Blueprint for Impactful Events: Turning Every Gathering into a Growth Engine

“Events no matter the size, from five people to 400 people, are the platform where relationships start.” This is the mantra that Bernice has lived by for over 30 years in marketing, event strategy, and leadership within the A/E/C industry. As director of marketing for global development at Turner Construction Company, Bernice oversees marketing initiatives across aviation, healthcare, pharma, industrial, sports, and data center market segments. Her ability to craft meaningful networking opportunities extends to her work with Turner’s national trade show strategies and her leadership in promoting Turner's brand across major conferences. As SMPS president and board member (2021–2023), Bernice was instrumental in driving the Society’s five-year strategic plan and fostering collaboration among industry leaders. Bernice holds an MBA in marketing and continues to mentor marketing professionals, empowering them to excel in event planning, branding, and strategic communication.

Ruth first created large scale graphics while earning a master’s degree at the Basel School of Design in Switzerland. This work seemed so fascinating to her that as a college design professor, she began teaching it a few years later. Since co-founding Millward and Millward, she has enjoyed producing event-related graphics for architects, engineers, and contractors. For Ruth there’s magic in experiencing graphic design live, at exciting venues filled with people enjoying themselves while learning. Whether her firm is designing for international branding corporations or local start-ups, the uses of color, composition, photography, and typography are similar: exploring traditional and new ways of visually communicating marketing themes to in-person audiences. Ruth was featured in Reinventing the Event and in Successful Tradeshow Exhibiting, an SMPS webinar and an in-person presentation about the subject.

Nichole Petersen is a seasoned marketing leader and event strategist dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences. As the director of marketing at Flow Tech, she drives brand strategy, customer engagement, and company culture through dynamic marketing initiatives and events. From growing Flow Tech’s signature Flowtoberfest from a 50-person gathering to a 230-person experience, to executing Demo Day, an award-winning interactive learning and networking event, Nichole knows how to turn ordinary gatherings into extraordinary moments. A longtime SMPS Connecticut member and volunteer, Nichole has played a key role in planning and executing numerous SMPS programs, socials, and educational events. In 2019 she co-founded the Win More Work Summit, a premier learning experience for A/E/C professionals. Nichole thrives on the magic of event creation—whether designing an engaging theme, fostering meaningful connections, or ensuring every detail contributes to a seamless experience.