Session Speakers
Briana Carter, CPSM
Marketing Strategist
Page
Session Title: "X" Marks the Spot: Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Pursuit Deadline on Track
Briana Carter, CPSM, is a seasoned Marketing Strategist at Page. She has been in the industry since 2017 and 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. She has a deep interest in the built environment and loves its impact on the human experience. She is an advocate for women in construction and STEM, creating equal opportunities in the workforce, and inclusive design practices. Briana has been heavily involved with the SMPS DEI Committee and assumed the role of chair in 2024. At Page, she continues this work as part of several of their PCGs (Page Community Groups), Think Tanks, and co-labs.
Donna Corlew, FSMPS, CPSM
Founder, Chief WIT* Officer
C*Connect
Session Title: Mining for Capture Plan Gold!
Strategist. Facilitator. Connector. Coach. Donna’s roots run deep in Southern hospitality, a culture of giving, and an abiding love of SEC football and Nashville Predators hockey.
Don’t let that Southern twang fool you – under the surface lies the heart and soul of a Steel Magnolia driven by a passion for coaching and helping architects, engineers, and builders identify and maximize their talents and expertise. Donna has walked in your shoes—battling the AEC marketer/BD blues and her share of firm leaders and doer-sellers. She works with firms to focus strategic vision and market research, grow connections and chemistry with clients, and help technical staff and marketing and BD professionals to thrive and win profitable work. A CPSM and SMPS Fellow, Donna is an active SMPS member, having served as Society President and SMPS Foundation Trustee. She received SMPS’ highest honor, the Weld Coxe Marketing Achievement Award, in 2019.
Tamara Goff, CPSM
Principal/ Marketing Leader/ Director of Communications & Brand Experience
HBG Design
Session Title: Harnessing Internal Marketing to Drive Employee Engagement and Business Success
Tamara directs an integrated marketing team to develop, implement, and align internal and external communication and branding strategies supporting HBG Design’s strategic business objectives. Over her 24 years at HBG she has expanded the role of the marketing and communications group from traditional proposal and presentation generation and PR to strategic brand building and creative storytelling delivered across multiple media platforms. Her innovative methods and communications pieces have been recognized nationally with over 30 awards including 25 Marketing Communications Awards from the Society of Marketing Professionals (SMPS). With a passion for creatively linking together high-impact visuals and compelling messaging to maximize HBG’s brand positioning, Tamara is laser-focused on developing and facilitating strategic communication initiatives that highlight the firm’s national reputation in core markets, promote thought leadership, and connect audiences to engage with the firm.
Allie Horne, CPSM
Partner
Meeks Marketing
Session Title: Brain Bending: Leveraging Neuromarketing to Win the Interview
Allie Horne, CPSM, is a Partner at Meeks Marketing, Inc. and has 16 years of experience writing both firm-published and third-party-published articles and marketing pieces. Prior to joining Meeks Marketing, Allie was the Communications Manager at Kirksey Architecture where she developed both electronic and print media and more than tripled the firm’s press mentions during her tenure. Additionally, Allie has written over 75 published articles for Bisnow Commercial Real Estate News in markets nationally, been published in The Marketer magazine, and served as the technical editor for a Fortune 300 company. A proud University of Texas graduate, Allie resides in Austin and can often be found hiking, playing tennis, and convincing her children she has superpowers.
Courtney Kearney, CPSM
Owner/Founder
CKearney Consulting
Session Title: The Golden Couple: CRM and Storytelling
Known for her love of data, Courtney Kearney brings her marketing skills and years of experience to the technical world of databases, processes, and numbers. She is a CRM thought leader and co-wrote the book CRM or Die: Manage Your Client Relationships or Perish. Courtney is a Certified Professional Service Marketer (CPSM), a contributor to the SMPS Marketer publication, and a presenter at national conferences, events, and webinars. Courtney has served in several leadership roles within SMPS locally, regionally, and nationally including the role of President for the Fort Worth chapter. She enjoys spending time with her nurse husband and two amazing daughters.
Michelle Calcote King
Principal & President
Reputation Ink
Session Title: Hidden Gold: How to Use Email Marketing to Generate Referrals and Repeat Business
Michelle Calcote King is the principal and president of Reputation Ink, a public relations and thought leadership marketing agency serving B2B professional services firms, including AEC firms. She hosts the thought leadership podcast Spill the Ink, where she interviews AEC marketers and other industry thought leaders, and previously served on the SMPS North Florida board.
Tully Mahoney
Storytelling Content Coordinator
Page
Session Title: Beyond Charts and Graphs: Inspire Action with Data Visualizations
With a background in Quantitative Economics, Tully brings a fresh perspective to Page's Storytelling team. She simplifies complex ideas to make the architecture and engineering industry more accessible to a wider audience.
