Wednesday, july 24
REGISTRATION OPEN | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | 2ND FLOOR FOYER
PRECON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP| 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
**separately ticketed event.
PRECON - TECH TOOLS INDESIGN & PHOTOSHOP | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Kimberly Robertson, CPSM
**separately ticketed event
About Kimberly Robertson, CPSM
Kimberly Robertson, CPSM, is an Associate, employee-owner, and Federal Communications Manager for HDR Engineering, Inc. She works closely with more than 500 engineering, architecture, environmental, and construction professionals focused on supporting federal agencies globally. Over the past two decades, Kimberly's experience has spanned many disciplines and roles, including team communications, graphic design, public relations, client account management, proposal leadership, marketing campaign development, and talent brand management. She has enjoyed continuous professional development, mentorship, and volunteerism, through many internal and external organizations, including leading the SMPS Colorado chapter as President, and as the SMPS Southwest Regional Conference Chair. She received her Associates of Applied Science in multimedia graphic design when Quark was still a thing, and later in her career, completed her Bachelor of Science in marketing through the University of Maryland. When she's not working, she enjoys playing strategic board games with her husband, visiting her daughter, who is currently attending the University of California Davis, or snuggling on the couch watching trashy reality shows with her “chiweenie,” Diesel Von Vader.
AMPLIFY EVERYTHING - FIRST TIMERS EXPERIENCE | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
MAIN STAGE OPENING PROGRAM | 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM | REGENCY BALLROOM
BREAKOUTS | 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Be the Closer: Turning Contacts into Contracts | April Smith, CPSM | Salt Lake A
Growing Your Firm with Effective Business Planning | Sarah Kinard, FSMPS, CPSM | Salt Lake B
Growing Your firm with Effective Business Planning
Often, we spend so much time over-engineering business plans, that when it comes time to implement then, we're simply exhausted. That's why, in this session we'll dissect how to create efficient business plans in just 45 days, leaving your firm plenty of time and energy to actually execute those plans.
Participants will:
- Define the seven essential components of a business plan.
- Understand the importance/value of business plans when it comes to hitting yearly targets (and beyond).
- Learn how to integrate business plans with marketing efforts using a go/no-go framework.
About Sarah Kinard, FSMPS, CPSM
Sarah is a strategic visionary who continues to build her career shaping marketing strategy for professional service firms. Known as a change agent, she tackles your challenges with strategy and implementation at a scale you can handle. Sarah's curiosity and fail-forward/fail-fast approach, and desire to have fun in everything she does, are the hallmarks of how she "does it differently."
Oh My AI: What's Now and Next | Kristin Kautz, CPSM | Salt Lake C
Oh My AI: What's Now and Next
Get ready to have your mind blown and improve your AI IQ! Join Kristin Kautz, CPSM for a NEW and UPDATED hands-on, immediately implementable dive into AI’s transformative applications available today (and what’s coming... somewhere over the rainbow!). Gain insight into their implications for your marketing/sales/BD teams, empowering you to chart decisive next steps on your firm’s path to continuous innovation. See how quickly you can master the extraordinary! Specifically for marketing and business development professionals, she gives real-time tools, examples, and case studies to improve everything from client research to proposal assistance to photo/video creation and manipulation to presentations to website and SEO enhancement. AI is impacting every marketing service type, and Kristin equips your teams with the most efficient and productive ways to boost creativity and save time.
Learner Outcomes
- Foundational understanding of what AI is and why now and why it matters
- AI challenges and opportunities specifically for AEC marketing, BD, and sales
- AI tools to use right now, understand what's imminent, and how to plan for what's next
About Kristin Kautz, CPSM
Kristin Lynn Kautz, CPSM is an experienced marketer with over 25 years of expertise in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. With a passion for innovation and technology, Kristin has become a leading expert in AI for the built environment, helping companies implement and integrate AI into their operations, from small firms to large corporations. With a deep understanding of the latest AI technologies, Kristin provides strategic guidance and develops customized organizational structures, guidelines, policies, procedures, communications/roll-out, and training to ensure that companies can fully leverage AI to drive growth, improve efficiency and productivity, and enhance both client and employee satisfaction. Kristin has been the featured AI speaker for SMPS locally, regionally, and nationally in addition to the Society for Design Administration (SDA), ACEC, Project Mark, Zweig Group, Urban Land Institute, and multiple CEO cohorts. #technooptimist
Strategies to Coach Interview Teams In-House | Amy Cuddy, CPSM | Salt Lake D
Strategies to Coach Interview Teams In-House
Are you tired of making the shortlist and losing at the interview stage? Well maybe your interview prep process needs a tune up! Can’t afford a presentation coach? Fear not – you can become one!
Come and learn proven techniques to coach your teams to success in-house without spending a fortune. Whether on the design or engineering side, every marketer can coach their teams to be great presenters.
Learn best practices for interview coaches and take home ready to use tools to win your next interview. Participate in mock style interview exercises to see how it’s done.
Are you ready to hear your team say? “Put me in, coach!”? Let’s win together.
About Amy Cuddy, CPSM
Amy P. Cuddy, CPSM, is a Senior Associate and Director of Marketing Operations at Wilmot Sanz, an architecture and interior design firm focused on healthcare. Her previous experience includes similar work at architecture firms specializing in housing, higher education and federal government commissions. Amy helped these firms win clients, national awards, and gain press coverage in national publications. She is an active member of SMPS, serving since 2009. Amy has shared her expertise by speaking at SMPS’s Amplify and Deltek Insight conferences. She has written for the Zweig Letter and Marketer on various marketing and business development topics. Amy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in digital communications from Lebanon Valley College and earned her CPSM certification in 2013. She recently served on the Board for the DC chapter of SMPS as President, Treasurer and Director of Career Advancement and currently serves as the Immediate Past President.
