Trust is no longer earned at the table; it’s built far before the meeting begins. Marcus Sheridan joins Katie Cash to unpack how AEC firms can grow their business by becoming radically transparent and strategically human in their content. From overcoming outdated marketing norms to building trust through cost education, video, and self-service tools, Marcus lays out the new blueprint for becoming a known and trusted brand in a skeptical B2B world. By shifting focus from "we" language to "you" la...
Jul 02, 2025•41 min•Season 5Ep. 85
How do you build trust, attract top talent, and finally make your marketing hit home? This time around, Katie’s chatting with Ethan Okovikas, Operations Manager at HGA, whose fashion background surprisingly led him into the world of AEC. They talk about how storytelling is at the heart of both industries. Ethan shares how firms can flex their influencer muscles with employee-generated content that feels real and relatable. If you want your brand to connect on a deeper level, this one’s for you! ...
Jun 16, 2025•40 min•Season 5Ep. 84
Want to make a real impact in your AEC business? Today, Katie chats with Carrie Gonzalez, Director of Marketing at SSOE Group, about her journey from intern to key leader in growing the 1,500-person firm. She talks about how staying flexible and thinking outside the box helped them break into new markets. Carrie also shares how SSOE’s marketing team supports business goals and collaborates with partners to achieve even more. Tune in for practical tips on leadership, marketing, and managing chang...
Apr 16, 2025•36 min•Season 5Ep. 83
It’s easy to forget how much architects, engineers, and contractors influence our communities and daily lives. Host Katie sits down to talk with Malory Atkinson, co-founder of the women-led firm Shear Structural, about how the AEC industry does more than just design spaces. She’s all about breaking the mold by bringing fresh energy and a startup mindset to an industry that’s ready for a shake-up. For Malory, it’s not just about the buildings—it’s about creating schools, parks, and spaces that ma...
Mar 28, 2025•29 min•Season 6Ep. 82
When change is in collaboration it never feels forced. Vickie Oshima, VP of Marketing at Architecture & Design Firm AO, joins Katie Cash to unpack how she tackles marketing in a firm with 17 specialized studios. She talks about juggling different business needs, keeping marketing in line with the bigger picture, and building trust to make evolution happen. Vicky believes great marketing isn’t just about strategy but making sure everyone feels confident in the direction they’re headed. Tune i...
Mar 05, 2025•34 min•Season 6Ep. 81
In the fast-changing AEC industry, building strong relationships and using data-driven strategies are key to staying ahead of the competition. In today’s episode of AEC Marketing for Principals , Katie welcomes Scott Steiding, Chief Growth Officer of Bennett & Pless , to chat about why soft skills, like being responsive and delivering great client service, are becoming more and more important in the AEC industry. Scott talks about how his firm keeps track of client response times and zeroes ...
Feb 12, 2025•36 min•Season 6Ep. 80
Imagine knowing how to leverage metrics to tell your firm’s story and win your next big project. It’s time to turn data into a powerful ally that drives your business growth! Architecture, engineering, and construction firms can revolutionize their growth strategies by decoding data and creating clear roadmaps. Katie Cash is joined by her co-worker, Jenn Friedman, a self-described data nerd, who shares how embracing tools like Google Analytics can unlock actionable insights. From identifying hig...
Jan 31, 2025•15 min•Season 6Ep. 79
Strategic marketing investments can transform small AEC firms into industry leaders. Katie Cash kicks off the SmartWin 2025 Speaker Spotlight Series with guest Erica Wozniak Fisher, Director of Marketing and Business Development at The Arkitex Studio. Erica shares her journey from managing major projects at Texas A&M University to driving strategic growth for a small Texas-based architecture firm. The discussion highlights how smart, modest marketing moves can lead to big wins. Erica emphasi...
Jan 29, 2025•23 min•Season 6Ep. 78
In today’s talent war, outdated HR practices are holding firms back. The way forward is to create workplaces that attract and retain the best people. In this AEC Marketing for Principals episode, host Katie Cash and co-host Judy welcome Mark Zweig, founder and CEO of Zweig Group, a leading AEC consulting firm. Mark talks about his journey from consulting to launching his own business and shares his perspective on some of the industry’s biggest challenges—especially when hiring and keeping top ta...
Nov 22, 2024•54 min•Season 6Ep. 77
CRM systems are revolutionizing project management and collaboration in the construction industry. Today, Katie talks with Tom Deane, Co-Founder and CEO of ProjectMark, about how their user-friendly CRM helps construction teams of all sizes get started easily. They explore how AI and automation are changing project management, especially in making informed decisions and speeding up proposals. Tom also shares practical tips for organizing information to help your team see real results in their da...
