It's the “Going for Gold” themed title of Jaime Clark Miles’ 2026 SMPS Pacific Regional Conference presentation, a dynamic session intended to guide attendees through a strategic framework for transforming underutilized internal content—like project write-ups, case studies, and event recaps—into high-impact media campaigns that elevate firm visibility and industry leadership.

If you’re still waiting to “see how AI shakes out,” here’s your sign: it already shook. The tools aren’t inching forward by generations; they’re sprinting in short, brutal cycles while your to-do list proliferates and your goals compound. At SMPS AEC.AI Fall 2025 in Denver, Christopher Penn didn’t sell magic (though his magic trick prompt did draw some “oooohs” from the audience); he put us to work—real workflows, real decisions, less theory—sometimes confirming instincts, sometimes flipping the table, always pushing us to ship instead of admire the problem.

And he stuck the landing: AI isn’t your rival; it’s the most eager, overly helpful, occasionally forgetful intern you’ll ever manage. Brilliant once directed, chaotic when left to wander. Treat it like a teammate that can carry weight, not a mind reader, and you stop fearing the shadow and start managing the output.

The 2025 Strike Gold Conference in Park City, Utah, felt like just that-striking gold with a pivotal professional experience. Approaching my sixth year in AEC marketing, the conference provided an overview of the broader industry landscape in 2025. I gained insights from professionals who deeply understand the unique challenges and opportunities in our industry. 

From the intricacies of data visualization, marketing strategy, neuromarketing, and streamlining Word to InDesign to the nuances of team and time management, the regional conference served as a powerful connector in the A/E/C industry. We were all there as AEC marketers, united in our roles, whether we were content strategists, pursuit managers, social media innovators, or technical communicators. Our firms, ranging in size, spanned the Mountain States & Southwest. Throughout the two days, we cultivated a powerful sense of shared perspective, sparking numerous ideas for new tools, and allowing an avenue for insights from people who truly understand what it means to be an AEC marketer. It was inspiring to learn from marketers who continue to push the envelope on creativity and resourcefulness.

After seven years of doing Marketing in the A/E/C industry, I am thrilled to be attending a conference. The Southwest Regional Conference (SWRC), held April 12th through 14th in Santa Fe, New Mexico, will have an assortment of speakers and sessions for anyone at any stage of their career.