MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | NATHAN REYNA
Posted on Apr. 29, 2024 / Member Spotlight / Subscribe 0
If you have ever attended an SMPS-NY event, then you probably had the privilege to meet Nathan Reyna, Media Relations Specialist at Avison Young and current Immediate Past President of SMPS-NY. Read on to learn how Nathan’s involvement in SMPS has both furthered his career growth and fostered friendships, as he takes a look back on his time within SMPS- NY and Chapter President.
Where do you work and what does your job entail?
I am a media relations specialist for Avison Young, a global commercial real estate firm. In my role, I handle day-to-day external communications with reporters and editors at regional trade, business, and mainstream outlets for earned media covering our transactions, market intelligence, and thought leadership.
How long have you been a member of SMPS-NY? What influenced you to join? What would you say are good reasons others should join SMPS-NY?
I was introduced to SMPS-NY at my first architecture firm gig – it was part of the job to sign up, attend, and get involved. I had been doing agency work for years and didn’t feel like I belonged to anything but my clients, and when I started going to SMPS-NY events and plugging into committees, I knew I’d found my people!
A great reason to join SMPS-NY is to engage with folks outside your normal circle – this helps you grow and expand your skills, critical thinking, and expose strategic resources that you might not have known about. However, all that comes from putting in the effort through volunteering with the organization – it’s a safe space to try new things in a risk-free environment!
What is your favorite SMPS event?
Hands down it’s the annual Liberty Ball. I don’t have to go to learn anything and it’s great to see folks you might not have seen all year – plus it’s a great way to challenge yourself and your teams to showcase your hard work through the year by submitting entries and participating in the Marketing Communication Awards (MCA). The cocktails are usually great too.
How do you feel being active in SMPS has helped your career growth? Are there specific skills or tools you picked up through SMPS that furthered your goals?
One of the pillars of SMPS is ‘striving for excellence,’ and while that may mean different things for different people, for me it’s all about being proud of your output and understanding your value. Being active in SMPS has helped me find better ways of doing my job day-to-day but it’s also helped me understand what I’m worth to whoever I’m working for and that’s earned me more competitive salaries and positions. I will say, whatever I’ve picked up along the way during my time with SMPS-NY was picked up from volunteering with a committee or in leadership roles like Chapter President. This is invaluable experience, and though it can be a challenge at times, it’s ultimately a significant growth opportunity.
What benefits have you experienced from being involved in committees and leadership?
Frankly, it’s knowing what I’m good or not good at, ha! In leadership, I needed to learn to listen more and have more patience; with committee involvement it’s knowing what I could take on and how I could best contribute. The ultimate benefit, though, is the recognition and spotlight that being involved places you in – your professional visibility grows alarmingly fast when you show up, produce good work, and remain consistent with being engaged with the chapter.
As a past-president, what do you hope your legacy is?
If I want people to think of one thing about my Presidency it’s that I hope people had fun. This organization requires a lot of work and a lot of planning, but when it’s done well and when people engage and show up, it can also be a ton of fun. I remember when SMPS-NY was where all my friends were and I hope that, if anything, that remains to be the case long after my tenure as a chapter leader.
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