Jen McGovern, president of the SMPS DC chapter for 2020/21 has been recognized by the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) as the 2022 Chapter President of the Year.
She was honored at Amplify A|E|C, the society’s annual conference, during an awards ceremony on July 19.
The Chapter President of the Year Award recognizes a SMPS chapter president who has demonstrated excellence in leadership while serving the chapter and its members. The nomination process includes both self and peer nominations and must be submitted by a current SMPS member.
McGovern became SMPS Washington DC president during one of the most challenging years of the chapter’s history. During this time, she had a unique opportunity to assess what worked—and what didn’t—for the chapter.
She fostered an environment of evaluation and experimentation, encouraging directors to own their programs and get creative, the national association said in its award announcement. “And by taking this approach, the chapter was able to remain profitable during the pandemic—staying in the black on over 80% of events and increasing reserves.”
“All of the chapter presidents in the 2020–2021 program year faced a unique challenge in determining how to keep members safe while still delivering an impactful member experience, McGovern said. “With the support of the SMPS DC board members and volunteers, we produced a calendar of creative events and laid foundations to benefit the chapter in the future. I’m excited to continue to see how the SMPS DC chapter evolves!”
Throughout her term, she made sure both board members and chapter members felt seen and heard. She sent a personal welcome email to every new member, letting them know of upcoming events and encouraging them to get involved.
“Connection, education, and advancement—that’s what Jen promised SMPS Washington DC, and she delivered, while maintaining her calm and collective manner,” the SMPS statement said.