Oct 29, 2024•39 min•Season 6Ep. 76
Strategies and operations are key to helping your team make smart decisions, work more efficiently, and adapt to a changing market. Join Katie in this episode as she sits down with Stu Haney, Management Consultant of AEC OPS to talk about his innovative BOSS method. They’ll talk about the importance of respectful talent acquisition, implementing structured systems, and recognizing operational shortcomings. Get the insights and practical strategies you need to create a positive workplace culture,...
Oct 08, 2024•36 min•Season 6Ep. 75
As a professional, you probably work hard to perfect your craft but might be neglecting the essential skills of business management. In this episode of AEC, Katie chats with Kyle Peterson, Principal and Business Leader at Nelson Worldwide , about his role managing six studio locations and how his design background guides his business approach. Kyle highlights the importance of being a trusted partner and truly understanding clients' needs to drive success. Tune in to discover how to blend your v...
Sep 17, 2024•31 min•Season 6Ep. 74
Katie is back and talking to Bryce Batts, a seasoned recruiter and co-owner of Career Collective, to explore attracting and retaining top talent in the AEC industry. Bryce emphasizes the need for swift communication and efficient interview processes to capture high-caliber candidates' interest. She advises employers to collaborate closely with recruiters, timing offers strategically to avoid premature proposals that candidates might leverage for better opportunities. They also discuss the import...
Aug 27, 2024•42 min•Season 6Ep. 73
Katie Cash talks with Tara Bleakley, Associate Director for Market Transformation and Development at the USGBC's Florida chapter. Tara shares a brief overview of her career, starting with a background in art history and art business, which led her to various marketing roles from London to Orlando. She discusses her tenure at TLC Engineering Solutions, where she rose to partnership before taking a sabbatical to reconnect with family. This break steered her toward her current role at USGBC, fueled...
Aug 07, 2024•34 min•Season 6Ep. 72
Securing future work and attracting top talent are the lifeblood of the AEC industry, a reality that hosts Katie and Judy passionately emphasize in the season six premiere of AEC Marketing for Principals. This season’s theme, “Making an Impact,” focuses on HR and recruiting tactics, business development strategies, and content marketing within the industry. In upcoming episodes, we will spotlight individuals driving change and facing unprecedented challenges in the AEC sector, discussing topics ...
Jul 17, 2024•33 min•Season 6Ep. 71
Katie sits down with Associate Principal and Regional Practice Leader, Brad Ewing, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, from NELSON Worldwide. Brad talks about one of the unexpected skills that architects need to master–sales. He emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and flexible for career progression in the AEC sector. Brad also offers invaluable advice on preparing for procurement season, focusing on understanding client goals and fostering robust client relationships. Connect with Brad Ewing, AIA, NC...
Feb 26, 2024•9 min•Season 5Ep. 70
Do you feel lost in the sea of mergers and acquisitions? Katie is talking with Tiffany Konenkamp, CPSM, from Century Fire, about branding and M&A in the AEC sector. Tiffany discusses the nuances of acquiring smaller firms, focusing on the need to balance respect for the acquired company's brand while transitioning to the Century Fire identity. She emphasizes the critical nature of value alignment and the importance of effective communication during the rebranding phase, providing actionable ...
Feb 23, 2024•17 min•Season 5Ep. 69
Katie is back with Balfour Beatty's Senior Vice President, Mike Macon, discussing the construction giant's brand strategy and competitive positioning. Mike details the company's approach to winning large public sector projects, emphasizing the necessity of aligning with client expectations, the pivotal role of communications, and the importance of detailed preparation for client presentations. They dive into the dynamics of project pursuit, stressing vulnerability and feedback's role in navigati...
Feb 22, 2024•16 min•Season 5Ep. 68
Katie continues her SmartWIN24 speaker spotlight series with Greg C. Hart. - President of PSMJ. He discusses the critical need for a deep understanding of the nuanced challenges and opportunities that the AEC sector faces, particularly considering the varied effects of macroeconomic trends. By drilling down on the data, he’s able to share insights about the strategic use of data and proposal activity as key indicators for planning and decision-making processes. He outlines PSMJ's role in equippi...
Feb 21, 2024•10 min•Season 5Ep. 67
The challenges businesses encounter in generating pipeline and revenue have changed. SmartWIN24 speaker and Smartegies Alliance Partner Megan Gregory joins the podcast. With two decades of sales and marketing expertise, Megan offers insights into contemporary marketing strategies. Specifically targeting AEC firms, she discusses the importance of understanding your audience, pinpointing their issues, and deploying a continuous marketing engine powered by paid media. The conversation sheds light o...
