Meet Marianne Cook Jenks, CPSM | First Members of SMPS Utah
Posted by Communications2 on Dec. 3, 2020 / Member News / Subscribe 0
Marianne Cook Jenks proudly served as the SMPS Utah Chapter President from 1991-1992. She is a recognized expert with over 25 years of marketing experience in the A/E/C industry, including a decade of service with SMPS Utah. Wherever she goes, her great reputation precedes her but—she’s quick to point out—it also precedes the internet.
SMPS Utah has always been on top of new developments, trends, and best practices. The early days of the Utah Chapter were no exception. Marianne recalls, “I clearly remember one program in the early ‘90s titled An Introduction to the World Wide Web. Yep, I was in marketing before the internet.”
The SMPS Utah Chapter we know and love today wouldn’t be what it is without our early pioneers. Marianne recounts: “At the time, there were a handful of full-time A/E/C professional marketers in Utah… Dana (French) Birkes had recently moved to Salt Lake City from Texas, and I asked if she knew anything about SMPS. Enthusiastically, Dana shared her previous chapter experience including her connections to regional and national leadership… And the spark for a Utah chapter took flame. We pitched the idea to Stephanie Craft, then all three of us hit the phones. We started recruiting, fundraising, planning programs, and preparing legal documents to meet national charter requirements. As the network grew, so did enthusiasm, support, and membership for SMPS Utah.”
But it did more than that.
SMPS changed marketing in Utah. Marianne recalls: “I noticed a significant, positive change in the perception of many principals and owners about the valuable role of professional marketers. This change was apparent in the growth and creation of new marketing positions within many Utah design and construction firms. She continued, “My SMPS membership was invaluable. It helped me build my professional network, sharpen my marketing skills, advance my career, and increase my contribution to the clients I serve.”
To Marianne—and all of the early SMPS members—we thank you. Your effort has paved the way for generations of marketers in Utah. You may never know how much good you do.
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