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THE PODCAST FOR AEC MARKETERS
The PSM Show is the podcast for AEC marketers, business developers, leaders, technical staff, consultants, and clients who want to peek behind the curtain on what makes great architecture, engineering, construction, and specialty firms tick. While the focus is usually marketing and business development, we don’t shy away from the burning or difficult topics that affect our industry. We seek out practical advice from people who are making magic or making waves, with the intent of helping you make it all work better and easier.
252: Being a Better Human
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.
251: Getting Motivated When the Energy Isn’t There, but the Deadline Is
This episode talks about the grind and figuring out how to get the job done even when it it’s the last thing you want to do. Deadlines are real, job performance matters, and sometimes people suck. You’re stuck. We’ve been there, let’s unstick it.
250: Super Moms Part 2
Recorded earlier this year during the week ahead of Mother’s Day, Frank and Faith talk to two of the Super Moms in our network. In Part 2 of our Super Moms series, they talk to Bethany Rustic Smith of Energy Systems Group (ESG). Bethany offers great advice on managing a career at full-throttle and making time for three kids. The conversation is rich with relationship advice, parenting ups and downs, and real-life wisdom.
Bethany Smith, FSMPS, CPSM, is a 25-year construction industry veteran, having built her Marketing and Corporate Communication career with construction giants Messer Construction Co. and Turner Construction Co. Now embarking on a new challenge, Bethany has taken the role of Strategic Marketing Leader at ESG where she leads the company’s marketing and communication efforts throughout the country.
Bethany is a graduate of the Cincinnati Chamber’s “We Lead” program and was named one of Cincinnati’s Forty Under 40 by the Cincinnati Business Courier. In April of 2005 during her term as President of the SMPS Greater Cincinnati Chapter, she received the Certified Professional Services Marketer designation from the Society of Marketing Professional Services, and in 2014 was named a Fellow – one of her most prized accomplishments.
249: Super Moms Part 1
Recorded earlier this year, the week ahead of Mother’s Day, Frank and Faith talk to two of the Super Moms in our network. The first conversation is with Jennifer Hebblethwaite who demonstrated all the stages of mom-ness for her two daughters. She talks candidly and honestly about some of the struggles with going back to work and the seasons of life we all experience. Part 1 of our Super Moms series.
As a principal and Director of Storytelling at Page, Jennifer’s goal is to expand the firm’s impact by capturing, developing, and sharing narratives that inspire and excite employees and clients, reinforcing brand messaging across every platform. She is a rogue academic at heart. She has spent 10 years in academia teaching everything from playwriting and storytelling to MBA Leadership/Communication on an undergraduate and graduate level. As a self-proclaimed “arbiter of good,” she hopes to create harmony between internal messaging, marketing, communications, business development, and the work Page’s teams create.
248: Difficult Conversations
How to use the bluntness from Episode 247 to have difficult conversations – whether with your boss, your coworkers, your staff, or your client.
247: On Being Blunt
On this episode, Frank and Deirdre talk about communicating directly. They dive into how to manage reactions to it, how to deal with the consequences, how to use bluntness for good versus evil, and the gift of honesty.
Recommended reading:
Radical Candor, by Kim Scott – available on Amazon
246: Curating Dynamic Experiences and Staying Strong
Frank and Deirdre talk with Marci Thompson, SMPS’ Chief Strategy Officer, about what happens behind the scenes to deliver great events like SMPS Amplify AEC and the Pinnacle Experience. As usual, the conversation goes deep and Marci gets real about how things happen, about change, and about keeping your head above water when you’re in rough seas. It’s an entertaining and thoughtful (as well as thought-provoking) conversation.
245: A Seller-Doer’s Relationship-Building Journey
Ryan Konst has spent the last 20+ years in the AEC industry, all with Schaefer. He started out as an engineering co-op and went full-time as an engineer upon graduating from the University of Cincinnati. He moved through the engineering ranks and into a leadership position focusing primarily on strategy, planning, and revenue generation. In his current role as executive vice president for Schaefer, he is responsible for guiding the firm’s strategic growth and vision for the future. He started as a structural engineer and quickly realized that to grow the company and his career, he needed to learn and do more on the business of bringing in business. Thus began his journey into business development, nurturing client relationships, and creating a valuable network. Frank, Kate, and Ryan talk about Ryan’s journey and his success through relationship building.
244: 2023 Recruiting Part 2: Your Employer Brand Matters
Part 2 on our discussion about recruiting best practices, we shift the focus from job postings to using the company brand in the recruiting effort and what that means. Rachel Kennedy combines her background in recruiting and a love of marketing together to help growing businesses attract the right talent. Deirdre, Kathryn, and Rachel talk about the four Ps of recruiting success, the commonalities between marketing and recruiting, generational differences of candidates, and building a beautiful candidate experience.
243: 2023 Recruiting Part 1: Why your job postings aren’t working
Katrina (Kat) Kibben is an award-winning writer and keynote speaker known for helping hiring teams write inclusive, unbiased job postings that help them hire the right person faster. Before founding Three Ears Media, Katrina was a CMO, Technical Copywriter, and Managing Editor for leading companies like Monster.com, Care.com, and Randstad Worldwide. Today, Katrina is frequently featured as an HR and recruiting expert in publications like The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Forbes. She spoke at the SMPS Pinnacle Experience in November 2022, and what she shared about writing effective job postings was so profound, we had to get her on the podcast.
242: Career Path Pt 7: Nerding out to find your way in A/E/C
In this final episode of the Career Path series, Frank interviews Kristi Bigelow, Marketing Manager at TankGirl, about her career development experience in A/E/C. Self-proclaimed engineering nerds, Frank and Kristi discuss the more interesting aspects of civil works projects and how to develop relationships and work more effectively with technical experts.
241: Now Presenting: Tips from the Trade
Dean Hyers’ background is almost stranger than fiction. He’s worked as a film director, coached courtroom presence, developed closing arguments for trials, and taught acting to covert government agents. Troy Parkinson has his own arts-to-AEC journey as a film producer for Discovery Health and the History Channel and the Director of Production for the Minnesota film commission. Now they teach, coach, and inspire AEC professionals to win more business by maximizing their confident presence. Dean and Troy chat with Kate Robinette about team unity, authenticity, culture, theater, film, and more leading up to their keynote address at SMPS Southeast Regional Conference 2023.
240: The Art of Compassion and Empathy
Cylk Cozart is a renaissance man — an actor, director, producer, writer, and basketball player with a genuine passion for living. His life’s journey hasn’t always been an easy one, but his resilience, determination, and kindness have become his approach to everything. Cylk will be a keynote presenter at the March 2023 SMPS Southeast Regional Conference, speaking on The Art of Compassion and Empathy Shared Through Film. Join Deirdre Gilmore and Kathryn Ness as they share stories, hear some life lessons, and get inspired by Cylk.
239: The Difference Between Try and Triumph is Just a Little “Umph”
The longest journey by motorcycle in a single country by an individual is 132,928 km (82,598 mi) and was achieved by Dana D’Arcy in the USA, from 3 April 2022 to 5 August 2022. Dana discovered this Guinness World Record in 2016 and set a personal goal to beat it. But it wasn’t until around 2018 that she felt she could even attempt it. Unfortunately because of the pandemic, she had to wait until 2022. In August of 2022, she rode over 80,000 miles in 125 days on a 2020 Harley Davidson Road Glide Limited. Listen in as Deirdre gets the full story and inspiration from Dana. Lesson learned: you can do hard things.
238: Friend Hat/Boss Hat
In our best jobs, we have friends at work. But what happens when one of your friends becomes your boss? Or what happens when you and your boss start to become friends? Listen in as Frank and Kate talk about the one tool that helped them preserve the friendship and the working relationship over the years.

