AEC Marketeer

In this episode I'm joined by Ryan Sullivan to talk about the essential financial literacy needed for success in the AEC industry. We explore how businesses allocate their funds and listeners will learn about key financial terms such as revenue, expenses, and profit, and we’ll discuss crucial project-level considerations like overhead, utilization, and billable rates. We also explore how this financial knowledge can inform marketing strategies, focusing on pre-bid work, the go/no-go process, and the importance of ROI. By the end of the episode, you'll have a clearer understanding of how to allocate a percentage of revenue toward effective marketing efforts.

About Ryan:

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In this episode, I'm joined by Katherine Robinette to discuss the challenges of initiating change within organizations, emphasizing the importance of clearly defining goals before embarking on any project. We talk about the process to follow for change management and common scenarios where individuals may feel hesitant to start due to uncertainty or anticipated resistance. We stress the significance of clear communication throughout the process to mitigate resistance and foster engagement. If you want to know how to really get SCHTUFF done right, join us as we uncover strategies for building trust and ensuring everyone feels involved in the journey of change.

About Katherine:

In this episode, Chemene Phillips explains the differences between branding and marketing, especially for smaller vs. larger firms. We highlight the importance of budget allocation in making these strategies work. Plus, we share how new companies can effectively build their brand and why consistent branding is key to tackling challenges like talent turnover and keeping customer loyalty strong.

Chemene Phillips, President:

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This mini episode is quick rundown on listening and how to be a good listener. Hope you enjoy!

In this episode, Bryce Batts outlines what the labor market looks like right now and the best ways to attract and retain talent. This includes how marketing can improve the processes in place to align new employees with company culture and attract top talent using marketing best practices.

Bryce has been a recruiter in the AEC industry for 15+ years and is a certified Career Coach and Speaker. She met her husband in college, and they have two daughters and a Bernedoodle. She attended NC State University for her bachelor’s degree and received her MBA at Nova Southeastern. She was a college dancer and cheerleader and loves to cheer professionals on as they gain clarity and confidence when it comes to their career goals. She's the co-CEO of Career Collective, an AEC recruiting and coaching firm and podcast host of Wine After Work. Career Collective was founded with a Singular Vision: Providing Both Candidates and Employers with Premier Access to the Best in AEC Industry Opportunities. Guided by Bryce Batts and Edwin Powali, Career Collective stands at the forefront of AEC recruitment. Bryce's passion for career coaching and dedication to enriching both the careers of individuals and the teams of employers they serve is truly inspiring.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-batts-recruiter/

In this episode, I'm joined by Marci Thompson as we dive into the essence of leadership. Marci offers a unique perspective on her own approach to leading and provides valuable advice on what leaders should do more and less of to shine. Join us for a great conversation of what it truly means to be a great leader and bring your own brilliance.

Marci D. Thompson, DES| Interim Chief Executive Officer/ CSO, SMPS

Interim Chief Executive Officer/CSO for the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS HQ). A forward-thinker, Marci leads the strategic direction for growth, engagement, publications, and training for the Society. Marci is the Publisher of the award-winning Marketer journal; she is also a contributing writer for trade publications and a two- time book author.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marci-thompson/

In today's podcast, Richard Tregaskes from Atkins Realis shares his journey with dyslexia and its impact on his innovative problem-solving skills. He talks about initiating a neurodiversity employee resource group in the Americas, inspired by his university diagnosis, which helped improve his academic performance. Our conversation highlights the importance of neurodiversity in the workplace, especially in the AEC industry, emphasizing the need for accommodating and understanding neurodiverse employees to boost productivity and innovation. It covers the benefits of simple adjustments like alternative communication methods and accessible formats, and suggests practical inclusivity strategies like noise-canceling headphones for remote workers, flexible work environments, and tailored support.

Richard has 17 years of Engineering Design experience including as a multidisciplinary project manager before joining AtkinsRéalis as a senior project manager. Over his career Richard has helped deliver projects in his native UK, the Far East, Middle East and North America. Richard understands the strengths that his Dyslexia brings him and tries to use those as an advantage for the projects he is helping deliver.

Richard's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtregaskes/

This episode dives into constructing and evaluating effective pursuit processes, and defining what sets them apart from traditional proposal process. Krystn shares her philosophy of prioritizing clients over projects, highlighting the strategic, client-focused approach that distinguishes a pursuit process. She details the fundamental steps crucial for any company's prosperity, underscoring the importance of adaptability, defined roles, and striking a balance between inflexibility and flexibility.

Join us as we dig into the importance of authentic client connections, the common pitfalls to steer clear of, and the intertwined responsibilities of leadership, business development, and marketing teams in creating and maintaining a successful pursuit process.

Krystn Macomber believes there's magic in disrupting the ordinary and she thrives on challenging the status quo. She has more than 20 years of experience in the marketing + proposal profession, including 17 years in the corporate world building and leading high-performing teams for global AEC firms across the country. She has trained thousands of leaders, project managers, marketers, and SMEs on proposal + marketing best practices. Three years ago, she left the corporate world to follow her long-time dream to start her own business, Summit Strategy. Today, Summit is a game-changing integrated marketing + proposal consulting firm instrumental in helping B2G + B2B organizations achieve their goals through strategic planning, branding, proposal development, and training.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystnmacomber/

In this episode Dr. Tullio Rossi explains how he uses animated videos to convey complex information in a simple and approachable way. While Tullio primarily works with scientists, the principles of communicating complex projects are what the A/E/C and scientific communities share.

Dr. Tullio Rossi is an award-winning science communicator, marine biologist and graphic designer. As founder of the agency "Animate Your Science", he helps STEM professionals tell their story to the world. His engaging video animations and eye-catching graphics make science and engineering understandable for everyone, reaching millions of people around the world, to create a real-life impact.

Website: animateyour.science

In this episode we dig into the transformative impact of AI in the AEC industry. Discover how AI is reshaping the AEC landscape and paving the way for firms to gain a competitive edge. This conversation is balanced between AI expert Mehdi Nourbakhsh, Ph.D. and CEO Andy McCune as we explore the benefits of integrating AI software, strategies for staying ahead of the curve, and crucial considerations for successful implementation.

About today's guests:

**Andy McCune **began his career in the consulting engineering industry in 1987 as a graduate engineer. Through the years, he has filled various roles; from project engineer to project manager to group manager to region manager, market segment manager, Chief Operating Officer and now Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board for Wade Trim. These roles have given him the opportunity to work with a wide variety of clients including municipalities, utility authorities, departments of transportation, industrial and commercial entities, energy companies and many more. Andy draws from his 37 years of experience to guide the firm’s strategic focus and business performance. He is invested in continued development of the organization’s ability to be the best team in the business and to maintain a deep technical bench.

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