Unlock the Power of Employee Advocacy for Your Brand | Molly Lauck | Salt Lake E
Unlock the Power of Employee Advocacy for Your Brand
In today's digital age, having a strong presence on social media is imperative for businesses to stay competitive. However, traditional company-shared content is no longer enough to capture the attention and trust of potential customers. This is where employee advocacy comes into play.
Did you know that employee-shared content is viewed as 8 times more authentic and 7 times more likely to generate positive action than company-shared content on social media?
In this session, discover how to effectively leverage the power of employee advocacy for your brand and implement a successful program for your employees. This session will show you how employee advocacy can boost brand awareness, drive organic traffic, humanize your brand, enhance employee engagement, and positively impact sales and recruiting.
According to Hinge Research Institution, 86% of employees involved in a formal advocacy program reported a positive impact on their careers. Not only will this initiative help spread your firm's mission, but it will also enable your team members to establish themselves as industry experts through their personal brand online.
From educating your employees to gaining insights into employee advocacy tools in the marketplace, this session offers adaptable strategies suitable for companies of all sizes and budgets.
About Molly Lauck
Molly Lauck is an accomplished marketing strategist with a wealth of experience in social media, digital marketing, corporate communications, and project management. With a proven track record in managing an enterprise social media program, Molly possesses a deep understanding of the nuances of social media platforms, and a keen sense of how to use them to drive impactful engagement with target audiences. She has also led large-scale projects involving cross-functional teams and has demonstrated a commitment to quality and attention to detail in everything she does. Her expertise in managing multiple social media channels, creating engaging content, and analyzing data to measure effectiveness has allowed her to consistently deliver exceptional results.
WELCOME RECEPTION & NETWORKING | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM | EXHIBIT HALL
Sponsored by:
Thursday, July 25
REGISTRATION OPEN | 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM | 2ND FLOOR FOYER
BREAKFAST & NETWORKING | 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
MAIN STAGE | 8:15 AM - 9:30 AM
Unicorn Alchemy: Turning Your Uniqueness into Gold | Damion Morris, CPSM, Janki DePalma, LEED AP, CPSM, Maisha Christian, Allison Tivnon | Regency Ballroom
Unicorn Alchemy: Turning Your Uniqueness into Gold
As Albert Einstein famously remarked, "Everybody is a genius." And yet, we often find ourselves trapped, like a fish asked to climb a tree. Your purpose in life, as Pablo Picasso so eloquently put it, is to discover your gift and share it with the world. Your uniqueness is your superpower, your magic.
But how do you uncover that magic, your genius?
Well, that's precisely what this captivating keynote and panel discussion are all about.
Prepare to be electrified by an 18-minute keynote from Damion Morris, CPSM. In this edutaining storytelling session, Damion will illustrate the magnetic power of embracing your uniqueness, setting you on the path to discovering your true calling.
Following the keynote, Damion will host a panel discussion featuring AEC Marketing trailblazers who had the audacity to follow their callings. They'll entertain and inspire you with tales of transformation, sharing how their bold decisions reshaped their careers and lives. Prepare to be armed with priceless insights and practical tips, empowering you to embark on your own journey of self-discovery, courage, and innovation.
BREAK | 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
WORKSHOPS/M-LIVE PANELS | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Mastering the Art of Two-Way Mentorship | Skot Waldron | Salt Lake A
Mastering the Art of Two-Way Mentorship
In our fast-paced and diverse workplaces, effective mentorship is a crucial skill for professionals of all ages. "Mastering the Art of Two-Way Mentorship" is a dynamic workshop designed to equip both younger and older generations with the tools and strategies they need to excel in mentorship roles. Using the "Developing Others" framework, participants will learn how to assess where individuals are in their development journey and provide tailored guidance to help them thrive, avoiding the pit of despair where they might feel hopeless and defeated. This interactive workshop promises to foster a culture of collaboration and growth, benefiting mentors and mentees alike.
About Skot Waldron
For the past 20 years, Skot Waldron’s work for clients such as J.P. Morgan Chase, CDC, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sesame Workshop, The Home Depot, and The Coca-Cola Company has included national and international communication programs.
Skot is a communication strategist who unlocks leaders by making sense of complex communication challenges through ah-ha moments that enlighten and transform.
Unlike most communication programs out there, Skot coaches leaders and employees to become liberators using programs that are simple, scalable, and sustainable for the long term.
He believes your influence, alignment, and ability to execute all begin with you and how you communicate.
Using Compassionate Leadership to Drive Revenue | Melissa Love | Salt Lake B
Using Compassionate Leadership to Drive Revenue
In today's workplace, where disengagement and burnout threaten productivity, mentorship emerges as a transformative solution. Alarming statistics reveal 30% of employees are disengaged, and the supervisor-employee connection has declined by 22%. This session explores the profound impact of mentorship, backed by compelling data, demonstrating its potential to reinvigorate employees and enhance productivity. In addition to showcasing the transformative power of mentorship through personal stories, I will also delve into the importance of empathy in mentoring relationships. By emphasizing holistic well-being, leveraging strengths, and fostering empathy, mentorship becomes not just a tool for reducing turnover rates and combating burnout but also a cornerstone of workplace success. I provide actionable strategies to become a mentor, teaching the audience not only how to guide others but also how to be more empathetic leaders. Join me on this journey of unlocking potential, embracing the magic of mentorship, and cultivating a workplace culture rooted in compassion and understanding.
About Melissa Love
Melissa Love is a powerhouse in business, speaking, and entrepreneurship, boasting a career spanning two decades. As the founder of Everybody Up, she guides companies to success, excelling in transforming challenges into opportunities. With notable clients like Apple, Inc., Samsung, and Expedia, Melissa navigates complex situations with innovative solutions. In her advertising and marketing roles, she enhanced client relationships, provided team training, and boosted revenue for clients like Pizza Hut and Rolls-Royce. Melissa is a captivating speaker, delivering engaging keynotes to diverse audiences, including Informatica and the Project Management Institute. Her expertise spans team building, communication, and employee empowerment. A virtual platform veteran, she served as a conference emcee for the Association for Talent Development. Melissa pioneers innovative programs in customer service and employee engagement, showcasing her commitment to improving workplaces and empowering others. Her passion for improvisation and empowerment leaves a lasting impact on businesses and the corporate landscape.
