Psm: Professional Services Marketing

Coffman Engineers is known for having some of the most talented, long-standing, happy marketers in A|E|C. And Chad Heimbigner, COO, and Board Director, is part of the reason why. From his heartfelt servant leadership to collaborative partnerships to lifelong learning, Chad embodies the best traits of a strong technical leader who stands by the team. Deirdre, Kate, and Chad talk about what makes a leader advocate and how to build an intentional, positive marketing/BD/leadership culture.   Coffman Engineers is a multidiscipline engineering consulting firm with almost 800 team members in 21 offices across the United States. Chad is also an active volunteer with several community organizations and serves on the University of Idaho Civil and Environmental Engineering Advisory Board.   Resources: Chad Heimbigner - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-heimbigner-96b76131/  Coffman Engineers - www.coffman.com  Gonzaga University, Women Lead Conferences - https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-leadership-studies/le

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to your younger self? Deirdre Booth and Kate Robinette swap professional and personal advice in this fireside chat. If you have advice to share, please post to our social media pages on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram #psmshow! Resources: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, by Emily and Amelia Nagoski (available on Amazon.)  First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently, by Marcus Buckingham (available on Amazon) Citizenship in a Republic (The Man in the Arena), by Theodore Roosevelt Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com 

Two theater kids walk into an AEC firm… Kathryn Ness visits Kayla McCause from Dragonfly AEC and Kate Robinette of GO Strategies about how they apply their performing arts training and experiences to their work in marketing and business development. These three get serious about play and the transferable skills of unusual backgrounds. Enter, stage right. Kayla has a background in theater and worked in corporate marketing, giving her an appreciation of both the art and analytics behind effective marketing strategies. Energetic and inquisitive, she challenges herself to continually learn and improve in work and life, whether through asking powerful questions or experiencing different cultures. With her unique mix of skills and perspectives, Kayla gives AEC firms the tools to expand their influence and grow their revenue. From helping firms grow and diversify their market share to delivering engaging training sessions, she applies a combination of optimism and objectivity that creates connection and drives resu

**Recorded live at the 2024 SMPS Pacific Regional Conference in Portland, Oregon** Ryn (Kathryn) Bennett, MPH, is a non-binary 40 under 40 award winner, world-record-holding strongman competitor, celebrated TEDx and Ignite speaker, and advocate for developing mental toughness. They are the author of Productive Pain, a personal memoir and inspirational guide. With a background in social and behavioral health and process improvement, Ryn's professional career spans industries including tech, healthcare, and engineering/construction. Ryn used the mental fortitude and tenacity they learned in the gym to advance their career and overcome burnout, working from an entry-level process improvement role into a director position. Ryn is a Certified Professional Services Marketer and is nationally ranked as a strongman competitor. They are passionate about helping others develop the mental tenacity and internal strength they need to succeed, no matter the adversity they're facing. The podcast picks up after Ryn's keynot

You've heard of common sense and street sense. Get ready for farm sense, as doled out by SMPS Weld Cox awardee, Donna Corlew, FSMPS, CPSM. Learn how this self-described farm girl got her start, what she sees as the biggest changes in AEC marketing and BD, and what today's marketers can do for themselves to get ahead. Deirdre and Donna bless all the hearts in this uplifting look at our craft.   A native Tennessean, Donna Corlew’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 unique talents and expertise. She works with AEC firms across the country to focus strategic vision and market research, grow connections and chemistry with clients and prospects, and help technical staff and marketing and business development pro

In today’s episode, we have a case study on authentic and intentional leadership. Frank and Deirdre talk with Justin Conger, of Conger Construction, about leadership, decision making, culture, brand, and how marketing impacts a firm.   At the helm of Conger Construction Group, Justin Conger stands as a paragon of transformative leadership. His distinct approach, grounded in the principles of servant leadership, has been the compass guiding the company’s ascent in the construction sector. With the conviction that true leadership stems from serving first, Justin continuously places the needs and professional growth of his team at the forefront. This ethos has not only fostered a culture of mutual respect, trust, and empowerment within Conger Construction Group but has also been instrumental in its sustained business expansion. https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-conger-27636614/    Resource links: Conger Construction: https://www.congerbuilt.com/  Vistage: https://www.vistage.com/  Off Balance, Matthew Kelly: h

