Administrative Professionals Week 2025 (APW25) Toolkit

During APW25, local chapters and SDA National will host in-person and virtual events that connect business operations professionals in the A|E|C industry. This toolkit contains resources and guidance to support recruiting new members, APW25 allied industry partners, organizations, and individuals planning and promoting these events.

Below, you’ll find social media tips and assets, media relations support, logos and other visuals, event planning best practices, and event examples, as well as information about this year’s campaign theme, “SDA & Me.”

APW25 events are most successful when they’re tailored to the interests and needs of specific places. We encourage you to use these tools creatively and plan events that are unique to your own local chapters and A|E|C professionals in your community.

Calling All Members-at-Large: You Can Participate in this Effort as Well!

As a valued member-at-large, you play an essential role in expanding the SDA community. Even without a local chapter, you have the unique opportunity to share the benefits of SDA membership with your professional network. By introducing your contacts to SDA, you help strengthen our collective expertise and ensure more firms and professionals can access the resources and support that make us the leaders in design firm management. To make outreach easier, we’ve provided a variety of tools on this page—use these resources to share SDA’s value with your colleagues and invite them to join our growing network today!

Questions about this toolkit and how to use it? Contact admin@sdanational.org

Event Planning Guide - click here to download complete guide

Logos/Graphic Assets

• SDA & Me - Blog Header [Click Here for Template]
• SDA & Me - Social Media FB Frame [Click Here for Template]
• SDA & Me - Social Media FB Post [Click Here for Template]
• SDA & Me - Social Media IG Post [Click Here for Template] 

Recruitment Resources

[If you are handing these out, don’t forget your folder!)

1. Membership Recruitment Letter: Send a sample letter to principals on your chapter letterhead. Click here for the Canva template

2. Member Value Graphic: Click here for the Canva template or copy & paste the link.

3. How Certification Helps Our Members: Click here for the Canva template or copy & paste the link.

4. Welcome Letter from the National President: [Click here for the letter].

5. New Member Application: [Click here for the application].

6. EDS25 Save the Date Graphics (2 options): [Click here for zip file].

7. SDA Business Cards: Click here to download the template.

8. Chapter calendar or promo piece on your upcoming events

9. Postcard for QR code to Online Member App - click here for .png file

Identifying & Engaging Members

• Host an in-person or virtual meeting on a topic of interest. Maybe it’s as simple as a listening session to understand priorities, what are they working to achieve, how can your chapter support those efforts, etc.

• Distribute an online survey via your newsletter or social media. Keep in simple! Two or three direct questions with an option to answer anonymously can expand the number of responses you receive (give them the option to provide their contact information so you can follow up). Maybe questions lie: What are some resources that don’t currently exist, but could make a significant impact to your career or professional development? What are the most important conversations we need to have in the business operations A|E|C community in 2025?

• Engage your prospective members. Schedule meetings with interest prospects. Learn more about their goals and how SDA can provide solutions to help accomplish them.