional non-profits, including 100% of the profits from the chapter’s Liberty Ball Awards Gala to benefit COVID-19 first responders and a Build Business scholarship, reflecting SMPS’s values and philosophies.
• Grew Chapter Membership: 42 new and 187 renewed/reinstated members
• Annual Profit: Steered the chapter to a $14,000-plus revenue increase in 2019-20, equal to nearly 20% growth in combined assets over the year before.
  
  

 The award was presented at this year’s Build Business virtual conference on August 5th. Congrats Kat, on your much deserved success!

The Chapter President of the Year Award recognizes an SMPS chapter president who has demonstrated excellence in leadership while serving the chapter and its members.

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