Ever wonder what it takes to be a leader? Deirdre and Kathryn explore what leadership means, how to become a leader, and what it takes to go beyond a title to truly lead. They also look behind the curtain on how leadership decisions are made. They bring their education, personal experiences, and practical tips to unlock the secrets of good leadership. As a partner in GO Strategies, Kathryn brings an energy and vitality to the team that significantly promotes the mission of “making everything about marketing and business development easier.” With more than 20 years in the A/E/C industry, Kathryn brings an in-the-trenches perspective for how things work and, more importantly, how things can work better. Her sense of humor is balanced with a sense of getting-the-job done. She is a strategic thinker, an excellent listener, and provides creative solutions that work, not abstract theory that sits on shelves. As a life-long learner, she is a certified professional services marketer (CPSM), certified professional l

What if your project summaries could proactively win work for you? Leslie Blaize, CPSM, is a case study specialist. She's sharing the secrets to making a compelling case study document that speaks to your company, your client, and prospective clients with her 1 case study = 3 wins techniques.   Resources: American Writers and Artists Institute - https://www.awai.com/  Casey Hibbard - https://www.compelling-cases.com/  SMPS Pacific Regional Conference - https://smps-prc.org/    Connect with Leslie Blaize: linkedin.com/in/freelance-writer-architecture-engineering-construction/     AEC Connect newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6947590700544704513    Website: blaizecommunications.com/    blaizecommunications@gmail.com   Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com 

Did you resolve to be better organized or have better follow-through in 2024? Frank and Kate share their tips for staying on top of email, scheduling, and to do items in practical, low key ways.   Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com  

As another year comes to a close, Deirdre and Frank recap highlights of 2023 and expectations for 2024. It's a meaningful look at their professional and personal journeys. There's a little arm-chair market forecasting, a little lessons learned, and a lot of fun in this episode.   Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com  

This is part two of a two-part series on interviews and interview coaching. Professional services marketers work with a team to position for a big pursuit, write a killer proposal and get shortlisted to interview. It’s the last step in the process to winning the pursuit… and, honestly, it can be a lot of fun and/or a lot of work. There are multiple personas involved, lots of moving parts, and lots of pressure. Deirdre Booth and Kathryn Ness are interviewed by Frank Lippert to help marketers set the stage for success with this important job function.   Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com 

This is part one of a two-part series on interviews and interview coaching. Professional services marketers work with a team to position for a big pursuit, write a killer proposal and get shortlisted to interview. It’s the last step in the process to winning the pursuit… and, honestly, it can be a lot of fun and/or a lot of work. There are multiple personas involved, lots of moving parts, and lots of pressure. Deirdre Booth and Kathryn Ness are interviewed by Frank Lippert to help marketers set the stage for success with this important job function.   Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com 

Not sure what retirement holds for you? Or maybe you know someone that's just a little uncertain about what's next for them as they retire from professional services marketing? This podcast is for you. Frank talks to his friend and mentor, Laurin McCracken, who went from professional services marketing legend to one the top watercolor painters in the world in his retirement. This is a fun conversation about figuring out what to do in retirement, how to find fulfillment, and how to put your best professional services marketing skills to use for YOU!   In his first career, Laurin McCracken, FSMPS, was a renowned marketing and business development expert and a transformative leader in the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). Today, Laurin McCracken, AWS, NWS, is a realist watercolorist. His approach to still life painting emulates that of the Dutch and Flemish still life painters of the 16th and 17th centuries. He is a signature member of more than a dozen watercolor societies including the Americ

