Student + A/E/C

Scott D. Butcher, FSMPS, CPSM has spent several decades working to elevate the perception of marketing and business development in the built environment. As the former chief marketing office and principal for a group of integrated AEC companies, he successfully navigated the path to firm leadership and ownership before becoming a consultant. Today Scott is Managing Director, Strategic Growth Advisory for Stambaugh Ness, working to drive strategy across AEC firms while improving marketing and BD acumen through intentional planning and meaningful training. Scott is a regular presenter to AEC organizations, having given more than 250 presentations, including keynotes, to such audiences as SMPS, AIA, ACEC, AGC, CMAA, NCSEA, SDA, PSMJ, ROG, and many others, He also is an avid writer, having written more than 250 blogs and articles for AEC audiences as well as more than a dozen books. He is a Fellow of SMPS and has held a professional marketing certification for 30 years. 

Jeffrey Taub, FSMPS, CPSM, is the Senior Vice President for corporate marketing, planning, and strategy at AKRF, Inc. He is a National Fellow of the Society for Marketing Professional Services, a Certified Professional Services Marketer, and a longtime volunteer for chapter, regional, and national SMPS committees and working groups. Jeffrey chairs the SMPS National Fellows Committee and SMPS New York Mentoring Program, co-authored MARKENDIUM Domain 2, and is a frequent speaker, moderator, and author on professional marketing in the AEC industries.

Janki DePalma is the Director of Business Development at W.E.O'Neil Construction, with over 20 years of experience in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. She’s a connector at heart who believes there always is room to widen the circle and give people a sense of belonging. Her work focuses on helping the smart, hardworking people at her firm connect with others in the industry.  

She is a proud graduate from the University of California, Davis with a dual degree in Comparative Literature and Japanese, though her love of reading began early in the stacks of her hometown public library. Janki is a frequent speaker and writer on topics such as networking, business development, emotional intelligence, and diversity in the AEC industry.

She is the past-president of the Austin chapter of SMPS, was awarded Chapter President of the Year in 2023 and inducted into the 2024 class of Fellows.  She has been a board member for AIA Austin for the last 4 years, has chaired WIA’s Call to Action college outreach for the last 4 years, and is the chair for the AIA Leadership Collective. 

A San Francisco native, Janki cheers for the Warriors, 49ers and now the Purdue Boilermakers.  In her spare time, she loves relaxing with her family and dreams of writing a novel one day.  She also loves talking about all things 90s, especially Seinfeld and Veronica Mars.

Diane Gillman serves as VHB’s Mid-Atlantic Marketing Director, bringing more than 15 years of experience to the organization. Well-known for her exceptional problem-solving skills and innovative approach, Diane has been a pivotal leader and mentor within the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Her expertise has empowered technical practitioners and marketers to execute creative and technically robust projects, while simultaneously bolstering the region's market and client focus teams. As Regional Marketing Director, Diane spearheads the regional marketing organization, driving strategic decision-making and championing business development initiatives. She is an active member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services and earned her Certified Professional Services Marketer certification in 2016.

Jen McGovern, FSMPS, CPSM, is the Mid-Atlantic Regional Capture Manager for VHB, a 2,200-person engineering, planning, and environmental science firm with 30+ offices along the East Coast. With extensive editing, writing, and marketing experience, she fell into the AEC industry in 2012 and found a passion for proposals and infrastructure projects. From capture strategy to positioning to proposal messaging, Jen has provided hundreds of hours of training , helping marketers and seller-doers win more work. Jen is a past president (and current Chapter Advisor) of the SMPS Washington, DC, chapter and serves on the Editorial Committee for the SMPS Marketer journal. She achieved her CPSM designation in 2015 and was recognized as a Fellow of the Society in 2025.

As the energetic founding principal of BRANDiac Strategies, Stacy Stout knows a thing or two about enthusiastically building business, relationships, and brands. With more than 28 years of experience in brand strategy and marketing communications, Stacy has built integrated communications strategies for a variety of businesses in the built environment, real estate, technology, transportation, and personal care industries. Stacy‘s expertise is in transforming brand experience and driving brand relevance to help businesses continue to grow and evolve. No matter where clients roam, Stacy is an expert at wrangling the focus to marketing strategy and outcomes.

In addition to earning her bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Colorado, Stacy is a past president of the Society for Marketing Professional Services Colorado Chapter, is a recipient of the Leonardo award, served on the Society board as a Director-at-Large and was named a fellow of the organization in 2014. When she’s not busy developing brands or volunteering for her favorite marketing organization, she fills her time hanging with her kids (“they’re super cool people!”), enjoying cocktails with friends, or conquering new hiking trails across the country.

Kathleen Held, CPSM, is the CEO and President of Cini-Little International, Inc., a global leader in foodservice, waste, and laundry consulting.  Kathleen rose through marketing and business development roles, bringing a marketing-led approach to the firm’s leadership. Since becoming CEO in 2020, she has modernized operations, expanded geographic reach,  added talent across the world and strengthened company culture. Kathleen also serves as President of the FCSI Educational Foundation, where she helped launch the FEED workshop and the first Foodservice Design Certificate at Western Kentucky University. Known for her empathetic leadership and strategic vision, she champions growth through branding, partnerships, and thought leadership.

Keelin is a creative thinker and problem solver with a focus on thoughtful interactions throughout the A/E/C industry. She is invested in marketing efforts that produce smart strategies and help her teams serve their communities. She is the owner of Adiuvo Marketing and the host of the AEC Marketeer podcast that explores A/E/C marketing and beyond.