Building Stronger Together: Better Teams, Better Wins | Donna Corlew, FSMPS, CPSM, Frank Lippert, FSMPS, CPSM, Kristi Pempin, CPSM | Salt Lake C
Building Stronger Together: Better Teams, Better Wins
Every team is different. Prime consultants and subconsultants don’t always work together as effectively as possible. Last minute client demands, poor communication, and random assumptions complicate these relationships. Beginning with guidelines that set clear expectations for each side of this teaming partnership can help everyone start and finish well. This session will establish working guidelines for teaming crafted by experts, informed by first-hand research from more than 300 design professionals, and written by the audience. Participants walk away with guidelines they can custom-fit to their company and their unique teaming opportunities. Better teaming results in better winning solutions.
About Donna Corlew, FSMPS, CPSM
Strategist. Facilitator. Connector. Coach. Donna works with A/E/C firms to focus strategic vision and market position, grow connections with clients and targets, and train doer-sellers and marketing and business development professionals to thrive and win profitable work. She has trained over 700 technical professionals as effective doer-sellers. Donna served as Society President for SMPS and received SMPS’ highest honor, the Weld Coxe Marketing Achievement Award, in 2019, for her lasting contributions to A/E/C.
About Frank Lippert, FSMPS, CPSM
Frank provides strategic pursuit planning, strategic market capture planning, and the functional seller/doer training to architects and engineers throughout the US. Frank is all about helping teams work more effectively and more efficiently with processes, schedules, and tools that keep A/E/C firms’ business development strategy and marketing efforts on track.
About Kristi Pempin, CPSM
Kristi Pempin, CPSM, is Vice President of Marketing and Client Development for White Hawk Engineering & Design, LLC. She also leads public engagement services serving local agencies, including Oklahoma Transportation, City of Oklahoma City MAPS, Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, and partner firms. Kristi has served on multiple professional organization boards, including SMPS, SAME, ACEC, and The STEAM Engine, a non-profit in Oklahoma City offering programs in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics for youth.
3 Stories A/E/C Marketers Must Master
A/E/C marketers must master these three stories: About Me, About My Firm, and Whom We’ve Helped. All employees in your firm should be able to clearly and succinctly tell these stories when speaking with prospects: clients, teaming partners, and talent.
Stories create an upswell of emotions within your target audience to help your firm stand out. Harnessing the power of story in your project sheets, presentation interviews, biographies, and web sites is essential to winning great projects and the war on talent.
You Will Learn:
- A surprising new definition of “story”
- How story persuades
- The master template for writing a compelling story
- To bring your stories to life as you tell them
About David Lecours
David Lecours is Principal at LecoursDesign, a branding and digital marketing agency serving only A/E/C firms. As a strategist, designer, and speaker, David is on a mission to build flourishing brands and cultures.
David was named Marketer of the Year by SMPS San Diego and won Best Website (twice) and Best Branding at the SMPS MCAs. He's also a TEDx presenter and former co-host of the PSM.show national podcast, underwritten by SMPS.
David runs after his 2-year-old son, pickleballs, and his skateboard at home in Encinitas, CA.
The Art of Building Authentic Relationships in Business Development | Troy Parkinson, Yolanda Baber, M.B.S | Salt Lake E
The Art of Building Authentic Relationships in Business Development
We all know that business is built on relationships, but have you ever been taught how to build those relationships authentically? In this interactive session, Yolanda Barber and Troy Parkinson share their insights on 20+ years in the professional service industry and how they've built lasting relationships and true partner clients in the process. With case studies and best practices, they offer valuable insights on how to build relationships that last.
About Troy Parkinson
Troy is driven by a deep passion for fostering meaningful connections with individuals, communities, and businesses. He thrives on helping teams express themselves with confidence and clarity. During his two decades in the film and television industry, he worked on projects for HBO, Netflix, Discovery, and History. At SagePresence, Troy has coached and trained companies to over $5 billion in project wins, helping teams increase their confidence and communication skills for live, virtual, and hybrid presentations. He has attended numerous local, regional, and national SMPS, AIA, ACEC, DBIA, and AGC industry conferences and events.
About Yolanda Baber, M.B.S
Yolanda Baber is a Transformational Leader in Business Development, Project Management and Client Engagement. She has been providing project management services and business development leadership for more than 24+ years. Her expertise is in the geotechnical engineering, subsurface imaging, underground utilities investigations, pot holing, mapping, CCTV, QAQC, construction inspection and material testing scope of services and projects. She has been responsible for all levels of project management with clients from these agencies, to include Transportation, Aviation, Infrastructure, City, Public Works, K-12, and Higher Education. She has been active in various organizations including SMPS, DBA, ASCE, NAWIC, and CMAA.
SMPS AWARDS LUNCHEON | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | REGENCY BALLROOM
BREAK | 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM
BREAKOUTS | 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Say What? Communications | Jennifer Van Vleet, CPSM, Jaime Clark | Salt Lake A
Say What? Communications
The stories we tell are only impactful if the message we intended is received. Communication is complicated, and it’s increasingly difficult when a language or cultural barrier is at play. To best understand the process of effective communication and storytelling, one must truly know themselves. Do you know your tendency in response to expectations? In this session, Jaime and Jennifer will take their audience around the world on a global adventure of diversity, culture, and belonging–starting with self-exploration. Are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or a Rebel? Using Gretchen Rubin’s The Four Tendencies as a guideline, a roleplay with diverse messaging will be modeled by presenters and then acted out by audience volunteers. Jaime and Jennifer will facilitate an open discussion on inclusion, bias, culture, tendencies, and other impactful elements in each example. The group will look to reframe the communication process and discuss possible improvements for the communicator and the receiver. Participants will learn to not only to communicate more effectively but to drive the desired outcome in specific styles designed for the receiver.