As the host of Page’s Podcast, The Good Room, Tully dives into the narratives behind our built world and the minds that shape it. She is also proactive in leading initiatives to enhance the team's approach to data visualization and enrich the way project narratives are crafted and told, fostering a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of design and architecture.
Melanie Meeks, CPSM
Partner
Meeks Marketing
Session Title: Brain Bending: Leveraging Neuromarketing to Win the Interview
Melanie Meeks, CPSM is a Partner at Meeks Marketing and has 21 years of experience in the A/E/C industry, specializing in the development of marketing strategy, client development, project pursuits, and public relations. She graduated from Texas A&M University, is a Certified Professional Services Marketer, and served as President of SMPS Houston. She was previously the Director of Client Development at Kirksey Architecture in Houston, and launched Meeks Marketing in 2013. Melanie enjoys working side by side with clients, helping them win work and achieve their marketing goals. A wife and mom of three, she can often be found running carpool to baseball and cheer practices, building legos with her youngest, or relaxing with a good book.
Alexandra Pony
Founder & Principal
PONY Communications
Session Title: Emphasize the Individuals to Build Your Firm’s Brand
Alexandra Pony is an award-winning PR strategist and founder of PONY Communications with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in the AEC space and out-of-the-box thinking, crafting compelling narratives to consistently secure top-tier media coverage.
PONY Communications is a female-led, full-service Public Relations and Social Media firm crafting strategic, smart, and sophisticated campaigns for their clients. Clients receive top-notch, personalized service, resulting in high-impact reach and exposure. PONY Comms knows its clients are passionate about their missions, and lands the right coverage through thoughtful and compelling story angles.
Alexandra and her company have worked with Perkins&Will, CMG Landscape Architects, Prado Group, Lundberg Design, and many others.
Rachelle Ray
Owner/Proposal Consultant
RMR Consulting
Session Title: Excuse SME?! Navigating Technical & Marketing Staff Relationships
Rachelle has been writing proposals for 14 years. Having battled burnout at various stages of her career, Rachelle has become a passionate advocate for marketing education, increasing process efficiency, and facilitating conversations between proposal professionals and leadership. She works with individuals and teams to identify opportunities to improve their marketing efforts, increase communication, and ensure pursuits are given adequate resources in order to prevent staff burnout.
Duncan Robertson, CPSM
Director of Business Development and Marketing
Tamarack Grove Engineering
Session Title: Building Your Firm's Social Media for the Future
Duncan Robertson, CPSM, is a business development and marketing professional who has dedicated his young career to the A/E/C industry. In just five quick years after graduating from college, Duncan made significant contributions to the marketing and business development presence at Tamarack Grove Engineering, co-founded SMPS Idaho, presented at AmplifyAEC in 2022, and led his firm to win 10+ national marketing achievement and best firm awards through SMPS and the Zweig Group. He served as President of SMPS Idaho, serves as PR Chair for ACE Mentor Program of Idaho which he also co-founded, and has served on various subcommittees with AmplifyAEC and SMPS PRC, including a 2024 Program Lead for Amplify AEC. Duncan has a passion for making a difference in the lives of others through content creation, strategic planning, and connecting like-minded professionals.
Julie Shaffer, FSMPS, CPSM, Adobe Community Expert
Owner | Creative Director
Shaffer Creative
Pre-Conference Session Title: Supercharge Your InDesign Workflow
Julie Shaffer, FSMPS, CPSM, and Adobe Community Expert, is passionate about helping AEC marketers maximize software tools to expedite content layout without sacrificing good design. After 11 years as an in-house marketer, Julie founded Shaffer Creative in 2012 to offer consulting, training, and creative design services, empowering firms to secure new work and thrive in the competitive landscape. She and her team support 100+ pursuits a year and have worked with over 250 owner agencies and AEC firms across the country on projects across the globe. Through these efforts, Shaffer Creative has helped firms shape their identities, craft impactful marketing campaigns, and empower teams to make the most of their marketing efforts.
Barbara Shuck, FSMPS, CPSM
President
Everest Marketing Services
Session Title: From Thoughts to Actions: The Golden Art of Expressing Leadership
Barbara Shuck, FSMPS, CPSM gets marketing and business development in the design and construction industry. It’s why she uses 35+ years of proven expertise to help clients focus on what they do best: delivering superior services to valuable clients. Barbara teaches, challenges, motivates, and inspires others to achieve new heights, and has worked for general contracting, engineering, construction management, and architectural firms. As a consultant, she helps clients with both internal and external strategies that win work and build teams through compelling and persuasive content and messaging. She is a Past President of SMPS, Fellow and Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM), and is a Trustee for the SMPS Foundation. She is the 2022 Weld Coxe Marketing Achievement Award recipient, the Society’s highest honor for career achievements, leadership, and lasting contributions to the A/E/C industries.