Deirdre Booth, FSMPS, CPSM
President + Lead Strategist, TankGirl Marketing
Founded in 2011, Deirdre Booth is the President + Lead Strategist of TankGirl Marketing. Strategy First, this is where Deirdre lives and breathes. She is always thinking about the bigger picture and how we can move your goals down the battlefield to the win. She is intimately involved in every project, lending her 20 years of AEC marketing experience across the nation.
Deirdre has the unique ability to take high-level ideas and develop solid strategies for success. Whether it is creating and implementing a strategic vision, or digging deep to win a specific project, she ensures the team is always ready for battle with the right strategy to execute the plan. For over 20 years she has focused on business /marketing planning, strategic project pursuits, and supporting firms through the implementation of the tactics needed for success.
GUEST HOSTS

Kate Robinette, CPSM
Partner, GO Strategies
Kate Robinette, CPSM, is a partner at GO Strategies, LLC. Her superpower is combining marketing and business development with people management and leadership. This wild mix unlocks employee engagement, potential, and growth. She is the creative force behind GO Strategies’ Dynamic Workplaces®, turning the same skills that help build meaningful relationships with external customers to improve the employee experience and company culture. Kate helps people work smarter, have more fun, and reach their goals.

Kathryn Ness, CPSM, CPLC
Partner, GO Strategies
Kathryn is a partner with GO Strategies, LLC. and brings energy and vitality to her clients that promotes the mission of “making everything about marketing and BD easier.” With 20+ years in the A/E/C industry, Kathryn brings an in-the-trenches perspective on how things work and how things can work better. She is a Certified Professional Life and Work Coach and has been trained as a Working Genius facilitator. Her sense of humor is balanced with a sense of getting the job done. Kathryn has presented at conferences and for SMPS chapters, regional conferences, and other A/E organizations.
Hosts Emeriti

David Lecours
Principal, LecoursDesign
David Lecours helps Architecture / Engineering / Construction (A/E/C) firms attract and retain great clients and talent. He is Principal at LecoursDesign, a branding, and digital marketing consultancy.
David has been a TEDx presenter and speaks at conferences worldwide. David is also passionate about surfing, pickleball, and succulents.

Josh Miles
Consultant and Fractional CMO
Josh Miles is a brand-obsessed consultant, keynote speaker, and caffeine addict. Josh is the author of Bold Brand 2.0, a veteran of the TEDx stage, and hosts Obsessed Show andPSM.Show podcasts.
Josh is a long-standing advocate for bacon, loves to cook keto, hit the gym, and photograph new places in his travels.

Frank Lippert, FSMPS, CPSM
Founder/Partner, GO Strategies
Frank Lippert, FSMPS, CPSM, is the founder/partner of GO Strategies, LLC. He provides strategic pursuit planning, strategic market capture planning, and functional seller/doer training to clients throughout the US. Frank is all about helping teams work more effectively and more efficiently with processes, schedules, and tools that keep A/E/C firms’ business development strategy and marketing efforts on track. He has worked at small, medium, large, and mega-sized engineering companies in his 30 years in the A/E/C industry. He speaks regularly at SMPS, ACEC, WTS, APWA, and SAME conferences. Frank has served as the SMPS Society chapter delegate and Society president. He has been recognized as an SMPS Fellow (FSMPS) and is a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM).
Frank’s infectious energy, humor, and storytelling makes learning about marketing and business development fun, engaging, and memorable.
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