About Jennifer Van Vleet, CPSM
Jennifer Van Vleet has over 20 years of experience in the A/E/C industry. At Stantec as VP, Marketing & Communications, Global, she leads her teams’ efforts worldwide to keep the brand consistent and to promote strategic intents, increasing revenues, and gaining better visibility for Stantec. Jennifer bridges communication and marketing activities around the world. She is a past board member of Seattle SMPS and is active with Colorado SMPS, recently winning the prestigious Leonardo award. She holds a BA in Public Relations and a Master of International Management. She enjoys the outdoors, crafts, and has traveled to nearly 90 countries.
About Jaime Clark
Jaime Clark is part of the Small Giants team. She works out of their Denver office as Marketing and Business Development Manager. Jaime has been in the A/E/C industry for over a decade–eight years as a small business owner/partner in the Denver, Seattle, and Honolulu markets and then with a with a mid-size general contractor before making her way to Small Giants full-service marketing and business development agency serving the industry.
A Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Hawaii Past President (2021-22), Jaime is dedicated to the association, currently serving on the Colorado Board of Directors as chair of the One2One Mentorship Program. A personal honor was receiving Marketer of the Year at the 2022 Marketing Excellence Awards gala.
Jaime is a University of Colorado alumnus, holding a Master of Arts in Information and Learning Technologies and a Bachelor of Science in Business, emphasis in Marketing and Organizational Management.
Outside of work, Jaime enjoys hiking, skiing, yoga, and spending time with her family and friends. Mindfulness is central to Jaime’s life and leadership styles.
AEC Marketing 2.0: Blueprint for Building a Future-Ready Department | Tim Asimos, CPSM, Ashley Campbell | Salt Lake B
AEC Marketing 2.0: Blueprint for Building a Future-Ready Department
We are entering a new era of AEC marketing. The once slow-paced evolution is now poised for significant disruption, catalyzed by changing firm leadership, marketplace dynamics, and progress pioneered by AEC marketing professionals. Gone are the days of being seen as mere overhead or "support" services; AEC marketing is reshaping itself into a pivotal, strategic engine for firm growth. But this transformation necessitates the acquisition of fresh skills, new roles, increased responsibilities, and an innovative departmental structure.
In this session, you’ll gain invaluable insights into transforming your marketing department into a strategic force that drives results. We’ll uncover the core functions of a future-ready AEC marketing department and explore the necessary mindset shift and cultural adjustments required for this transition. Whether you're a marketing professional or a firm leader, you’ll be equipped with a blueprint to build a marketing team that thrives in the AEC industry of tomorrow.
About Tim Asimos, CPSM
Head of Growth at Client Savvy
Tim Asimos is a catalyst for disruption in A/E/C marketing, providing keen insights on modern marketing and a unique perspective drawn from more than 20 years of experience both working inside and outside the industry. As Head of Growth at Client Savvy, Tim leads the client feedback software company’s growth strategies, overseeing business development, marketing, and communication. Tim’s visionary perspectives are regularly showcased in industry publications, blogs, webinars, and podcasts. His inspiring keynotes and informative breakout sessions have become fixtures at conferences across the country. Tim is a longstanding SMPS member and a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM).
Emerging Technologies and Radical Humanity | Jacqueline Babb | Salt Lake C
Emerging Technologies and Radical Humanity
You have probably had an experience at a grocery store or a hotel that is completely automated and wondered what’s next for emerging technology in your role as a marketing professional. While the possibilities for marketing technology seem exciting and cutting edge, we are left to wonder where humanity fits in. After all, we are humans who crave authentic, transparent brand experiences. And while technology can collect data, serve up recommendations, and track engagement, we must remember that clients are people with needs looking to your brand for solutions.
This session will outline the transformation of marketing with technology as an accelerator. It will also workshop the emotions and pain points that clients experience in your customer journey. Finally, the session will conclude with recommendations for balancing emerging technology and radical humanity to serve your audience.
About Jacqueline Babb
Jacqueline Babb is a senior lecturer and academic director of the full-time IMC program at Northwestern University. She teaches strategy courses in marketing and IMC and leads a global digital marketing course based in London. Jacqueline is a national speaker and a guest professor in HubSpot's popular social media marketing strategy certification. She recently led a session at the Marketing Prof’s B2B Forum. Jacqueline is a regular contributor to AdWeek, Brandingmag, and PRSA; she has been interviewed by the Washington Post, CNN, and AdAge about branding and digital marketing. Jacqueline is a contributing author of a Principles of Marketing textbook for OpenStax, an open educational resource. Her professional background is in the nonprofit sector, and her expertise lies in nonprofit marketing, purpose-driven brands, consumer trust, and brand effectiveness.
The Heart of Marketing Leadership: Positive Connections with Colleagues | Gabe Lett, FSMPS, CPSM | Salt Lake D
The Heart of Marketing Leadership: Positive Connections with Colleagues
How do your colleagues “feel” about you? Let me ask this another way. When your work colleagues walk away from an interaction with you, what do they feel? Your answer may be, “I have no idea!” Or you may believe your colleagues react to you dismissively or with frustration. If this concerns you, how would you like others to feel after interacting with you?
At the heart of marketing leadership is the ability to positively connect with your colleagues. Good leaders know what makes others follow them. They know how to connect with others authentically. This positive connection forms the bedrock upon which trust and confidence are built. If you want your colleagues to listen to your ideas and trust your leadership, you must learn how to emotionally connect with them.
This session will focus on building skills to emotionally connect with others. Participants will learn what interpersonal skills make the most impact on connection. These skills will be practiced, and participants will set personal goals for improving this valuable leadership ability.
