Service Partners

Creating clear marketing in the fiercely competitive design and construction industry is hard enough. And creating compelling messages and professional communications can feel daunting. Not only that – how are you supposed to know all the leading practices for strategy, messaging, persuasion, and readability? Barbara Shuck, FSMPS, CPSM gets it. It IS a lot to think about, and you shouldn’t have to worry about it. It’s why she uses more than 40+ years of architectural/engineering/construction (AEC) and entrepreneurial marketing expertise to help clients focus on what they do best: deliver superior design and construction services to valuable owners and end users. Barbara helps clients with internal communication and initiatives, and external efforts that win work through compelling and persuasive content and messaging. She also does AEC mentoring: advising, educating, and coaching small teams and individuals. She has expertise in marketing research, planning, business development, proposals, promotions, and management.

THE FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE. WHAT’S NEXT IS NOW. Not only do we LOVE technology and strategy, but we know how it applies to every aspect of an AEC firm. From design and technical staff to digital and IT solutions and all of the internal support services like HR, Accounting, CRMs, Facilities, Legal, Marketing, BD, and Finance. AI is a marathon. So how do you start the race? Simple, hire JAM. • We start your firm off right with AI First Steps. • We educate and train your staff. • We prepare your leadership on oversight, tools, and implementation. • We can be your in-house resource team. Consider us the best guides to navigate you through the great AI unknown. We've got you. We are up-to-date on all the AI tools, strategies, technologies, apps, programs, extensions, and platforms that can make your jobs easier, more successful, and definitely more interesting. And more importantly, the "why" behind every single one. You can do something right now to get ahead of this AI revolution. So, do it. ________________________________________________________________________ Kristin Kautz, FSMPS, CPSM AI Strategist | Consultant | Speaker | Trainer Kristin Kautz is a nationally recognized expert in artificial intelligence strategy and digital transformation, with a deep understanding of its implications for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. As a Fellow of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (FSMPS) and a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM), she has spent her career at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and industry leadership. She specializes in AI education, change management, and strategic implementation (AI First Steps), helping firms navigate both the opportunities and challenges AI presents. Her Minds & Machines symposiums, AI IQ Community, and AI consulting services are designed to equip firms with the knowledge and frameworks they need to integrate AI effectively and competitively. Kristin is known for her no-nonsense, direct, insightful approach—cutting through the hype to deliver practical, industry-specific strategies. Her work goes beyond tools and trends; she also focuses on the bigger operational shifts AI is bringing to firms, from decision-making and workforce transformation to contracts and value differentiators. With a true talent for making complex topics accessible and actionable, Kristin's techno-optimism will inspire you to think critically, act now, and stay ahead in this new era of AI-driven business.

LecoursDesign is a branding and digital marketing agency helping only A/E/C firms attract great clients and talent. Clients hire us because: 1. Our 100% focus on A/E/C firms since 1995. 2. We have an elite team of senior professionals with 20+ years of experience. There’s no bait-and-switch handoff to junior staff doing the work. 3. Clients enjoy the process. We are obsessed with project management efficiency and making our time together fun and productive. Our services: 1. Strategy - marketing and brand audits that typically begin with a Discovery & Recommendations engagement. 2. Branding - brand foundation, naming, messaging, and visual identity. 3. Digital Marketing - primarily website design & development

Red Yellow Blue is a specialist technology strategy consultancy dedicated to empowering Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms to become future-ready through strategic technology alignment. We bridge the gap between business objectives and IT capabilities, ensuring technology investments drive measurable value and sustainable competitive advantage. Our structured Tech Strategy Review addresses the core challenges faced by mid-market AEC firms—helping them clarify strategic alignment, enhance IT delivery, leverage data effectively, optimize team capabilities, manage vendor relationships strategically, refine service delivery, and strengthen cyber security frameworks. Unlike traditional consultancies, we don't simply deliver theoretical advice; our approach is pragmatic, collaborative, and focused on tangible outcomes. Led by experienced technology executives with deep industry-specific insights, our team works alongside your executives and IT leaders to build robust, future-focused technology environments that support innovation, agility, and growth.

We help AEC firms find their voice, sharpen their look, and win more work with marketing that actually gets noticed—and gets results. From transforming dry, data-heavy RFPs into persuasive page-turners to giving your brand the glow-up it deserves, we bring clarity, creativity, and strategy to everything we touch. But it’s not just about the pretty stuff (though we do love a good layout). We’re obsessed with making the proposal and marketing process more efficient, effective, and way less stressful. Think fewer fire drills and more “why didn’t we do this sooner?” moments. That means building smart templates, style guides, and streamlined workflows that save your team time and headaches. And because we believe great marketing shouldn’t live in a silo or rely on one superstar, we also empower your team through customized training. Whether it’s leveling up InDesign skills, getting everyone fluent in brand voice, or demystifying the proposal process, we turn your team into confident, capable creative pros. We’re the behind-the-scenes creative crew you didn’t know you needed—strategic, stylish, and just the right amount of scrappy. At Shaffer Creative, we mix storytelling, design, and process smarts to turn marketing mayhem into magic.

I help leaders and teams talk like humans so they can actually lead like humans. You care about your team and your results. You want collaboration, accountability, less drama, more trust. But your meetings are awkward, your feedback lands sideways, and people are stuck playing communication Jenga. One passive-aggressive email away from collapse. That’s where I come in. I coach leaders and teams to say the hard things in honest ways. To stop avoiding, sugarcoating, or blowing up—and start leading conversations that create alignment, trust, and momentum. Because vague communication costs you money. And time. And sanity. This isn’t therapy. It’s not fluff. It’s leadership training that works in the real world—built on behavioral psychology, communication strategy, and one simple truth: clarity wins. I’ve worked with billion-dollar brands and small family businesses. CEOs, civil engineers, healthcare execs, and people who’d rather do anything than have one more “team-building” session. I get them to open up, laugh, think differently, and do the work. My programs blend workshops, 1-on-1 coaching, and culture strategy to cut through the noise and fix what’s not working. People actually use the tools I teach. The results? Leaders stop playing HR babysitter. Teams start acting like grownups. Communication becomes a strength, not a liability. Most leadership problems are communication problems wearing a costume. So if you’re tired of watching smart people underperform because no one knows how to talk to each other. If your culture is quietly eroding under nice emails and fake alignment, I’m your guy. I bring the hard truths, the awkward questions, and the practical tools to get your team unstuck. Let’s kill the drama, ditch the confusion, and build a culture that actually works.

At Smartegies, we are strategic thinkers who bring clarity to complex business challenges and elevate your firm's competitive position. Whether planning for geographic expansion, automating your sales and marketing infrastructure, or nailing your next interview, this is what we do. Every day. For firms just like yours.

Visual23 is a boutique web studio specializing in custom WordPress development, seamless OpenAsset integrations, and performance-focused digital solutions. With over 25 years of experience, we craft tailored websites and plugins that blend exceptional design with robust functionality. We are highly experienced with the OpenAsset Connector (WordPress plugin) and the OpenAsset API, enabling marketing and AEC teams to streamline asset management, automate workflows, and enhance site performance. Whether you need a full site build or custom integration, Visual23 helps your digital presence work smarter and look better.