Feb 20, 2024•15 min•Season 5Ep. 66
Are you enabling the people at your firm to help you grow? Katie welcomes Greg Johnson, PE, a Partner at the distinguished MEP engineering firm Newcomb and Boyd , to the podcast. Greg discusses investments in marketing and business development resources, emphasizing the role of networking and knowledge exchange at events like SmartWIN24. He emphasizes the importance of close-knit networking and open dialogue among industry peers, aiming to learn from their experiences and insights into innovatio...
Feb 19, 2024•12 min•Season 5Ep. 65
Brooke Lewis, CPSM, Associate Director of Marketing for Stratus Team, LLC , sits down with Katie on today’s episode. Lewis oversees marketing across all firm locations and discusses her first-hand experience with M&A, the challenges of building a marketing team and brand from scratch and adapting to technology's fast pace in the AEC industry. Limited spots remain for our upcoming SmartWIN24! This must-attend event is where AEC Firm Principals, Owners, and Marketing Executives come together t...
Feb 16, 2024•10 min•Season 5Ep. 64
Jeff Kinsler, Senior Account Executive and Media Consultant for OUTFRONT Media joins the conversation today. Kinsler outlines OUTFRONT's operations, highlighting its commitment to leveraging creative design for business growth. He delves into the evolution of out-of-home advertising, including the integration of digital capabilities and geofencing for more targeted, personalized campaigns. Limited spots remain for our upcoming SmartWIN24! This must-attend event is where AEC Firm Principals, Owne...
Feb 15, 2024•8 min•Season 5Ep. 63
Host Katie Cash chats with Smartegies Alliance Partner, Katie Harris. In this episode, Katie provides growth strategy insights for design, engineering, and development firms. She highlights the evolving marketing role in the AEC industry, focusing on the vital need for effective internal and external communications for business growth. She also discusses marketing, business development, and communication teams' crucial contributions to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) success. Limited spots re...
Feb 14, 2024•16 min•Season 5Ep. 62
Host Katie Cash sits down with Beth Ament - Associate Vice President, Senior Manager of Communications and Marketing at Epsten Group, a Salas O’Brien company. Together, they reflect on the evolution of business development and marketing within the AEC industry. They discuss the importance of knowing your intended audience and the effectiveness of diversifying marketing approaches, from direct interactions to digital platforms. Limited spots remain for our upcoming SmartWIN24 ! This must-attend e...
Feb 13, 2024•10 min•Season 5Ep. 61
Katie continues her speaker spotlight series with Joe Walker, the Founding Principal of Walker Architects and host of the " Design For An Agile World ” podcast. The discussion centers on the firm's agile design approach, particularly in sectors like higher education, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. He shares insights into leveraging innovative marketing tools to articulate the firm's narrative and establish a distinctive brand identity. The conversation also explores Joe’s involvement in...
Feb 12, 2024•13 min•Season 5Ep. 60
There are several things to consider when you are creating your brand and trying to differentiate it from others in the design and construction industry. Katie and Judy engage in a discussion about the challenges of crafting a positioning statement, particularly for multidisciplinary firms and smaller subsidiaries within larger brands. They provide practical insights and tips for developing compelling positioning statements that resonate with the target audience and set businesses apart from the...
Feb 09, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 59
Host Katie Cash sits down with Eric Anest, Senior VP of Marketing and Communications at Salas O'Brien, to discuss the integral role of marketing and effective communication in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in the AEC industry. Eric shares insights from Salas O'Brien's 30+ mergers that grew the company from 300 to over 2,500 employees. They discuss the importance of strategic communication for successful integration and talent retention post-merger. Eric also highlights Salas O'Brien's colla...
Feb 06, 2024•12 min•Season 5Ep. 58
This SmartWIN24 speaker spotlight features Mike Hoffman, i-Heart Media's Director of Brand Partnerships. He sits down with Katie Cash to talk about radio advertising's effectiveness for B2B companies, with a focus on the AEC industry. Mike shares his insights and emphasizes the importance of using data and targeted advertising for specific audiences. Join Mike at SmartWIN24 for his panel "Navigating the Media Multiverse: A 101 Guide to Media Buying in the AEC Industry," where he'll offer practic...
Jan 24, 2024•13 min•Season 5Ep. 57
We’re kicking off a special series of episodes to introduce our brilliant lineup of SmartWIN24 speakers! We’re excited for you to get the opportunity to hear from each one of them and see what we have in store for our annual conference happening February 28-29, at the Commerce Club in Atlanta, GA. Industry expert and Smartegies Alliance Partner, Scott Steiding , is the first to join host, Katie Cash, to talk about the future of AEC marketing, his past experience at SmartWIN, and why this is a mu...
Dec 20, 2023•19 min•Season 5Ep. 55