Stephany Socha
Senior CRM Consultant
Full Sail Partners
Session Title: Showcasing Value: Essential Metrics for AEC Marketing Pros
Stephany Socha is a Senior CRM Consultant at Full Sail Partners, helping clients enhance efficiency and stakeholder trust with Deltek Vantagepoint CRM. With over 12 years in the A/E industry, her expertise includes marketing, database management, company-wide training, and CRM implementation. A Business Administration graduate from UNC Greensboro, Stephany is dedicated to improving processes and ensuring stakeholders trust the CRM as the "source of truth.”
Brad Thompson
Business Solutions Director
SDB Contracting Services
Pre-Conference Session Title: Panning for Gold: Leveraging AI to Sift Out Monotony and Improve Efficiency
As an advocate for technology, Brad Thompson continually seeks out opportunities to apply new tools in everyday workflows, aiming to increase efficiency and simplify processes. In his role as the Business Solutions Director at SDB Contracting Services, Brad oversees the Marketing, Business Development, and IT teams. Drawing upon a decade's worth of experience in A/E/C Marketing and Business Development, he drives a technology-oriented approach to common tasks in an effort to eliminate repetitive and boring tasks.
With over 20 years of Marketing experience in various industries, Brad values continuous education and sharing his knowledge with others. This has led him to be actively involved in various industry organizations including a Past President in the Arizona Chapter of SMPS.
Wendy Simmons
Associate Principal
Middle of Six
Session Title: Business Development for Everyone: Tactics by Skillset and Comfort Level
Wendy Simmons is the founder and principal marketing strategist at Middle of Six, a consultancy dedicated exclusively to the A/E/C industry. With a strategic and multifaceted approach to business development, Wendy collaborates with numerous A/E/C firms each year, helping them refine their marketing and BD efforts for greater impact. A recognized leader in the industry, Wendy was named Marketer of the Year by SMPS Seattle in 2022. She also hosts The Shortlist, an award-winning podcast covering all things A/E/C marketing, which earned an SMPS MCA award in 2023.
Jeff Visnic
Certified Fearless Living Coach
Reclamation Collaborative
Session Title: Excuse SME?! Navigating Technical & Marketing Staff Relationships
Jeff is a Certified Fearless Living Coach and founder of Reclamation Collaborative. Having spent 20+ years working in the construction industry, he has witnessed and experienced first-hand the impact your job can have on the other areas of your life if you don't vigilantly protect them. He provides the skills and tools people need to identify the elements of their lives that are most important and the support and accountability to help them live the life they want without sacrifice or regret.
Amanda Walter
Founding Principal
Walter Communications
Session Title: Emphasize the Individuals to Build Your Firm’s Brand
Amanda Walter is a communications strategist and founder of Walter Communications. She started her practice to help architecture firms build specific reputations in support of their business goals. Informed by her earlier experience leading global communications programs at large design firms, Amanda tells her clients' stories across a variety of communications channels to more effectively reach the intended audience. In addition to her client work, Amanda has served as a board member of a variety of architecture- and sustainability-focused organizations. She co-authored Social Media in Action the first book of its kind focused on built environment consulting firms and she has contributed articles to Architect’s Newspaper, Metropolis POV, Design Intelligence, Landscape Urbanism, The Zweig Letter, and a variety of industry blogs.
Julie Witecki, CPSM
Senior Strategy Consultant
FMI Consulting
Session Title: Navigating the Road Ahead: Translating Research into Strategy
With over 20 years in the construction industry, Julie is a strategy consultant, inspiring FMI’s clients to reshape market and business development practices for increased efficiency and effectiveness. She focuses on turning visionary ideas into actionable plans with measurable objectives and realistic budgets. Based in Denver, Julie has a coast-to-coast view of the construction industry. She is active in the Colorado chapter of SMPS and is a Certified Professional Services Marketer. She has also achieved the APMP Bid & Proposal Foundation-level Certification and the CU Boulder Leeds School of Business Customer Experience Certification. Julie has an MBA from Regis University and a BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Angie Wolfe
Founder, Trainer, and Strategic Response Manager
Ideas at Dawn
Pre-Conference Session Title: Everyday AI in Proposals
It's true that Angie began as an intern to leading multi-billion dollar pursuits through much hard work and sacrifice. With 21 years of proposal management and marketing experience in the AEC industry and helping companies win billions of dollars of new work, Angie founded Ideas at Dawn in 2019 and has served AEC clients with a deeper purpose. She now helps firms increase productivity and revenue through proposal training, including how to use AI in proposals.
