Jodi Wladyka's marketing career is filled with challenges and a passion for what she does

Jodi Wladyka is the business development & marketing manager at Emtec Consulting Engineers, Ronkonkoma, N.Y. Wladyka's responsibilities include: Overseeing Emtec's in-house marketing activities which include proposal submissions, public relations pieces, presentations and graphic design. In addition involved in the firm's business development efforts including strategic planning and ongoing client maintenance. Wladyka received the Outstanding Member Award from SMPS LI and is affiliated with SMPS, LIREG CoreNet, and IFMA. Some of her career achievements include: Certified Professional Services Marketer, on the board of directors for the Society for Marketing Professional Services. My marketing career got a jump start by being in the right place at the right time while working at an Architectural firm. I was working at the firm for almost six years doing a little bit of everything. I truly enjoyed the exposure to the marketing effort and made sure everyone in the department knew I would be willing to lend a hand to them if need be. Sure enough, that day came where there was a deadline and my help was needed. I completely immersed myself in doing research, preparing resumes and organizing project sheets. I felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment when our submittal left the office and from that moment on, I knew I wanted marketing as my career. Little did I know, this new found passion would be taking me on an interesting and at times challenging journey to where I am today. As time progressed, the architectural firm I worked for decided to make me an assistant to the department After a while, I found I wanted more responsibility, challenge, more of everything. I approached the owner of the firm and tried to sell him on why I should be even more involved in the marketing effort. I think he could see I was passionate about this but at that time, this was all he could offer me. I respectfully understood and this more than anything motivated me to leave a secure position of six years to take a chance at making a career for myself. I landed a position working for Donald Trump as part of the construction team for the "Trump on the Ocean" catering facility; that was to be built at Jones Beach State Park. The position was very intriguing to me because I wanted to use this opportunity to learn everything from the bottom up about construction and the Trump Organization in hopes of moving onto the marketing side once the facility opened for business. But Trump was not meant to be and due to legal issues, the project was shut down and the entire team was laid off after only three months of employment. Timing is everything. I still was confidant I could find the job that I wanted. I saw an ad for a marketing position within an engineering firm that I was familiar with. The position was for a marketing coordinator and I thought this was the position I was waiting for. I sent my resume to them to hear that the position had already been filled, but they would keep my resume on file. Now, anyone who has been pounding the pavement looking for a job knows that keeping it on file is the political correct way of saying "no thank you." However, a few days later I received a call from another engineering firm that I had never heard of, wanting to set up an interview with me. It just so happened, the woman from the first engineering firm knew the CMO at my current firm through a networking organization, SMPS (Society for Marketing Professional Services). I was hired as their marketing manager and after being there two years, have now become the business development and marketing manager. In my current role I oversee the firm's in-house marketing activities which include proposal submissions, public relations pieces, presentations and graphic design. In addition I am heavily involved in the firm's business development efforts including strategic planning and ongoing client maintenance. Currently I am on the board of directors for SMPS, serving as the director of membership. and am active with the USGBC, Corenet, LIREG and IFMA. The relationships I make within these organizations have brought many opportunities to my firm. As for the architect I formally worked for, not only have I stayed very close with them, I am happy to say I've made them a client. Achievements are not often accomplished solely on your own, and I am definitely no exception. Two people have played important roles in helping me to get where I am today. I need to thank my co-worker and teammate Anthony Musumeci, CPSM, LEED AP who gave me the opportunity I waited a long time for in the industry and most importantly my husband, Bill who always encourages me and supports me in everything I do. Jodi Wladyka is the business development & marketing manager at Emtec Consulting Engineers, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.