Do you ever feel like you are the only ones in your firm responsible for developing new business? Are your seller-doers great at doing but not so much at selling? While you are continually communicating the value of your firm and why it is the best choice for your clients, BD may be a passing thought for many of the client-facing team members of your team.

Bringing in more business always your end goal; you live and breathe it. Unfortunately, it isn't always top-of-mind of your Engineers, Architects, Construction Managers. 

In this interactive session you will come away with ideas for taking the "selling" out of the team's BD efforts by making it more natural. 

The SMPS Twin Cities chapter welcomes and encourages participation from diverse backgrounds. A 15% discount is available for members of DBE, WBE, MBE, VBR, and LGBTBE firms. Please contact [email protected] for your discount code prior to registration.

Schedule:
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Networking and Lunch (for in person attendees only)
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Presentation

Who Should Attend:
Firm Principals + Leadership
Business Development + Sales Staff
Marketing Director + Manager

Learning Objectives:

1. Enhance Business Development Mindset – Help client-facing professionals integrate BD into their daily interactions by making it a natural extension of their work, rather than a separate task.
2. Strengthen Communication & Relationship-Building – Equip teams with strategies to confidently network, engage potential clients, and communicate their firm’s value persuasively in conversations, proposals, and presentations.
3. Improve Interview & Proposal Effectiveness – Provide practical techniques for coaching interview teams, refining shortlist presentations, and using visuals to create compelling and memorable client interactions.

SMPS Domains of Practice (for CPSM) - 1 total credit
3 - Client and Business Development

About the Speaker

Laurie Currell, Senior BD and Marketing Consultant at SagePresence
Laurie Currell is a veteran marketer, leader, trainer, and coach with a career dedicated to helping Marketing and BD professionals communicate confidently and persuasively. For over 30 years, she has trained and coached professional services marketers and seller-doers to attract clients. Since joining SagePresence in 2020, she has helped AEC professionals craft impactful messaging for networking, proposals, BD conversations, and shortlist interviews. Laurie earned her Speech Communications degree from the University of Minnesota and has lived in the Twin Cities since. After a successful SMPS Wisconsin workshop in October 2024, she is honored to present to the local SMPS Chapter.

Please note that the virtual login information will be sent to registrants the day before the event. In addition, this program will be recorded. The program recording and any presenter material will be shared with registrants after the event. If you have any registration questions, please reach out to [email protected].

By registering for this SMPS-TC event, you give permission for SMPS-TC to use any photographs or videos taken at the event on its website, social media, or in promotional materials without compensation. You also understand that SMPS-TC owns all photographs and videos taken at the event.