The Society of Marketing Professional Services’ San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (SMPS-SFBAC) says it is launching Creative Minds 2021, a series of expert-taught workshops over four Wednesdays in May.
Formerly known as its signature annual event – Marketing Coordinator + Digital Marketing Bootcamps – Creative Minds 2021 offers a new format comprised of educational and networking experiences involving writing, design, visual assets and career advancement for both members and nonmembers of SMPS.
“Our signature event has long been considered a premier educational workshop experience for the region’s professional services marketers – especially for those who are eager to learn new skills and for up-and-comers in the industry,” said Allison Halvorson, SMPS SFBAC president. “And this year, we’re offering a reimagined, rich and engaging, virtual experience due to the pandemic. Creative Minds serves to inspire and provide practical professional development and career advancement skills – and participation is flexible, affordable and accessible to anyone regionally and beyond.”
Creative Minds 2021 offers the following workshops:
May 5 • Compelling Cover Letters
Presented by Judy Straalsund, this session offers tools and insight to help participants rethink their cover letters, shifting focus and intentions to the client’s vision and concerns. Breaking attendees into small working groups, she will apply the “Help Your Reader Story Structure” template to cover letters, covering positive emphasis, appropriate tone and bias-free language.
Full details on this session can be found here.
May 12 • InDesign Can Do That?
Speaker Julie Shaffer will share tips for crafting eye-catching layouts and tricks that simplify and amplify creativity within proposals. Expediting workflow is the purpose of all her ideas and best practices in the use of styles, scripts and CC libraries.
Full details on this session can be found here.
May 19 • Level Up Your Photography
Architectural photographer Tyler Chartier will take participants through an interactive journey showcasing game-changing tips and tricks to create better images. He will share the strategies and techniques he uses — from color correction and exposure to storytelling and composition — to create compelling images, enabling attendees to immediately improve images and produce better photos at their next shoot.
Full details on this session can be found here.
May 26 • Optimizing and Expanding Your Network
Led by Maisha Hagan, Beauty & the Boss LLC owner and head coach, this session is for “anyone with a hunch they could be using LinkedIn more effectively.” Hagan will show participants how — by applying social network theory to LinkedIn’s algorithm — to (1) map one’s existing network, (2) identify and target knowledge gaps in the Go/No-Go Process and (3) transform online connections into real-world relationships. She will also show how network diversity improves information quality. Hagan will examine LinkedIn’s additional features and capabilities, and she will review strategies and scripts to help attendees better use their professional networks and build a thought leadership platform.
Full details on this session can be found here.
Times, prices and registration
The first three programs in the series (May 5, 12, 19) take place at lunchtime, either 11:30 a.m. or noon to 1:00 p.m. The May 26 program will run from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.
Pricing for SMPS and partner organization members: $80 for the entire series or $25 per single program. Non-member price: $130 for the series or $40 for a single program. Student price: $5 per program.
Register for the Creative Minds 2021 workshop series here. The first 50 people to register for the entire series will receive a gift featuring locally made confections from Miette (a $40 value).