Gina Harris Member Spotlight
Posted by [email protected] on Aug. 13, 2025 / Insights / Subscribe
What's your name and current role in your organization?
Gina Harris, Marketing Manager.
Where do you call home? (Springfield/Joplin/Little Rock/Northwest)
Springfield, Missouri.
What inspired you to join SMPS, and how long have you been a member?
My boss prompted me to join, but it was attending the Missouri Valley Regional Conference — and getting the chance to connect with others in the Ozarks Chapter — that inspired me to stay! The relationships I’ve built and the resources available through SMPS have made it a community I truly value.
What led you to the AEC industry and what keeps you excited about it?
I grew up around construction — my dad is a contractor — but I honestly never pictured myself working in the industry. While pursuing my MBA at Missouri State, I landed a Graduate Assistant role with the Department of Technology and Construction Management, where they needed marketing support to brand new degree programs. That was my first taste of AEC, and even though my first two full-time jobs were in other industries, I found my way back when the opportunity to lead marketing at Paragon Architecture came along. It’s been the perfect fit.
I love that this industry blends grit and creativity — I’m inspired by beautiful design, drawn to creative people, and motivated by the hard work and dedication that go into every project. That combination keeps me excited about what I do every day.
What valuable information have you gained from participating in SMPS?
I’m a sucker for Julie Schaeffer’s InDesign workshops and webinars — I love InDesign, and she’s an absolute wizard. That’s just one example of the resources SMPS makes available. It’s refreshing to be part of a network of people who understand RFQs, interviews, and the unique challenges of standing out in our field.
What is the best piece of professional or personal advice you have received?
Maybe it’s not advice I’ve been given, but it is advice I’ve taken. Marketer David Ogilvy once said, ‘If you’re trying to persuade people to do something, or buy something, it seems to me you should use their language, the language they use every day, the language in which they think.’ As someone who does a lot of writing, I try to keep this in mind. It reminds me that connecting with the reader is about clarity and relatability, not just buzzwords and marketing fluff.
What's something surprising or fun about you that most people in the industry might not know?
With a carpenter father and a crafter mother, I was the one who inherited the artist genes between my brother and me. A couple of times a year, I pour all of my free time into a creative project or two — whether it’s sewing a blanket or a Halloween costume for my kiddo, painting or creating some digital art, or repurposing everyday things for a themed party.
If your personal brand had a tagline, what would it be?
Where creativity meets clever — I’m a big fan of a well-placed pun and often use humor or something “catchy” to help make a campaign stick in a customer’s mind.
If your workday playlist had a title, what would it be?
The Life of a Marketing Girl (duh) — A little 2000s pop, a little tortured poet, some drive-fast anthems, and a touch of lo-fi focus. The soundtrack shifts with the workday, but the vibe is always marketing in motion!
Share with us something that has recently made you smile.
My two-year-old son. Toddlers have a way of noticing the little things, and he always points out the moon, an airplane, or a school bus with pure excitement. Watching his face light up over something so simple always makes me stop and smile, too!
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