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From Phelix Winner to CPSM to Amplify Scholar

Posted by sreynolds on Aug. 19, 2026  /  Subscribe 1

Shannon Kopp on Finding Confidence Through Community

By Sara Reynolds

Last year, Shannon Kopp added a Phelix Award to her professional accomplishments when she was named Marketer/Business Developer of the Year by SMPS Arizona. The recognition was meaningful, but it also became a catalyst for what came next. In 2025, Shannon earned her Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) designation, further demonstrating her commitment to growing her expertise and leadership in the AEC marketing profession. Then, she took another step outside her comfort zone by applying for the 2026 SMPS Amplify Scholarship—and won. For Shannon, these accomplishments aren't simply items on a résumé. Together, they represent a year of growth, learning, and, perhaps most importantly, gaining the confidence to raise her hand for opportunities she might not have pursued before. As an active member of the SMPS Arizona Programs Committee and a 2026 Amplify Scholar, Shannon reflects on what the Phelix recognition, earning her CPSM, and becoming part of the national SMPS community have taught her about leadership, confidence, and simply being willing to take the next step.

A Surprise That Became a Catalyst

By Shannon Kopp

I have to say, winning last year's Marketer/Business Developer of the Year caught me off guard. I was excited, honored, and honestly a little surprised—especially going up against some incredible people. But that recognition ended up being more than an award. It pushed me to take the next step and apply for the 2026 Amplify Scholarship. I applied, and I won—which was an achievement in itself.

Looking back, I think what made all of those experiences so meaningful was realizing that sometimes you don't have to feel completely ready before you take the next step. If I've learned anything from my mentors in this industry, it's that many of them didn't always know exactly what they were doing either. They just did it anyway. You don't have to be great at something the moment you start. You just have to be willing to start.

And with SMPS, that "not knowing" feels a lot less scary because there is always someone in the community you can bring your questions to. The leaders I admire most aren't looked up to because they have every answer. It's because they create an environment where people can sit down, work through a problem, and figure it out together—without judgment.

Learning by Showing Up

This past year, being part of the SMPS Arizona Programs Committee has been a great example of that in action. Getting to work alongside such a talented group of professionals, all bringing their own ideas to the table, has been genuinely energizing. We're constantly asking how we can bring in leaders our chapter can actually learn from and, more importantly, how we can turn those conversations into advice people can use—not just something they hear once and forget. That kind of collaboration is one of the things I value most about SMPS. Everyone brings a different perspective. There is always something to learn from the person sitting next to you.

Taking the Next Step

I'd heard other professionals talk about their experiences at the national level, and that's exactly what drew me to Amplify. I came back with new ideas for interviews, proposals, and employee engagement, along with real connections to leaders from across the country. But maybe the biggest thing I brought back was a better sense of showing up for myself. Honestly, the biggest shift has just been confidence. Over the past year, I've moderated a few panels, something I never would have raised my hand for before, with a lot of encouragement and help from the people around me.

Every time I do something that once felt outside my comfort zone, I'm reminded that we belong in the rooms where these conversations are happening. Our individual perspectives matter. They can make a team stronger, a project better, and a conversation more meaningful. Winning a Phelix Award didn't suddenly give me all the answers. Earning my CPSM didn't either. And Amplify certainly didn't come with a magic formula. What each experience did was give me a little more confidence to raise my hand for the next opportunity.

Sometimes, that's all you need to take the next step.

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