About Gabe Lett, FSMPS, CPSM, LPC
I thrive on forming genuine connections with people and believe in the power of meaningful relationships. With a career spanning since 2004, I've cultivated a deep understanding of and passion for the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry. Throughout my journey, I've had the privilege of contributing to three different engineering firms. I am continuously evolving and perfecting the art of leading them through effective marketing strategies and execution.
Drawing from my background in mental health counseling, I bring a unique perspective to my work. My grasp of personality theory, communication, and motivation has proven valuable. This value benefits my own company as well as helping fellow marketers excel. At this point in my career, my aspiration is to share the wealth of knowledge I've gained. I wish to nurture the next generation of marketers and propel the AEC marketing profession to new heights.
Inclusive Voices Amplified: Elevating Internal Communications | Lisa Keohokalole Schauer, CPSM, Cadie Dye | Salt Lake E
Inclusive Voices Amplified: Elevating Internal Communications
In the ever-evolving A/E/C industry, effective internal communication is pivotal for fostering an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and building business. This session brings the spotlight to internal communications strategies and best practices designed specifically for professionals in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction sector. Marketers and communicators play a key role in developing and implementing internal communications programs both within organizations as well as on projects. Join us as we explore how to harness the power of inclusive voices and belonging strategies to shape a more inclusive, innovative, and connected industry.
About Lisa Keohokalole Schauer, CPSM
Lisa Keohokalole Schauer leads a team of facilitators, storytellers, and strategic communicators at PointNorth. She draws energy from interacting with people. As a serial entrepreneur with a habit of saying yes, Lisa has built a reputation for identifying improvement opportunities, seeking creative solutions, and taking action through collaboration.
In her work, she centers on equity with an emphasis on ensuring the process will be engaging, inclusive, and transparent. This belief is built on the spirit of inclusion and Aloha, an expression of her Hawaiian heritage. Lisa brings a combination of strategic communication experience with organizational development to her understanding of how people connect. She understands to engage stakeholders she must first listen. Prior to leading PointNorth, Lisa was a major shareholders at a regional engineering and construction management firm for almost two decades. Lisa is a certified CPSM and a member of the SMPS National Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee.
About Cadie Dye
As Director of Strategy at PointNorth, Cadie leads thoughtful project strategy and guides teams to do their best work. She is an intentional listener, thoughtful facilitator, and passionate about understanding what drives people and organizations. Cadie’s experience includes developing and facilitating strategic planning processes, strategizing outreach, facilitating team and stakeholder engagements, creatively curating strategic communications, and partnering with communities. She is guided by matching unique challenges with innovative, equitable, and inclusive solutions. Cadie strives to ensure employees, project teams, and partners experience intentional processes and activate people-centered strategies that drive equitable outcomes.
BREAK | 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
BREAKOUTS | 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Lessons on Innovative Leadership that Advances Careers | Stacy Stout, FSMPS, CPSM | Salt Lake A
Lessons on Innovative Leadership that Advance Careers
The sports world often provides valuable parallels for the business world — the importance of teamwork, shared purpose, and tireless effort towards a goal. But the extraordinary turnaround by first-year coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes offers a successful framework for business leaders who are looking to make a positive impact in their organizations.
Sanders has displayed a knack for leading miraculous turnarounds that result in skyrocketing gameday attendance and economic impact that reaches the tens of millions – in fact, the University of Colorado has estimated his economic impact to have reached $100M in his first season. Meanwhile, off the field, Sanders displays an uncanny ability to connect with his players.
How is it that one man can have such an impressive impact in such a short amount of time? It’s founded in his unrelenting commitment to a core set of values and building a culture that earns the envy of leaders across a broad spectrum of industries.
There’s a lot to learn from Coach Prime. Organizations and leaders can learn from his journey's invaluable lessons in transformative leadership and talent management and apply those lessons to become an impactful leader and create a successful business.
About Stacy Stout, FSMPS, CPSM
As the energetic founding principal of BRANDiac Strategies, Stacy Stout knows a thing or two about enthusiastically building business, relationships, and brands. With more than 25 years of experience in brand strategy and marketing communications, Stacy has built integrated communications strategies for a variety of businesses. Stacy‘s expertise is in transforming brand experience and driving brand relevance to help businesses continue to grow and evolve.
In addition to earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, Stacy is a past president of the SMPS Colorado Chapter, is a recipient of the Leonardo award, served on the Society board as a Director-at-Large and was named a fellow of the organization in 2014. When she’s not busy developing brands or volunteering for her favorite marketing organization, she fills her time hanging with her kids (“they’re super cool people!”), enjoying cocktails with friends, or conquering new hiking trails across the country.
Don't Bury the Lede: Communicating in the Digital Age | Kristina von Tish, CPSM, LEED Green Associate | Salt Lake B
Don't Bury the Lede: Communicating in the Digital Age
The way we process information in the 21st century is different than at any time before. Social media, with its short bursts of data, has indelibly changed our cognition. Luckily, the tried-and-true “lede” from the days of print journalism is still an effective way to attract notice and engage attention. This session will teach attendees how to add a lede statement to virtually any communication – a proposal narrative, an award submission, a blog post, even an email – to make their message more memorable and compelling. Attendees will use a worksheet to develop lede statements for the kinds of communications they use routinely. A facilitated discussion will answer attendees’ questions and talk them through applying lede statements to particular situations. Attendees will leave with the tools to begin immediately applying the lede concept to their day-to-day work.
About Kristina von Tish, CPSM, LEED Green Associate
Kristina von Tish, CPSM, LEED Green Associate, is a Marketing/Communication Content Strategist at Quinn Evans. With over ten years of experience in content development, she leverages her background in AEC marketing and museum exhibitions to create engaging cross-platform communications. Kristina imbues her work with her passion for architecture, art, and history; she is thrilled to be a part of the process that breathes new life into old buildings, and creates the “historic buildings” of the future. Kristina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the College of William & Mary and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from the George Washington University. She is a Certified Professional Services Marketer and a LEED Green Associate. She currently serves as the CPSM Chair for SMPS Virginia.
