Amplify AEC: Building Community and Careers for Marketing Professionals

Every year, the best marketers in the AEC industry gather for Amplify AEC, an SMPS conference dedicated to learning, networking, and making lasting connections.

I am an account manager for Third & Arch as well as a seasoned marketer for the AEC industry. My experience includes acting as the Director of Marketing for two architectural firms, running a branding agency that also served the AEC industry, and full time architectural photography. I am also a member of the Seattle chapter of SMPS (Society for Marketing Professional Services).

I’ve been a member of SMPS for several years and served as the Membership Director for SMPS Portland. Prior to living in Seattle, I had moved to Portland from where I grew up in rural Central Oregon. I didn’t know anyone and was out of my element in the city. Joining SMPS put acclimation on the fast track and I soon felt like I was a part of the community.

Like we’ve been hearing a lot lately with AI, your input shapes your output. I joined a committee right away and volunteered at nearly every event. I lead a workshop. I became invested in the organization–and it invested in me.

Third & Arch had the opportunity to sponsor the 2024 Amplify AEC conference in Salt Lake City and I attended with our founder and CEO, Greg Henry.

This was my first SMPS conference, and I left feeling so proud to be a part of this incredible organization. The sessions were delivered by remarkable speakers, the topics were relevant and interesting, and the networking opportunities immeasurable. One of the things I found most inspiring was the entrepreneurial spirit that drives so many of the professional marketers that I met.

Although they may not be business owners, I talked with several individuals who had carved their own path. Whether they had pitched their own position or been trusted with autonomy in their roles, each of them took ownership of their career and service commitments with the diligence and vision of seasoned entrepreneurs.

One of the things I found most inspiring was the entrepreneurial spirit that drives so many of the professional marketers that I met. We talked about what it meant to be a unicorn or a pack mule–the bricklayer or the architect over our lives and careers. We learned how this shift in thinking about our roles can empower us to make choices that compliment our passions, and allow us to spend more time in the flow state where the work we produce carries the greatest impact.

Amplify AEC super charged the lessons I’ve learned along the way, and introduced me to new concepts and trends that will shape the way I do business moving forward.

In 2023, I had the honor of being a juror for the Marketing Communication Awards. As much effort went into that role, I know it’s only a small fraction of the overall work and coordination that goes into putting these incredible conferences together. Congratulations to the 2024 MCA winners and finalists. The jurors had their work cut out for them this year!

Thank you to SMPS HQ and to all the chapter directors and volunteers whose incredible dedication yielded a learning and growing experience we will not soon forget.