AEC Marketing for Principals is the go-to podcast for leaders in the commercial real estate, architecture, engineering, and construction industries who are passionate about advancing their firms through strategic marketing. Brought to you by Smartegies, the leading growth consulting firm for the built environment, this podcast dives deep into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by principals and senior leaders.
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How UNC Chapel Hill Thinks About Capital Projects, Design Partners, and the Future of Campus Planning
Higher education capital planning, university procurement, and what it really takes to win AEC work with a public university anchor this conversation with Howard Wertheimer, FAIA Emeritus, LEED AP, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities at UNC-Chapel Hill. Howard has spent more than two decades on both sides of the design and construction table. He built his career in private practice,…
From Proposal Production to Strategy: How AEC Marketing Must Change
AI promised AEC marketing teams more speed. What it delivered was a mirror. Katie Cash sits down with Rachelle Ray, Head of AEC Marketing Innovation at OpenAsset, about what has genuinely changed in proposal production since AI entered the workflow, and what has simply been exposed rather than fixed. Rachelle brings a rare dual perspective, having led marketing and proposals inside an architecture…
The Evolving Role of AEC Marketing Inside JE Dunn’s Industrial Business Unit
AEC marketing is shifting from a reactive, proposal-driven function into a strategic discipline that drives demand. Justin Davidson of JE Dunn has helped lead that change from the inside. Katie Cash talks with Justin about how that shift played out inside one of the country's largest builders, where JE Dunn built a dedicated vertical market model for its fast-growing industrial and manufacturing…
How to Build a Data-Driven Growth System for AEC Firms with ProjectMark's COO, Noel Brady
If your firm is still waiting for the RFP to show up before getting serious about winning the work, you are already behind. Katie Cash chats with Noel Brady, Co-Founder and COO of ProjectMark, the CRM built specifically for the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. They talk about what it actually takes to build a firm that grows with intention. Noel challenges the deeply ingrained…
The old AEC marketing playbook is no longer enough, and as the AEC truth teller, Judy Sparks is here to say what the industry has been too polite to admit out loud… the way you’ve always done it is quietly costing you work. Judy Sparks, Founder and CEO of Smartegies and Amazon bestselling author of "The Modern AEC Marketer," joins Katie Cash for a candid milestone conversation. This is episode…
Why Podcasting Belongs in Your AEC Marketing Plan with Tom Schwab
Podcasting may be the most underutilized business development tool in the AEC industry right now. Tom Schwab, CEO and Founder of Interview Valet, is joining Katie Cash to explain why they believe podcast marketing deserves a real seat at the table in every AEC firm’s growth strategy. Podcasting goes far beyond content creation; it’s a strategic driver for relationships, reputation, and revenue.…
Inside Gensler Atlanta: Leadership, Culture, and the Future of AEC
Good leadership in architecture has never been just about knowing how to design a building. Tory Winn, Principal and Co-Managing Director of Gensler's Atlanta office, has thought a lot about what it actually takes to lead well in this industry, and it comes down to people. How you build a team, how you show up for clients, how you bring someone along who's just starting out. In a conversation with…
Why Process Discipline Is the Hidden Advantage in Engineering Firms
Great engineering firms do not scale on talent alone. They scale on repeatable systems and a culture of accountability. Suzie Engel, PE, President and Owner of Motz Engineering, shares how she transformed her firm by building a process-driven culture that improves communication, protects quality, and creates better client experiences. By implementing structured systems, data tracking, and clear…
Aligning Executive Vision with Brand Strategy with Brasfield & Gorrie's Emily Cannon
Brand is no longer a support function in AEC. It is a strategic lever that shapes perception, culture, recruitment, and long-term growth. Katie Cash sits down with Emily Cannon, Vice President of Brand Strategy at Brasfield & Gorrie, to discuss what it really means to elevate the brand to the executive table. From aligning regional leadership to activating entertainment as a marketing currency,…
Engineering Firm Leadership and Marketing Alignment with Barge Design Solutions
What does it take to lead a 70-year engineering firm into its next chapter of growth without losing the culture that built it? Katie Cash sits down with Carrie Stokes, President and CEO of Barge Design Solutions, and Erika Booker, Chief Marketing Officer of Barge Design Solutions, to unpack how leadership vision, marketing alignment, and data-driven strategy fuel sustainable growth in today’s…
