Submitted photo Dara Barwick is scheduled to speak at the meeting of the South Georgia chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. 

VALDOSTA – While most companies and organizations have a written strategic plan, often those plans are sitting on a shelf gathering dust.

SMART Strategic Planning + Strategies for a Successful Outcome is the topic of the Oct. 30 meeting of the South Georgia chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, according to club members.

The guest speaker is Dara Barwick, a veteran strategic planning expert and owner of Dara Barwick Consulting in Thomasville. During the presentation, Barwick will provide insights and tactical tips to help guide professionals on how to move their company to more productive levels.

Barwick said the SMART strategic planning method creates goals and objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based. 

The presentation will include steps on how to determine if a company or organization meets the SMART criteria, what steps need to be implemented to influence positive strategic outcomes and five tactics businesses can use to drive more engagement and increase results using SMART strategic planning, according to members.

Before establishing her consulting agency in 2012, Barwick worked for the Georgia Department of Economic Development as director of existing industry and recruitment and director of entrepreneur and small business.

Her responsibilities included leading a project management team that visited hundreds of companies and communities in Georgia to help bring in resources for expansions and new locations.

Barwick assists businesses and organizations throughout South Georgia to enhance engagement in the strategic planning process. She is also co-founder of She Creates Business, an annual conference for women entrepreneurs, and She Think, a monthly opportunity for women business owners to encourage each other and share ideas.

Business professionals are invited to attend the luncheon and presentation 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts. Cost for the luncheon is $12 per person, and reservations can be made by emailing SouthGeorgiaPRSA@gmail.com or calling Thressea Boyd, (229) 460-7059.