Meet another TankGirl Marketing team member, Sedona Scheopner! Kate and Sedona talk about transitioning into AEC marketing, staying motivated, achieving balance, and even a little AI on this fun, getting-to-know-you chat.   Sedona brings five years of marketing experience and a lot of enthusiasm to the TankGirl team. She is passionate about learning everything about marketing for the AEC industry. Sedona is engaging and easily connects with people of all backgrounds, ages, and walks of life, making her a natural marketer. Her superpower is her ability to coordinate with teams and clients and she is a GI Jane of All Trades--contributing to proposal management, social media campaigns, graphic design, communications, and pursuit strategy.   Sedona is a member of SMPS Arizona and has a passion for learning. She soaks up training and webinars and brings back the things she learns to share with the TankGirl team.   Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com 

Good research begins with a good framework. In the last episode of our Marketing/BD Plans series, Frank and Kate talk to Sarah Kinard of The Flamingo Project to get the facts about how to build those plans on good research. They talk about defining the use of the data before you start, reframing the questions to get out of the rabbit holes and back on track, and resources to get started.   Sarah Kinard, Head Bird at The Flamingo Project, is a strategic visionary who continues to build her career shaping strategy for professional service firms. Through research, fractional CMO and strategy, she is known as a change agent, tackling challenges with implementation at a scale her clients can handle. Sarah's curiosity, fail-forward/fail-fast approach, and desire to have fun in everything she does, are the hallmarks of how she "does it differently." Sarah served as President of SMPS Dallas, Now North Texas in 2021-2022 and currently serves as Secretary for the SMPS Foundation.   Resources: https://theflamingoproject

As part of our planning series, today we are discussing the ins and outs of Business Development plans. Why do you need one, what do they look like, what do you need to know, and how do you know if you have written a successful plan?   Deirdre interviews Frank about how a BD plan ties into your strategic and marketing plans and most importantly, how they  work together to accomplish great business development.   Rainmaking - by Ford Harding    Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com 

Following up on the case study in Episode 254, we decided that maybe a little back-to-school education on Marketing Plans would be a good idea. This episode talks about what goes into a really good marketing plan, how to create one, get buy-in for it,  implement it, and keep it going through it's lifespan.   Frank interviews Deirdre and they talk about the lessons learned in doing a volume of marketing plans, in-house and as consultants. From marketing plans for expanding into existing markets and services to new market exploration, this podcast covers it all.   The Markendium books mentioned in the podcast are available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4XTZSH8    Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com 

Marketing Plans are a great place where marketers set direction and prove their value. This podcast is a case study of a marketer writing their first marketing plan. We'll talk about the real-life process, the highs and lows, and the outcomes personally and professionally.   Katerina (Kat) Marovich joined Summit Engineering as an administrator and quickly became the firm’s sole marketer. Kat has tackled it all from rebuilding the website, planning and hosting events, and developing the firm’s Marketing and Business Development Plan. Find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katerina-marovich-2638a0142/  Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com 

How do you find balance and success as a department of one? Vicki Menard, Maggie Thornton, and Jodi Sommers share the challenges and advantages of being a solo marketer with guest host, Kate Robinette. Variety is the spice of life.   Vicki Menard is the marketing director for Todd Construction. She has been using her storytelling skills in the construction industry for the past eight years, since transitioning from a long career as a daily newspaper editor and reporter. She is the proud mother of adult identical twin daughters and a descendant of Oregon Trail pioneers. https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickimenard/  www.toddconstruction.com    Maggie Thornton, CPSM, oversees marketing and business development for Westlake Consultants. Her core responsibilities include day-to-day marketing and proposal development, firm communications, business development planning and recruitment efforts, as well as helping to develop company initiatives, practices, and policies. She joined Westlake Consultants in 2010 and was name

This episode goes deep. Frank and Deirdre dive into a question that super-hero author/podcaster/researcher Brene Brown poses: In general, are people really doing the best they can with the tools they have in the moment? So many angles to this, so many take-aways, and so much empathy. Come learn how to be a better human. Resources: The Collaborative Way by Floyd and Jason Fickett (available on Amazon) Brené Brown "Unlocking Us" podcast https://brenebrown.com/podcast-show/unlocking-us/    Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com