Share Your Expertise

SMPS Maryland welcomes speakers, panelists, moderators, and subject matter experts who can help our members learn, grow, and stay ahead of change in the A/E/C industry. We are especially interested in practical, engaging programs that provide real takeaways for marketing, business development, communications, leadership, client engagement, and industry collaboration.

Back to Basics: Fall 2026

Building the foundation for a stronger A/E/C marketing and business development career

SMPS Maryland is seeking speakers, presenters, panelists, and experienced professionals to support Back to Basics, a Fall 2026 education series focused on the foundational skills every great A/E/C marketer still needs. This series is designed for emerging marketers, newer business developers, proposal professionals, and anyone looking to strengthen the practical skills that support successful pursuits, stronger marketing materials, and better collaboration across A/E/C firms. We are especially interested in speakers who can lead practical, example-driven sessions on topics such as:

• The Art of the Resume
  Developing stronger staff resumes that communicate relevance, value, and project experience.
• Project Sheets That Actually Tell a Story
  Turning project descriptions into compelling narratives with clear challenges, solutions, and outcomes.
• Beyond Boilerplate: Crafting Win Themes
  Creating pursuit-specific themes that connect client needs, strategy, and team strengths.
• Visual Judgment in A/E/C Marketing
  Strengthening layout, hierarchy, imagery, graphics, and readability in marketing materials.
• Fundamentals of Interview Coaching
  Helping teams prepare for shortlist interviews, presentations, and client conversations.
• Editing for Clarity
  Making technical content clearer, more concise, and more persuasive.
• Marketing Strategy Before Production
  Thinking strategically before creating materials, including audience, positioning, message, and purpose.
• What We Wish We Learned Earlier
  Sharing career lessons, mistakes, and practical advice from experienced marketers, principals, and firm leaders.

Whether you are interested in leading an education session, joining a panel, facilitating a discussion, or sharing lessons from your own experience, your perspective can help newer professionals build confidence and strengthen the skills they need to succeed.

Interested in Supporting Back to Basics?

Submit a speaker proposal at [email protected]. 

Lead an Education Session

Share practical strategies, skills, and takeaways.

Organize a Panel

Share insights with industry peers.

Lead a Workshop

Hands-on learning and practical takeaways.

What We’re Looking For

We welcome program ideas that are timely, relevant, and useful to A/E/C marketing and business development professionals at all career stages. Potential topics include:

• Marketing strategy and planning
• Business development and client relationships
• Proposal strategy, writing, and interviews
• Leadership and career development
• Digital marketing, social media, and content strategy
• AI, technology, and marketing tools
• Market trends and industry intelligence
• Client panels and owner perspectives
• Project tours and behind-the-scenes case studies
• Firm culture, team development, and employee engagement

Who Should Submit

We welcome submissions from SMPS members, firm leaders, clients, consultants, industry partners, and professionals with expertise that would benefit the A/E/C marketing and business development community. You do not need to be a professional speaker to contribute. If you have a practical insight, case study, lesson learned, or meaningful perspective to share, we would love to hear from you.

Speaker Proposal Information

When submitting a speaker proposal, please be prepared to provide:

• Proposed program title
• Brief program description
• Suggested format
• Speaker name, title, firm, and contact information
• Learning objectives or key takeaways
• Target audience or experience level
• Any scheduling considerations
• Any anticipated speaker fees, travel needs, honorarium requests, or other expenses

Help Shape Our Programs

What topics should SMPS Maryland be talking about next? We welcome ideas for future events, workshops, site tours, and panels. If there is a subject, skill, or market trend you would like to explore, we would love to hear from you.

Submit your speaker proposal to [email protected].