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.

Here are a few nuggets that I took away from my first regional conference experience:

• Networking is essential, regardless of your title or years of experience. Networking built in beautifully to the flow of the conference. Engaging with professionals across all levels of seniority and from a variety of AEC companies through well-organized events, facilitated meaningful connections and the ability to learn more about the people around you. To foster both individual and group connections, the conference incorporated events like First Timers Bingo, the Welcome Reception at the Cabin, and Restaurant Roundup, where dinner choices led to disparate group formations.

• Discussions about Artificial Intelligence (AI) were present in every session. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformative power for AEC marketing. Discussions about AI were present in every session, revealing the emerging tools that can streamline data analysis, enhance content creation and strategy, and fundamentally change how we market our services. The imperative for AEC firms to proactively investigate and strategically implement these tools is clear; resilient AEC marketing embraces technology adoption to prepare for change, while grounding our understanding in the essential human element of our work and its real-world impact.

• It is crucial to recharge and know your value for the work you do. The conference underscored the importance of recognizing the individual and collective value of our teams and a vital reminder that fueling our own development as marketers can be done through thoughtful opportunities. By sharing experiences, achievements and stumbling blocks alike, I felt deeply validated and inspired by being part of this community of like-minded professionals. I saw firsthand various avenues for continued growth in the industry and participation within SMPS.

I am grateful to SMPS Colorado for sponsoring my attendance at the conference, and I would encourage anyone in the AEC industry—no matter what point you are in your career or the size of your firm—to apply for the scholarship. I left Park City with a clearer vision for the path ahead. Feeling energized, motivated, informed, and deeply content with the impact we collectively have on the built environment, this conference reaffirmed the significance of a career in AEC marketing.