Articles

Donata Gilliland

What year did you first join SMPS?
I joined SMPS in 2005.

How many years have you been a member?
I have been a member for 18 years.

What was your role when you first joined SMPS?
I started as a Marketing Coordinator.

What is your current role?
I now serve as a Principal.

What were you doing in 1984?
Ha! I was a toddler, likely playing with toys and trying to figure out the world.

What was your favorite 80s fashion trend?
Scrunchies, neon everything, jean shorts, leggings, big hair, jackets with large shoulder pads, and jelly sandals were all iconic styles.

Did you have a signature 80s hairstyle?
In my first or second grade picture, I had permed bangs—thanks to my mom!

What was your favorite 80s dance move?
The Moonwalk.

Who was your favorite 80s band?
Bon Jovi.

Did you attend any memorable concerts in the 80s?
I was still quite young in the 80s, so I didn’t attend any concerts. However, if I could have, Live Aid in London in 1985 would have been my top choice.

How did you get into AEC marketing?
While in college, I worked as an office assistant at a geotechnical engineering firm. Initially, I saw it as just a great part-time job, as my major was Finance. However, I started assisting with marketing and events, and by the time I graduated, I was hired as their Marketing Coordinator. The rest, as they say, is history.

What technological advancement has had the most impact on your career?
The smartphone—it puts everything at your fingertips. Early in my career, I had a flip phone, which was a very different experience!

What has been your favorite change in the industry?
The increasing presence of women in Business Development roles. Early on, marketing was primarily seen as a role for women, while BD was often dominated by men. Over the years, this has evolved significantly, which is great to see.

What has been your least favorite change in the industry?
I don’t have a least favorite change per se. Progress always comes with trade-offs. While computers, emails, smartphones, and AI have made our jobs easier, they have also increased the expectation of immediate responses, which sometimes limits time for deep thought and creativity.

What was your firm doing in 1984? Any major milestones?
FLINT didn’t exist in 1984—we are just entering our teenage years now. Watch out, world!

When did your firm open a Sacramento office?
In 2013.

What is your favorite SMPS memory?
Probably the Presidents' Leadership Symposium (PLS) in 2019. It was incredibly inspiring to meet incoming Presidents from across the nation and interact with the SMPS National leadership.

How would you describe your presidency? What challenges did you face?
At the start of my term, my biggest concern was securing enough sponsorships and raising funds in preparation for PRC coming to Sacramento the following year. Little did I know that halfway through my term, we would face a global pandemic. We had to cancel all in-person meetings and quickly transition to virtual events. Fortunately, we adapted well and kept the chapter moving forward. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, we managed to make a significant profit that year.

What programs or educational events did you host?
Throughout my presidency, we organized several educational and networking programs tailored to support our members' professional growth. Each event was designed to bring value to our community.

What is the biggest lesson you learned, or the best advice you can give?
Pick one to three key challenges to tackle during your presidency. If you try to fix everything, you’ll likely accomplish nothing.

Why do you love SMPS?
The network, camaraderie, and relevant industry education have been game-changers for my career.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about SMPS, the Sacramento region, or the AEC industry?
SMPS has played a crucial role in shaping my career, and I look forward to seeing its continued impact on the industry!