Learn from a group of marketing professionals with over 20 years of experience in the AEC industry on how to level up your career, sharpen your in demand skills, transform your marketing department, and advocate for your future success! This thought-provoking panel discussion will explore the careers of three experts who each had a unique trajectory in our industry. 

• Tactics to advance your career from entry-level to senior-level.
• Opportunities for individuals looking for a non-management role.
• Management strategies to encourage your staff to grow within your firm.
• Plans to advocate for the growth of your marketing team.
• Career ladder examples for business development, corporate communications, and proposal development.

Networking will take place before and after the panel discussion to encourage entry- and mid-level staff to connect with potential mentors and firms with larger marketing departments with more defined roles between business development, communications, and proposals.

Invest in yourself and invest in your team with this encouraging and enlightening discussion! 

Agenda

4:30 Networking & Appetizers
5:30 Panel Discussion

Speakers

Amanda Irwin
Marketing Proposal Coordinator
McCormick Taylor

Amanda Irwin has over 10 years of experience in marketing and almost 6 years working on proposals within the AEC industry. Amanda started her career at a Transportation Management Association in Chester County, Pennsylvania where she was exposed to the AEC world and wanted to delve deeper into the industry. Like many marketers in the middle of their careers, Amanda is looking for direction on how to take her career to the next level and continue with her successful journey of proposal development and marketing in the AEC industry.

Lisa Radigonda, Assoc. DBIA
National Strategic Pursuit Manager
Brown and Caldwell

Lisa Radigonda started her career 25 years ago in communications, working at television news stations, in the newsroom, in San Francisco, California. Prior to migrating to the AEC industry, she had various jobs after leaving news: executive assistant, photographer’s assistant, and director of commercial operations for a small real estate appraisal firm. Lisa fell into the world of proposals having done a few for a job placement company and then found a temp-to-hire-position with an AEC firm. Nearly 15 years later, seven of which have been at Brown and Caldwell, Lisa’s career has blossomed into an engaging, non-management trajectory with a firm that embraces flexibility, adaptability, and growth. 

Chrissy Ferrazzano, CPSM
Senior Associate, Business Development Services Manager, Dams and Levees
Schnabel Engineering

Chrissy Ferrazzano, CPSM has more than 25 years of marketing and business development experience in the AEC industry. She has been a member of SMPS since 1999 and has served the SMPS Philadelphia Chapter in many positions. She was President of the Chapter during the 2017-2018 program year. Chrissy began her career with Schnabel in 1997 as an Administrative Assistant and over the last 25 years has held such positions as Marketing Assistant, Proposal Manager, and Marketing Services Manager.  She currently serves as the firm’s Business Development Services Manager for Schnabel’s Dams and Levee business unit. In her current role, Chrissy works with Senior Leadership and leads a team that serves to elevate the client experience.

Sandra Bones, CPSM
Marketing & Communications

Sandra Bones, CPSM has over a decade and a half of experience in the AEC market and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology life sciences industry. She is an active member of SMPS and a Certified Professional Services Marketer.  Sandra has given presentations on promotional activities and social media. She has a broad depth and breadth of experience in all areas of marketing, including strategic marketing and communication planning, media relations, graphic design and branding, and digital and print content creation, including brochures, advertisements, recruiting materials, and qualification packages, photography and videography, social media, award submissions, tradeshow and special events planning, website implementation and management, proposals and presentations, team management, and more. 

Lori Piscopo, PE
Principal
Hunt Engineering Company

Lori Piscopo, PE is a Principal at Hunt Engineering Company with 19 years of experience in the AEC industry.  She started her career as a structural designer and went on to earn her Professional Engineers license and grow into a project management role with projects including Love Park and the University of Pennsylvania’s MOD VII Chiller Plant Expansion. In 2017, she pivoted in her career and took on the role of Business Development Manager, combining her technical expertise with a desire to help evolve the firm through an ownership transition.  In 2019, Lori became a Principal at the WBE/DBE firm and is responsible for Hunt Engineering Company’s marketing and business development efforts as well as corporate growth.

Education