The Power of SOPs (STOP Reinventing the Wheel!)

If you have to ask, “how do we do this?”, it’s time for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Every firm has tribal knowledge—those unwritten rules and processes that keep things running smoothly. But what happens when someone goes on vacation, gets promoted, or (gulp) leaves? Without clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), you’re left scrambling, wasting time, and hoping for the best. There’s a better way. 

Join us for an engaging and not-at-all-boring session on how SOPs can transform the way you work. Whether you’re in finance, admin, HR, or project management, SOPs make your job easier, your firm stronger, and your team more efficient. And the best part? It’s not as complicated as it sounds.  Skilled presenter Jess Hickey will break down the magic of SOPs—what they are, why they matter, and how they save time, reduce chaos, and keep your firm running smoothly.

Why This Matters for YOU in the A/E/C Industry

• Admins & Office Managers: Stop answering the same questions over and over—document it once and free up your time!
• Finance Professionals: Ensure consistency in billing, expense tracking, and compliance—because auditors love SOPs.
• Project Coordinators & Support Staff: Keep projects on track by standardizing workflows, deadlines, and deliverables.
• HR & Leadership Teams: Onboard new hires faster, set clear expectations, and create a culture of efficiency.

What You’ll Walk Away With

• Easy ways to create SOPs without overcomplicating things
• Real-world examples of how SOPs save time, money, and stress
• Strategies to get your team on board (even the ones who “hate” SOPs)
• A chance to stump the COO! Bring your least favorite SOP challenge and see if Jess can solve it!

Who Should Attend?
Anyone in the A/E/C industry who wears multiple hats and needs to make work easier. If you’ve ever had to explain a process more than once (or a hundred times), this session is for you. Take control of your workflows—before they control you!

Program Information

• Date / Time: Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 5:30pm Networking / Program starts at 6:00pm
• Cost for In-Person (includes dinner): $40 for SDA Members; $70 for Non-Members
• Cost for Virtual (no dinner): $0 for SDA Seattle members; $10 for other chapters; $20 for Non-Members
• Location: Clark Construction, 520 Pike Street, Seattle. 12th floor – Conference Center (go left out of the elevator). Parking is available within Pike Tower, entrance on Pike Street.

This is an in-person event in Seattle, WA, with a Zoom option for virtual attendees. Register / purchase tickets via the “TICKETS” window below. Please note the tiered pricing. Everyone is welcome to attend. Membership in SDA pays off – you’ll enjoy reduced (and free) event prices! This IN-PERSON event includes dinner; virtual attendees do not receive a meal. Attendees of the live event will receive a Certificate of Attendance and a link to the recorded session. (SDA focus area: Office Administration). Cancellations 1-3 days prior to the program and no-shows will not be offered a refund. If no tickets are available, registration has closed for this program.

Meet the Presenter: Jess Hickey

An engineer turned operations maven, Jess Hickey brings her right/left brain balance to helping everyone run their businesses better. As a consultant, she’s the expert in organizational structure, operations, finance, IT, marketing, administration (she was an administrator in one career), and HR. As a CEO peer advisory leader, she facilitates business owners, founders and CEOs in their leadership development, company growth and decision-making, all focused on improving their business, their families and their communities. As a speaker, Jess brings enthusiasm, energy and a bit of humor to her presentations. Always looking to elevate others’ success, her presentations give practical and simple approaches to gnarly problems. When she’s not presenting, facilitating or writing, you can find her sailing on Puget Sound on the family boat. To learn more about Jess, you can find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesshickey/