School's Out! Testimonials from CPSM Study Group Graduates

Posted on Jun. 9, 2026  /  CPSM  /  Subscribe 0

For today's blog post, we reached out to the recent CPSM laureates who participated in the SMPS Boston CPSM Study Group this past "academic" year to celebrate their hard work and learn a little bit about what helped them succeed. Interested in getting CPSM certified? Learn more about the study group, scholarships, and testing dates on the SMPS Boston website, or email our Director of CPSM Certification Phil Learmonth, CPSM at [email protected].

Participants:

Annie Langlois, CPSM | Senior Marketing Manager, Sasaki
Andrew J Beaton, CPSM | Vice President, Marketing & Communications, CDM Smith
Carrie Slack, CPSM | Marketing & Communications Manager, ERDMAN
Chris Nordberg, CPSM | Associate/Marketing Pursuit Manager, STV

Annie: As I approach 10 years in the industry, I thought it would be a good challenge and marker for my career. I had not studied for a test since college, so I definitely needed some guidance and best practices refreshers.

Andrew: I decided to pursue the CPSM as part of my ongoing commitment to professional development and because I wanted to be more engaged with SMPS as a whole. I’d also heard so many great things about the SMPS Boston study group over the years that it felt like the right time to finally jump in.

Carrie: I pursued CPSM certification to invest in my professional growth and validate my experience in AEC marketing and business development. Joining an SMPS study group helped keep me engaged with the material and motivated throughout the certification process while providing valuable perspectives from industry peers.

Chris: One of the main reasons I pursued the CPSM was to expand my marketing experience and perspective. A large part of my role has been heavily proposal-focused, which I enjoy, but I also wanted to continue growing strategically within the industry beyond the day-to-day proposal process. The study group appealed to me because it added structure, accountability, and the opportunity to connect with other AEC marketers navigating similar challenges and career growth goals.

How do you feel participating in a study group benefited your experience with the exam?

Annie: The study group kept my studying pace on track as a six month countdown to test day can seem daunting. Meeting once a month to check in demands that you keep up with the domains or risk falling behind and losing out on valuable discussion during the study group.

Andrew: The study group ended up being one of the best parts of the process. It kept me accountable and helped me move through the material steadily over several months instead of cramming. My CPSM friends were incredibly encouraging; they shared practical advice and test‑day tips that truly helped.

Carrie: Participating in a study group enhanced my understanding of the material through discussion and shared experiences. It also kept me accountable, reinforced key concepts, and helped me approach the exam with greater confidence.

Chris: The study group made the process feel much more manageable. Having a consistent schedule and built-in accountability helped me stay engaged with the material while balancing a demanding workload. It was also valuable to hear how others approached studying, interpreted concepts that were less familiar to me in my day-to-day role, and connected the material back to real-world industry experience.

How much information did you know about the subjects going into the study group?

Annie: Reflecting back, I think I knew about 1/3 of the content coming in, learned 1/3 as new content, and 1/3 was content or processes that I had encountered in my job but I didn't have a name for or all the background content on. That 1/3 was probably the most rewarding content to put the pieces together.

Andrew: Going in, I had a general understanding of each domain from my day‑to‑day work, but the study group helped fill in the gaps and connect everything more holistically. I reviewed each domain monthly for the study group, but I really locked in during the final month and became one with my flashcards.

Carrie: I was familiar with many of the concepts through my professional experience, but the study group helped me connect that experience to the CPSM Body of Knowledge and fill in gaps in areas I encounter less frequently. One of the most valuable aspects was learning how peers approached exam questions, which helped me better understand the intent behind the questions and how to apply the concepts in context.

Chris: Going into the study group, I already had a strong foundation in proposals, pursuits, and day-to-day marketing operations through my role, but the CPSM material helped broaden my understanding of the profession's strategic and business development side.

What were some ways you budgeted studying for the exam amidst the day-to-day of your job?

Annie: I used some lunch time to study, as well as before work. After work, my brain was not in the right mindspace to add knowledge. 

Andrew: My biggest breakthrough was realizing that I couldn’t just memorize my way through the exam. The most important thing, once I nailed down the basics, was to get in the right mindset and approach each question with a leadership perspective. Once that clicked, everything felt more manageable.

Carrie: I lightly studied throughout the process to prepare for each monthly study group session, which helped me stay engaged with the material. As the exam approached, I took a week off work to focus on intensive preparation and review.

Chris: Balancing studying with proposal deadlines was definitely the biggest challenge. I found that shorter, more consistent study sessions worked better for me than trying to cram everything at once. That said, I also know I work well under pressure, so having the structure of the study group and committing to an exam date helped keep me focused and moving forward.

What was a big breakthrough moment for you, if any, in the process?

Annie: Using the many practice tests the study group provided to mark progress was the breakthrough for me. I found that taking these tests and then reviewing the questions I got wrong by re-reading that subject in Markendium made the content stick for me. Then it was rewarding to see these test scores steadily improve. 

Andrew: Honestly, my only regret is not pursuing the certification sooner. I’d recommend it to any experienced marketer who wants to deepen their understanding of the profession and push themselves a bit further.

Carrie: I lightly studied throughout the process to prepare for each monthly study group session, which helped me stay engaged with the material. As the exam approached, I took a week off work to focus on intensive preparation and review.

Chris: One of the biggest breakthroughs for me was realizing the exam required both memorization and practical interpretation. There were definitely areas where you needed to know specific concepts and methodologies in detail, not just recognize them, but understand which approach was the best fit in a given scenario. The study group practice tests were especially helpful because they showed me which concepts were actually sticking and where I needed to spend more time studying.

Have an idea for the blog? Interested in learning more about the inner workings of SMPS Communications? Send an email over to SMPS Blog Manager Sidney Marcey at [email protected] to find out how you can get involved.

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