Event Overview

Join us Tuesday, August 30th for the return of the biggest networking event in the AEC industry in Georgia – the 2022 Mega Meeting! Returning to the Georgia Aquarium with a fully in-person event, come network and learn with 200+ of your colleagues from across six AEC industry associations.   

There is no shortage of work in the A/E/C industry; what there seems to be is a shortage of people. Workforce is a big question mark for many of our firms. From where do we find great candidates to how do we create an environment that fosters retention and employee wellness? This year’s MEGA meeting will focus on those important topics with a dynamic panel of workforce professionals who are experts in outside-of-the-box hiring practices, creating inclusive and accessible workplaces, and addressing employee mental health.

The panel discussion will be led by Asheya Warren, CPSM, founder and principal of PRAXIS, a professional services marketing consulting firm, and the SMPS National Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce Chair.  Join us as Asheya leads our experts in a discussion to help you discover untapped hiring pools, increase your employee retention, and create a more inclusive, wellness-focused work environment.

Panel Moderator

Asheya Warren, CPSM  (she/her)
Founder and Principal, PRAXIS
Chair, SMPS National Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce

For nearly twenty years, Asheya Warren, CPSM, has worked with numerous architecture/engineering/construction (A/E/C) and commercial real estate firms, ranging from large national corporations to emerging minority-owned/small businesses. Her involvement focuses on major commercial construction management, architectural/design, and real estate development projects in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. This experience includes national industry campaigns such as Construction Inclusion Week, and leading countless strategic project pursuits, such as the new Parkland Hospital, Museum Tower, and the Dallas County Elections Building. Additionally, she has championed numerous successful industry project award submittals. Asheya’s expertise encompasses strategic community building, DEI strategy, non-profit marketing, and community engagement.

As a two-term past president (2015-2016, 2016-2017) of the Dallas Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), she was the first African-American chapter president for the SMPS Dallas chapter, and constantly champions diversity and equity within the scope of all project engagements. The SMPS headquarters office appointed Asheya as chair of the recently formed National Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, where she is defining and determining the Society’s DEI strategy.

FEATURED PANELISTS

Veronica Jenkins   (she/her)
Co-Founder/CEO, HIVE Talent Acquisition Firm LLC

Veronica Jenkins is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HIVE Talent Acquisition Firm. She oversees the day-to-day operations of HIVE and provides recruitment, HR consulting, and government contracting assistance to her clients. In her role, she is focused on strategic organizational management, client growth, and relationship development. Veronica is a talented cook and lover of music, travel, and cultural exploration. 

Before co-founding HIVE, Veronica was a top producing, high-volume recruiter for ten years. During that time, she led her team in revenue-grossing placements, wrote, and piloted not only an internal Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion program, but also developed and implemented the same for fortune 500 clientele. Past roles have included Sr. Recruitment roles supporting companies such as Booking.com, Allstate Insurance Company, FirstData, Southwest Key, Comcast, KeyBank, Assurant, and Wells Fargo. 

Veronica holds a bachelor’s degree from both DeVry University and Johnson & Wales University. She has one daughter, Gabriella.

Doug Crandell, MFA   (he/him)
Project Director, Advancing Employment

Doug Crandell has worked for decades in the field of community-based employment practices. He works with providers, stakeholders and employers to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Mr. Crandell is a public service faculty member within FACS at IHDD. He provides training and technical assistance to Georgia's supported employment providers, both through webinars and on-site mentoring. In addition, he has provided hands-on, real-time training to organizations across the country. Crandell has been the Project Director for a number of demonstration grants funded through the U.S. Department of Labor, the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Social Security Administration (SSA). He is a Subject Matter Expert with the Employment First Leadership State Mentoring Program at the Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Additionally, Doug is appointed as Public Service Faculty at the Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia where he directs the Advancing Employment Center. 

Doug has published eight books with publishers including Penguin-Random House, Chicago Review Press, Virgin Books, and Cornell University Press. His essays on labor, mental health, and disability appear regularly at the SUN magazine. 

Wendy Watkins, CPCC, PCC   (she/her)
Founder, Mind Body and Business

As an author, international speaker, professional coach and, most importantly, a compassionate human being, Wendy Watkins focuses on uncovering what inspires you so you can create a plan to live your definition of a best life.  Over the last 20 years Wendy has coached hundreds of professionals to create both success and fulfillment by focusing on the foundation of sustainable joy - that place where happiness stems from the inside out. This is the secret sauce to increased productivity and engagement at work.  Wendy’s coaching prowess coupled with her authenticity and ability to see things from a fresh perspective, deliver powerful results for her clients.

As a mental health advocate, Wendy Watkins is committed to removing the stigma around mental illness and reminding people that they are not alone.  She believes that just because you do not have a mental illness, does not mean you have good mental health. This is her catalyst to sharing a commons sense approach to good mental health.  She is an active volunteer with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and has raised awareness and lots of money for this worthy cause.

Cheryl Ann Frazier, M.Div., MPA, CPM®   (she/her)
Assistant State ADA Coordinator for Georgia, GSFIC

Cheryl Ann Frazier serves as the Assistant State ADA Coordinator for the State ADA Coordinator’s Office of Georgia. She is the contact for State of Georgia agency ADA coordinators for assistance with training, technical assistance, and the resolution of complaints and grievances regarding access to programs, services, practices, and employment. During her time with the State ADA Coordinator’s Office, Cheryl has trained over 3,000 individuals who serve State and Local governments in Georgia and various agencies throughout the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She has also served on an ADA training panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Cheryl has over thirty (30) years of service with the State of Georgia. Before becoming the Assistant State ADA Coordinator, Cheryl served as the first agency ADA Coordinator for the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC), the 4th largest agency of its kind in the United States. She was responsible for the oversight and coordination of GDC’s efforts to comply with ADA requirements, which included the composition of the ADA Title II Provisions policy, the creation of the agency’s comprehensive ADA training plan, and the implementation of the ADA Communications Center for clients, contractors, staff members, and citizens. Cheryltrained over 14,000 individuals regarding the ADA, including GDC’s sworn officers, contractors, medical and mental health professionals, educators, and staff members of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Cheryl is a Certified ADA Coordinator through the ADA Coordinator Training Certification Program (ACTCP). She is a certified compliance auditor with the National Institute of Corrections and a certified P.O.S.T. Instructor with the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. Cheryl is a member of the American Correctional Association (ACA) and the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium. 

Cheryl has earned a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from Mercer University, a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Columbus State University, and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Criminology from the University of West Georgia. She received her Certified Public Manager® designation through the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia. Cheryl is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

EVENT SCHEDULE 

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM  - Registration & Exhibit Hall
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM - Luncheon & Networking
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM - Panel Discussion

CEU'S

CPSM CEU's: 1.5 hours
Domains: 1 - Marketing Research, 3 - Business Development 

All disciplines will need to self-report their continuing education hours. 

EVENT FEES:

EARLY BIRD Rate: $75/person BEFORE August 15th

REGULAR Rate: $85/person AFTER August 15th

WALK-IN/ONSITE Rate: $100/person 

Your event registration includes a validated parking fee in the Oceans Ballroom parking deck at the Georgia Aquarium.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sponsorship opportunities are available!  The annual Mega Meeting is an exclusive A/E/C industry event and a wonderful opportunity to promote your firm or organization. The program brings together numerous professional associations and nearly 300 attendees within the design and built environment.

• $750 GOLD Sponsor (includes 2 event tickets + Exhibit Booth)
• $350 SILVER Sponsor (includes 1 event ticket) 

Please contact Serena Fountain at 404.480.4470 or [email protected] for additional information, or download the 2022 sponsorship information package under the "Documents" section below.

$750 GOLD Sponsor Benefits:  

- 6’ Exhibitor table display in Exhibit Hall
- Two (2) attendee registrations ($170 value)
- Parking fee included with registration
- One reserved seat at the VIP table
- Recognition on program handouts and sponsor boards
- Logo promotion on email blasts
- Sponsor name badge
- Industry-wide exposure
- Verbal recognition at event

$350 SILVER Sponsor Benefits:

- One (1) attendee registration ($85 value)
- Parking fee included with registration
- Recognition on program handouts and sponsor boards
- Logo promotion on email blasts
- Sponsor name badge
- Industry-wide exposure
- Verbal recognition at event

EVENT SPONSORS

GOLD

EVENT CHAMPIONS