Architect and Marketing Advocate Ron Garikes Dies at 54
Ron W. Garikes, 54, former chief operating officer of the now-closed architecture firm Karlsberger Cos. and a longtime professional services marketing advocate, died on April 28 in Birmingham, Ala., of complications of ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Garikes
Garikes, who was based in Birmingham, also led Karlsberger's national laboratory and technology group before the Columbus, Ohio, firm closed in 2011.
He was a former national president and distinguished life member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) as well as a founding member and past president of its Alabama chapter.
In a 1991 ENR article, Garikes urged design firms to make marketing "an integral part of practice-based businesses."
The Ron Garikes Student Scholarship, begun by SMPS and Karlsberger, has awarded five scholarships since 2009 to students planning careers in industry-focused professional services marketing.
Applications for the 2013 awards are due on June 14, says SMPS.
Donations in Garikes' memory can be made to the scholarship through the SMPS Foundation.