Prepare for the AI Revolution without Losing the Human Element | John G. Zuccerella, CPSM, CF APMP, Stephen R. Galati, D.M., CGW, CP APMP, CQA | Salt Lake C
Leading with a Human-Centered Approach | Chuck Raymond, CPSM, Lisa J. Frisbe | Salt Lake D
Leading with a Human-Centered Approach
There has been a shift in the leadership/employee paradigm. The demand in the marketplace requires that leaders manage with key principles and characteristics that includes inclusivity, empathy, work-life balance, trust and autonomy, sustainability and social responsibility, recognition and feed-back, and adaptability.
By fostering a positive work culture, employee satisfaction and engagement is enhanced and ultimately contributes to the firm’s success by attracting and retaining skilled talent.
This session will address the core differences between a human-centered leader and a business-centered leader, the core mindsets, skills, and behaviors of a human-centered leader and how human-centered leaders can help to alleviate stress and center wellbeing at work.
About Chuck Raymond, CPSM
Chuck has over 30 years of AEC-related communications, business development, and marketing experience. He has been a member of SMPS and a CPSM since 2004. He is also a three-time member of the Boston Chapter's Board of Directors, was the recipient of the Chapter's 2020 "Marketing Professional of the Year" award, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the SMPS Foundation. Based on his experience, he is a firm believer that the most important characteristic of a leader, whether a formal leader or otherwise, is empathy. Defined as "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another," this is a marked change from how "leaders" have historically been thought of. He believes that the change from "boss" to "leader" necessarily interjects a human-centered approach into the workplace and can be nothing but beneficial.
About Lisa J. Frisbie
As AGC MA VP of Member Services, Lisa directs and oversees membership activities for the association including the development of programs, initiatives, and communications policies designed to retain and increase membership. The V.P. of membership creates, updates, and distributes information to current members as well as prospective members.
Lisa is responsible for designing and implementing membership growth and a retention strategy that aligns with AGC’s strategic objectives. She is also responsible for leading the development, implementation, and evaluation of membership growth strategies, as well as day-to-day management of the AGC member engagement.
Through-out her 8 plus years with AGC MA, Lisa has contributed to the advancement of the industry through her work as the President of the Society of Marketing Professional Services, Advisory Committee member for the Policy Group on Tradeswomen Issues, the AGC of America Business Development Steering committee, and the Wentworth Institute of Technology Industry Advisory Board.
DEI in A/E/C - The Human Experience in Business | James Kent, Tiffany Cartwright, CPSM, Jeannine Alexander, CPSM, Briana Carter, CPSM | Salt Lake E
DEI in A/E/C - The Human Experience in Business
SMPS is working to guide the industry to promote a culture of inclusion, amplify the voices of the underrepresented, and support the business case for diversity. Since 2020, the SMPS DEI Committee has been working on initiatives and strategic objectives to increase awareness of and support DEI for our membership, their organizations, and the AEC industry at large. Topics covered include:
- Overview of SMPS DEI Committee work: accomplishments to date, resources, and what we’re working on now
- The business case for diverse experiences and viewpoints on professional teams
- What does a culture of belonging look like?
- Approaching equity work from a lens of curiosity without guilt, shame, or blame
- The importance of understanding the history of inequities in the US and unconscious bias to become more aware of the unintentional harms we may cause
- Steps for people at all levels to work towards a culture of belonging in your SMPS chapter, company, and personal life
- Specifications to create a safe space among your team members
About Briana Carter, CPSM
Briana Carter is a Marketing Strategist at Page, an international architecture, engineering and design firm. In the industry since 2017, she has experience working in the “A”, the “E,” and the “C.” She found her niche as a visual storyteller who sells relationships, experience, and quality work. Briana has been a part of the SMPS DEI Committee since its inception as a task force in September 2020, where she and the committee have worked tirelessly with HQ on SMPS’s action plan in hopes of continuing to drive DEI in this industry. She has assumed the role of the Chair of the DEI Committee for 2024 and recently received her CPSM in 2023.
BREAK | 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
CAMPFIRE SESSIONS | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
How Award Winning Culture Helps Fight the Talent War | Amber Larson, CPSM | Salt Lake A
How Award Winning Culture Helps Fight the Talent War
The session will begin with the story of how Bartlett & West started fighting the talent war through their award-winning culture. Amber will then walk the participants through questions as they discuss how to uniquely position and embrace firm culture, and the difference that can make in the areas of recruitment and retention.
- Participants will learn about metrics to track and document their employee experience or culture, and easy ways to put collect that data.
- Attendees will connect with each other as they start to capture their company's culture stories, which they can use as a starting point for building their employer brand messaging.
- Learners will consider what internal partnerships they can build to help their company with recruitment and retention.
About Amber Larson, CPSM
All it took was seeing a Gap commercial set in a West Side Story theme of Jeans versus Khakis during high school and Amber Larson, CPSM, immediately decided a career in advertising was for her. Now, two decades later, she is the marketing leader at the 400-person, Midwest engineering firm Bartlett & West, which was recognized as a Forbes 2023 America's Best Small Employer. On the side, she happens to own a tattoo business with her husband and is hugely active in her hometown of Bismarck, North Dakota. Amber sits on several boards, holds a bachelor's degree in mass communications and a master's degree in strategic leadership, and has been recognized as a top leader in her region. In addition, she recently finished a four-year term as an elected official on her town's City Commission.
