This article originally appeared on SMPS Boston’s website.
by the SMPS Boston Communications Committee
Lisa Frisbie
Lisa Frisbie’s career as a marketer hasn’t always been in the AEC realm, but her prior experience provided her a stepping stone to get her where she is today. While she was busy getting her B.S. degree in business & marketing from the University of Phoenix and her M.S. in international marketing from Boston University shortly after, Lisa was also expanding her professional skill set in various marketing and communications roles. Talk about being busy! But without those prior roles, Lisa would not have gained the expertise she needs today to excel in AEC marketing.
So, how did Lisa jump into this crazy AEC world? Her older sister had a helping hand. Aurora Cammarata, a past president of SMPS, saw the job posting at AGC MA and encouraged her to apply. Lisa was confident she could take on the challenge of marketing in a new environment. “Every position I have held has contributed to the skill building required to be successful at what I do today. Each role entailed various responsibilities and experiences (good and bad) that were valuable teaching moments.”
With the encouragement from her sister and Lisa’s confidence in her experience, she took on the role of director of marketing and communications at AGC MA, where she has worked for almost seven years. With a small office consisting of eight employees, Lisa is responsible for a variety of duties. She takes charge of everything and anything communications related: web design and content, the monthly newsletter, the Best Practices quarterly publication, and all social media posts. Additionally, she manages two AGC committees (Program Advisory and Building Women in Construction-BWiC) and all the programming the committees opt to produce.
Her work doesn’t stop there – she is continuously leading the business development efforts for her company. She strives to build working relationships in the industry through volunteering on the boards of SMPS, PGTI, GBAAI, and WIT Deans Advisory Committee. With such a full plate, Lisa can run into some challenges. “The biggest challenge is working to continually deliver programs that resonate with our members and offer opportunities to keep them engaged. Also, time management – especially maintaining a healthy work/life balance. It’s important to stay mentally and physically fit to be happy.”
Those challenges do not stop her from engaging with others and working as hard as possible. Upon entering the AEC world, Lisa was already aware of the benefits of joining SMPS through her sister’s involvement. Once she joined, she was able to quickly immerse herself in the industry, while meeting and building new personal and professional relationships. SMPS Boston’s educational and networking resources enabled Lisa to learn the ropes and meet new people very quickly. Shortly after joining, she became of a member of the Program Committee, ultimately serving as both chair and director of the committee in following years. Most recently, Lisa served as the SMPS Boston Chapter president. When reflecting on her term as president, Lisa said, “I am more confident than ever that my SMPS experience has helped me grow (you’re never too old) and push myself out of my comfort zone to attain goals I never would have previously imagined.”
When Lisa isn’t busy tackling the business world, she tries to enjoy her down time with drawing, reading, traveling with her husband, and spending time with her family.
