Cheryl Vancil, CPSM
Since NA
Active
SMPS St. Louis member
AEC marketing professional
Cheryl leads comprehensive marketing strategy, business development, and public relations for Oates Associates, a 100% employee-owned civil and structural engineering firm celebrating 45 years of shaping Midwest communities. As Director of Marketing based in Collinsville, Illinois, she collaborates with management and design teams on market pursuits, proposal development, marketing collateral creation, public relations, and event planning—building momentum for a multi-disciplinary firm serving transportation, building infrastructure, and water resources clients across Illinois and Missouri.
Her expertise spans AEC strategic marketing with specialized knowledge in business development, public relations, event management, marketing communications, and client relationship cultivation across civil engineering, structural engineering, transportation planning, traffic engineering, site design, stormwater management, and surveying disciplines. Cheryl brings exceptional understanding gained through 13 years at Oates Associates combined with SMPS St. Louis engagement since 2006, demonstrating sustained commitment to AEC marketing profession advancement.
With nearly two decades in AEC marketing since earning her B.S. in Business Administration from University of Missouri-Saint Louis (2002-2006), Cheryl has built her career characterized by relationship development, strategic thinking, and dedication to employee-owned firm culture. Her knowledge of Oates’ full-service capabilities—encompassing transportation engineering, bridge structural design, ADA transition planning, stormwater management, site design, building structural inspections, surveying, and drone operations—enables effective marketing leadership for a firm founded in 1980 (as Vollmer Associates), acquired by David Oates in 1990, and transitioned to employee ownership through ESOP.
Cheryl demonstrates exceptional professional leadership through her CPSM certification (July 2021 after 13 years with Oates), SMPS St. Louis Education Director role, and nearly 20 years of SMPS engagement since 2006. Her board service positions her as key contributor to chapter education programming, professional development initiatives, and member learning opportunities supporting St. Louis AEC marketing community.
As Education Director, Cheryl coordinates educational content, speaker recruitment, program development, and learning experiences that advance marketing excellence across the chapter. This volunteer leadership demonstrates commitment to industry-wide professional development beyond individual firm success, contributing to knowledge sharing and skills advancement benefiting hundreds of AEC marketing professionals throughout the region.
Cheryl’s 13-year tenure when achieving CPSM reflects sustained professional growth with Oates Associates—advancing from initial marketing responsibilities to Director-level leadership overseeing comprehensive marketing strategy. Her colleague relationships spanning project managers who began in the 1980s-1990s demonstrate ability to market engineering expertise authentically, understanding both technical capabilities and relationship-driven culture that defines Oates’ approach.
Her UMSL Business Administration foundation combined with progressive AEC marketing experience and active SMPS leadership creates comprehensive professional profile: technical marketing expertise, strategic thinking, relationship development, educational program leadership, and commitment to employee-owned firm values.
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