Moving from Pack Mule to Unicorn | Janke DePalma, LEED AP, CPSM | Salt Lake B
Moving from Pack Mule to Unicorn
Janki DePalma gets vulnerable and shares her journey of moving from pack mule to unicorn. Pack mule mode was when she assumed that if she kept working hard with a big smile on her face, her managers would reward her hard work. This led to multiple periods of overwork, burnout and resentment until she finally realized that pack mules do not get promoted- unicorns do! Learn how you can move from being useful like a mule to being treasured like a unicorn. It starts with a combination of self-awareness, curiosity and strategy. Being a marketing professional doesn’t sentence you to being worn out, overworked, and resentful. Together let’s learn to identify and stop unhelpful patterns of thought, draw boundaries and find your horns.
About Janki DePalma, LEED AP, CPSM
Janki DePalma is the Director of Business Development for Kirksey Architecture, with over 20 years of experience in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. She’s a connector at heart who believes there always is room to widen the circle and give people a sense of belonging. Janki is a frequent speaker and writer on topics such as networking, emotional intelligence and women in construction. She loves to explore concepts that incorporate emotional intelligence and business improvement. In particular, she dreams of a world where AEC marketing is considered a strategic operations function of any successful business and the word "overhead" is banned from the collective vocabulary.
She is a past-president of the Austin chapter for the Society for Marketing Professional Services, a board member of AIA Austin and active with ULI and Commercial Real Estate Women. A San Francisco native, Janki cheers for the Warriors and now the Purdue Boilermakers.
Generations Unplugged: Authentic Conversations on Harnessing Age Diversity at Work | Amanda Haven | Salt Lake C
Generations Unplugged: Authentic Conversations on Harnessing Age Diversity at Work
In the evolving landscape of today’s workplace, five generations currently work side by side, each influenced by their unique socio-cultural and technological backgrounds. This convergence, while rich in diversity, can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or misalignments in communication and work styles. However, when leveraged effectively, it can become a powerhouse for creativity, driving innovation and fostering teamwork. Recognizing the strengths and challenges of Traditionalists, Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z is more than just an exercise in DEI — it's essential for the future of work. Join us in this session as we explore the multifaceted complexity of generational diversity. Together, we'll uncover insights, share experiences across age groups, and equip ourselves with effective strategies to build a workplace where every generation not only feels valued but thrives.
Session Takeaways:
- Attendees will gain insights into the unique characteristics of each generation, enabling them to identify and address potential areas of misunderstanding in team dynamics.
- Through discussions, attendees will benefit from diverse perspectives, gaining insights into the challenges and opportunities of intergenerational collaboration.
- Equipped with the knowledge and strategies from this session, attendees will feel empowered to initiate impactful changes in their workplaces, fostering greater understanding and collaboration across generations.
About Amanda Haven
Amanda is the founder and chief executive officer of Illuminate Marketing Collective, a full-service marketing consulting firm. She is also the chief content creator for Illuminate Learning Lab, an educational resource for A/E/C professionals offering guides, templates, and more. She is an experienced professional services marketer who is passionate about sharing best practices on leadership, marketing, proposals, and business development. Before launching her firm, she led a national team of talented marketing professionals at a globally recognized consulting and engineering firm. When not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors, advocating for mental health awareness, and volunteering with non-profit organizations to promote youth leadership.
Session TBD | Speaker TBD | Salt Lake D
Session TBD | Speaker TBD | Salt Lake E
DINNER ON YOUR OWN | 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
CAMPLIFY EXPERIENCE | 8:00 PM- 10:00 PM | REGENCY BALLROOM
FRIDAY, JULY 26
REGISTRATION OPEN | 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM
BREAKFAST & NETWORKING | 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
MAIN STAGE | 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
AI Impacts on A/E/C: Trends, Tactics, and Tomorrow | Rohan Jawali, Josh Fritz, Kristin Kautz, CPSM, Sarah Strauss | Regency Ballroom
AI Impacts on A/E/C: Trends, Tactics, and Tomorrow
Join us for an engaging discussion featuring veteran AEC digital marketers and leading AI professionals, as they delve into the multifaceted and ongoing impact of AI. Panelists will share real-world experiences and insights on how AI is continuing to revolutionize knowledge, workflows, organizational dynamics, and ROI. Gain insights into innovative new applications and tools that extend beyond content creation, uncovering the potential of AI-driven processes to enhance proposals and win strategies. Moreover, get an exclusive sneak peek into upcoming AI trends by hearing from the creators and coders themselves, preparing you to stay ahead in an ever-evolving AI landscape. During this captivating session, you will:
- Explore Versatile AI Applications:
Learn how to leverage AI beyond content creation. - Tailor-Made AI Tools for AEC Marketers:
Gain insights into specialized AI tools and software designed specifically for AEC marketers. - The Future of AI:
Be the first in your organization to hear what’s new and next in AI technology.
Don't miss this chance to dive deep into AI's potential, explore its game-changing impact on AEC marketing, gain valuable insights into what’s on the horizon, and redefine your own strategy.
Amanda is the founder and chief executive officer of Illuminate Marketing Collective, a full-service marketing consulting firm. She is also the chief content creator for Illuminate Learning Lab, an educational resource for A/E/C professionals offering guides, templates, and more. She is an experienced professional services marketer who is passionate about sharing best practices on leadership, marketing, proposals, and business development. Before launching her firm, she led a national team of talented marketing professionals at a globally recognized consulting and engineering firm. When not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors, advocating for mental health awareness, and volunteering with non-profit organizations to promote youth leadership.
BREAKOUTS | 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Filling the Trophy Case: Crafting Winning Award Submissions in AEC Marketing | Melanie Hawley | Salt Lake A
Filling the Trophy Case: Crafting Winning Award Submissions in AEC Marketing
The ability to showcase exceptional projects, innovative designs, and outstanding contributions can elevate your organization's brand, attract new clients, and solidify your position as a leader in the field. However, preparing winning award submissions requires careful planning, strategic thinking, and effective storytelling.
