#93: An AEC Marketer's Path to Principal
Only a small handful of marketing and business professionals hold positions as principals and owners of AEC firms, yet we have the specialized skills and professional backgrounds to thrive and benefit our firms in these roles.
I have two guests today, Adam Kilbourne, FSMPS, CPSM and Leah Boltz, who have spent time interviewing a dozen principals around the country to help clear the path for those that are looking to pursue this career goal. They hope these interviews will encourage other non-technical professionals and AEC marketers to their career goal of Principal.
And in today’s episode, they are willing to share some of their findings with you, to help make your path to principal a little less muddy!
Here are some highlights from the episode:
- Adam’s path to Principal: 2:12
- Leah’s path to Principal: 6:08
- Benefit of non-technical Principal (Leah): 13:01
- Benefit of non-technical Principal (Adam): 15:09
- What does it mean to be owner (Adam): 16:44
- What does it mean to be owner (Leah): 19:36
- Lindsay’s advice as a former Principal: 22:33
- Path to Principal (Leah): 24:13
- Path to Principal (Adam): 26:32
- Adam’s #1 piece of advice for new marketers: 28:07
- Leah’s #1 piece of advice for new marketers: 29:04
Leah Boltz, Bettisworth North
Leah leads marketing, branding, communications, community outreach, business development, and client service at Bettisworth North. Leah holds a degree in Journalism and Public Communications from the University of Alaska Anchorage, was named a Top 40 Under 40, and is Past President of Anchorage Rotary. She co-founded the SMPS Alaska Chapter, is a Fellow and CPSM, and helped create SMPS MAX. Her background includes 20 years of experience in community outreach, business leadership, management, and marketing.
Adam Kilbourne, FSMPS, CPSM, President, Tec Inc.
Adam has taken a long and winding path from IT to Marketing to President of Tec Inc. An accomplished speaker and photographer, he has been active in SMPS for 15+ years and was recognized as a Fellow in 2016. He has presented at numerous chapters, regional and national conferences for SMPS and the A/E/C industry. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University at Galveston and has been at Tec Inc. for 21 years.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Rate, Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
“I love Lindsay and Marketers Take Flight.” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — fly through the proposal turbulence and have their careers take off. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I add secret bonus episodes to the feed often, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!
