Greetings from Sioux Falls, Hattiesburg, Topeka, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Tulsa, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oklahoma City--- that’s’ where I have been the last few weeks meeting with SMEI affiliate leaders, members and strategic partners.  Many more trips planned for the US and abroad this year.  If you want a visit from one of the international board, let us know and we will be glad to drop in and give you an update. Lot’s of great news. 
 
In the personal visits and in talking to many of you via phone or email, I am grateful for all the energy and effort that every member and profession is giving to make our profession better.  The news is filled with corporations failing to meet professional standards, it is so good to talk and see so many in SMEI striving for something more than the minimums.  Thanks for taking the step to raise the bar through your membership and participation.  I encourage you to reach out to another professional who might also be looking to increase their own professional image and stature.  Extend an invitation by having them go to http://www.smei.org/membership  to sign up as a member.  We would be glad to welcome them as members.
 
Below is an update on some of our key programs to let you know of some of the changes and progress we are making--- it’s noticeable!  Please read on and if there is anything I can do for you, please contact me at Jeffreyh@hayzlett.com or call the headquarters at 800-999-1414 and talk to our talented staff.
 
Happy New Year!
 

Jeffrey W. Hayzlett
Chairman, Sales & Marketing Executives International, Inc.
2002-2003
 
 
 
New Image:  We have created a new logo and updated the brand image of Sales & Marketing Executives International.  We put together a “who’s who” of brand experts earlier this year and they cam to the board with a number of suggestions.  It was unanimous by our board and the input from the membership and partners has been terrific. 
 
Our “brand marketing” team is really getting the new look and feel on all our communications.  It will take time but we will get the transformation complete before long.  CHAPTER LEADERS--- contact our headquarters to get a packet of information on how roll this out to your affiliate.  We need to project a consistent brand worldwide.  Many of our affiliated chapters have already begun implementation and we need to get everyone on board for the long overdue image overhaul.
. 
 
The SMEI Academy of Achievement and Hall of Fame:  Join hundreds of the profession’s very best in honoring our newest Hall of Fame inductees on April 5, 2003 in Oklahoma City. This year's honorees include:   

• Gary Story, President and Chief Operating Officer, Premier Parks, Oklahoma
• Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Chairman, Carlson Companies Inc., Minnesota
• A.W. ‘Tom’ Clausen, Chairman & CEO (retired), Bank of America, CA
• Edward Zore, Chairman of Northwestern Mutual Insurance, Wisconsin
• Stanford Newman, Chairman of JC Newman Cigar Company, Florida
• Ambassador of Free Enterprise - Nido Qubein, Chairman, Great Harvest Bread Co and Chairman, Creative Services Inc., North Carolina

These honorees will be inducted during a black tie gala event into our SMEI Academy of Achievement and Hall of Fame.  This event is one of the profession’s highlights for the year, so I encourage you to be in attendance and join me and other sales and marketing professionals in spending time with these Hall of Fame honorees.  Click http://www.smei.org/events  for more information and to register.
 
Leadership Workshop:  Attention all incoming SMEI affiliate president-elect and officers, executive directors and future leaders of the profession---- in conjunction with the SMEI Academy of Achievement and Hall of Fame, we will be hosting our yearly leadership workshops April 4 & 5 in Oklahoma City.  This is a must for any leader or future leader.  Join with other affiliate leaders to find out the best practices in running your local affiliate.  The event includes key session with successful affiliate leaders, break out sessions, panels and even some social events.  Plus we have included all the SMEI Academy of Achievement and Hall of Fame events in on the workshop----- a reception at the Governor’s mansion, the Hall of Fame inductee panel discussion and the Saturday night awards gala. 
 
For more information contact your SMEI Regional Vice President or Melissa Scott, Chairman-elect melissa@c-gate.net or Debra Lindsey-Peck, Senior Vice President Affiliate Development debrapeck@shreveportchamber.org for more information.
 
 
Wall Street Journal:  SMEI was in the news recently--- we are all the time but in particular we had a mention in the WSJ which via viral marketing is making its way around all the affiliates and members.  Some folks were asking about seeing another copy of SMEI being mentioned in the Wall Street Journal.  We have gotten tremendous response from the article.  A copy of the article will be mailed to all members this month. 
 
 
Og Madino, World’s Greatest Salesman coming to you!  A number of affiliates are signing up for the Og Mandino program.   This is a unique leadership program that is being brought to the affiliates through the international office.  You get exposure to some of the greatest speakers and coaches working with you to improve your professional skills utilizing the material form one of the world’s greats sales professionals--- Og Mandino.  Check with your affiliate leadership to see if this is scheduled in your area or I encourage you to talk to affiliate leaders about adding this to their programs this next year.  Or contact us at smeihq@smei.org  to find out another city where the program is being offered.
 
68^th Annual Sales & Marketing Leadership Conference:  Reserve the dates for our annual conference and meeting to be held September 18-20, 2003.  For more information on how to reserve your spot for the conference go to http://www.smei.org/events .
 
 
Certification:  Have you become a certified professional yet?  Join the many who are certified sales or marketing executives. In the days when a lot of people are looking to make advanced moves with new jobs, a certified professional always stands above the other qualified candidates.  Go to http://www.smei.org/certification to see how easy the steps are to become certified.
 
 
GSSMM:  It stands for. . .Graduate School for Sales and Marketing Management.    It is our 50+ year program with Syracuse University.  Plans are under way for our next school program slated in October of 2003.partnership.   Go to http://www.suce.syr.edu/Programs/exec/GSSMM/ to find out more about this cutting edge joint program. 
 
I had the pleasure to address last year’s graduating class, a great group of professionals.  See if you would like to be in the next one yourself.  Also, we are looking to expand it to more qualified institutions.  If you have an interest, drop us a note.  The board of trustees is meeting in April so we are open to you suggestions.
 
 
WS Radio:  I recently had the opportunity to be a guest on  WSRadio -- with Anthony Parinello   the author of the new best seller, “Think & Sell Like a CEO” .  During the interview we were joined by Jim Sirbasku, CEO of Profiles International who talked about why they were so involved with SMEI.    Jim is a SMEI Hall of Fame inductee.  Check out the interview at http://12.162.161.64/cart/ProductDetail.asp?PR_ProductID=582.
 
Contact Information.
 
Using the web is only one way we reach out to you.  We mail items of interest to all our members but do we have the right contact information? Email membership@smei.org  with your current contact information to make sure we have the right information so that we can make sure you get all the benefits of your membership.  Keeping connected with us allows you to get the full benefit of your membership.