In this engaging presentation, you’ll learn how to track award deadlines, identify appropriate awards to pursue, define the component of a winning award submission, and understand tips and best practices to leave a lasting impression on judges and elevate your organization’s brand. We will explore the essential elements that make an award submission stand out from the competition and share proven strategies to maximize your chances of success. We will also share post-submission strategies whether you win or not to get the most out of your content with marketing collateral, press releases, social media campaigns, and industry presentations.
About Melanie Hawley
Melanie serves as a Senior Marketing Associate in Little’s Durham office. With eight years of marketing experience, she is instrumental in brand exposure and communication efforts firmwide, managing conference and event presence, speaking engagements, and publications. She leads the effort for award submissions from project awards to individual recognitions ranging from statewide and regional award programs to national, and global competitions. Last year alone, Melanie led to the submission of 81 project awards, out of which she helped secure an impressive 38 award wins, resulting in a 47% win rate. She’s already led the firm to 46 award wins so far in 2023. Melanie also creates and expertly manages content for multiple social media accounts firmwide. Her passion for marketing stretches beyond her work at Little as a member of the SMPS Triangle membership committee, and a recent graduate of Leadership Raleigh.
Business Development Focus: How to Have Comfortable Conversations with Anyone | Wally Hise, PE | Salt Lake B
Business Development Focus: How to Have Comfortable Conversations with Anyone
A fundamental aspect of your business development job is talking to people—clients, partners, and many others inside and outside of your firm. Sometimes that includes strangers or people you don’t know well. Do you shy away from social interaction and conversation because it can be unpredictable? Have you ever met someone and couldn’t start or keep a conversation going? When this happens, do you retreat in silence, missing an opportunity to engage with interesting people?
Conversation should be fun and enjoyable, not planned or forced. This means agendas and scripts are out the window; spontaneity and flow are the most important ingredients. To be a good conversationalist, you don’t have to be charming or funny. You need to observe, listen, be present, react, and adapt.
Join me in this interactive session as we explore the lost art of talking to people and how to create a welcoming environment with your conversations. In this session you’ll learn:
- How to phrase good questions that put people at ease
- How to answer questions with detail to create a conversation
- The importance of incorporating feelings and emotion
- Simple ways to keep a conversation moving, lively, and fun
- Coaching tips to help others have better conversations
About Wally Hise, PE
Wally combines 35+ years of A|E|C industry experience and an executive marketing perspective to help grow HDR's business. His career spans operations, management, and marketing positions in small to very large firms. Wally currently leads business development, major pursuits, and proposals in HDR’s Federal program. Building on his experience in management, leadership, training, and relationships, he explores creative approaches and shares ideas to advance the business development profession.
Oh My AI: What's Now and Next | Kristin Kautz, CPSM | Salt Lake C
SMPS Foundation Research | Speaker TBD | Salt Lake D
Bridging the Gap Between Marketing, Operations, & Finance in Corporate Strategy | Jennifer Van Vleet, CPSM, Andrew Wilson | Salt Lake E
Bridging the Gap Between Marketing, Operations, & Finance in Corporate Strategy
Session description coming...
BREAK | 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
BREAKOUTS | 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Deliver Killer Presentations Every Time | Dara Connolly | Salt Lake A
Deliver Killer Presentations Every Time
I “dare” you to be more impactful and influential when speaking in front of an audience!
Most of us are nervous to speak on stage and our nervousness takes away our ability to connect with others. When we fail to connect, we fail to deliver our message and we lose our ability to make an impact.
In this highly engaging and interactive presentation, you will learn how to deliver compelling presentations that focus on “connection over perfection” and wows your audience– every time!
Once a timid wallflower herself, Dara had to “dare” herself to speak with confidence. She understands your concerns.
She developed the innovative STAGE program– a fun, effective, and memorable approach that helps novice and expert speakers transform their presentations.
About Dara Connolly
Dara Connolly is a black belt martial artist who knows how to fly thru the air to crack wood – a move that offered her roles in martial arts films, yet she lived in a world of fear. As a timid wallflower, Dara spent most of her life getting talked over, passed over– and never had the confidence to speak in public or on stage.
Eventually Dara learned to “kick her fears to the curb” when she discovered a shift in mindset. Having flipped fear herself, she now teaches others to be more impactful and influential when speaking in front of an audience.
Today Dara is a TEDx Speaker, author of 4 books (her most recent: Flip Your Fear), and speaker who “dares” you to speak on stage with confidence!
Research Topic Session | Speaker TBD | Salt Lake B
Proposal Topic Go/No Go Session | Speaker TBD | Salt Lake C
Session TBD | Speaker TBD | Salt Lake D
Session TBD | Speaker TBD | Salt Lake E
GRAB & GO LUNCH | 11:45 AM
MAIN STAGE | 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM
Motivating High Performance: Understanding and Embracing How Communication Aligns with Business Growth | Denise Thomas | Regency Ballroom
Motivating High Performance: Understanding and Embracing How Communication Aligns with Business Growth
Denise M. Thomas is the President and Owner of The Effective Communication Coach. She offers services that transform emerging and existing professionals into exceptional leaders by mastering the art of effective communication. An incredibly dynamic speaker, Denise consistently delivers highly regarded keynotes to groups of hundreds or thousands. Most recently, she has provided speaking services to organizations such as Kohl’s, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Educators Credit Union and Northwestern Mutual.
Her closing keynote will focus on managing relationship building as a critical component to achieve success both personally and professionally. Relationship building is the foundation for driving vision and innovation. In order to effectively communicate - to manage, to navigate, to inspire - it is essential to build meaningful relationships.
During her presentation, Denise will first level set: identifying our values, understanding how and why people show up. From there, she will present “Purpose-Driven Innovation” including how to assign meaningful work to team members and how to align your company’s goals to individual purpose. Lastly, she will dive into five ways to use your voice for impact.