AEC marketing and business development are changing fast. In this episode, Deirdre Booth talks with Scott Butcher of Stambaugh Ness about what is reshaping the work today and what leaders need next. They cover the talent crunch, the “missing middle,” and why environmental scanning belongs in every plan. They discuss practical uses of AI, how early adopters are already productizing tools, and what happens when firms delay. Scott makes the case for true marketing leadership at the table, not just a new title, and offers a six month playbook that focuses on three use cases for AI, stronger BD and marketing alignment, and a habit of testing and learning. The conversation closes with clear risks of waiting, including loss of relevance and recruiting challenges, and a reminder that agility wins when conditions shift.
Scott Butcher is a highly experienced consultant, marketer, and thought leader in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. He works with firms to strengthen their strategic, marketing, and business development practices, delivering actionable ideas, recommendations, and training in areas such as:
✔ Strategic Planning
✔ Business Development Strategy
✔ Marketing Plans
✔ Seller-Doer Model
✔ Communication and Soft Skills
✔ Fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Services
✔ Outsourced Marketing
With a career dedicated to professional services, Scott has authored 15 books on marketing, AEC, architecture, photography, and local interest. He has also written numerous ebooks, white papers, and several hundred articles for AEC media and websites. His blog Marketropolis, published on Engineering News-Record (ENR.com), remains the only sales and marketing blog on that platform.
Scott is a sought-after speaker who has delivered more than 300 presentations for national, regional, and local programs of organizations including SMPS, AIA, ACEC, AGC, CMAA, PSMJ, ROG, SDA, NCSEA, ASCE, PSLS, NFMT, USGBC, and IFMA. A certified marketing professional since 1993, he is a Fellow of the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) and has served on the SMPS national board of directors as well as Trustee and President of the SMPS Foundation.
His leadership experience spans founding Aecumen and guiding marketing and business development efforts for Nutec Group and JDB Engineering. Over the course of his career, he has held roles as founder, principal, owner, chief marketing officer, vice president, marketing director, and project manager. Today, Scott partners with AEC firms across the country in advisory and training capacities to help them achieve measurable business success.