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In this episode of the Bold Brand Show host Josh Miles sits down with Michelle Ott, CPSM, Vice President Marketing Operations at JE Dunn Construction, to explore how AI and marketing operations are transforming AEC proposals and firm growth.

Michelle shares an inside look at how one of the nation’s top contractors is rethinking proposal strategy, freeing marketing teams from the constant pursuit treadmill, and using AI to create more scalable, strategic impact.

We discuss:
- How AI is changing AEC proposals (and what won’t change)
- The role of marketing operations in scaling large construction firms
- How AI helps marketing teams focus on strategy instead of production
- What AEC leaders need to understand about the future of marketing

This conversation is a must-watch for AEC marketers, firm leaders, principals, and business development teams who want to modernize their approach to growth without losing what makes their firm competitive.

👤 About Michelle Ott

Michelle Ott, CPSM, is Vice President Marketing Operations at JE Dunn Construction, where she focuses on systems, process, and innovation to help marketing teams work smarter at scale. Her work sits at the intersection of AEC marketing, proposals, operations, and AI. She’s served SMPS in a variety of roles, including SMPS Colorado past president, and last year won the Leonardo Award.

https://jedunn.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-ott-cpsm-16134121/

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Today’s show is brought to you by OpenAsset and Shred.ai.

AEC pursuits are more competitive than ever, and the best firms know it’s not just about what you say, but how you say it.

That’s why leading AEC marketers are turning to OpenAsset, the industry’s go-to platform for managing project photos, staff resumes, and marketing files—all in one easy-to-search place. And now, OpenAsset is even more powerful with Shred.ai, the AI-powered proposal writing tool purpose-built for AEC workflows.

With OpenAsset and Shred.ai, your team can:
- Instantly surface past proposal content
- Draft, edit, and polish responses with AI
- Seamlessly pull in project visuals and resumes
- Eliminate the busywork and focus on the storytelling

Together, they’re transforming how AEC marketers win work: faster, smarter, and with fewer late nights.

✅ Visit https://openasset.com/shred to learn more.

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Connect with us:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuamiles/
https://www.youtube.com/@BoldBrandShow
https://boldbrand.show
https://boldbrand.com
https://instagram.com/boldbrand
https://instagram.com/joshmilescom

#AECmarketing #aecindustry

In this episode of the Bold Brand Podcast, host Josh Miles sits down with Katie Vander Putten, AIA — President and Director of Healthcare at MOA Architecture.

As MOA’s first female president, Katie leads with a people-first, profit-smart philosophy, guiding the Denver-based firm into its next generation of growth. She shares insights on:

• Leading through firm transitions and building a lasting legacy.
• How MOA Architecture continues to thrive across generations.
• The role of women in AEC leadership and the future of firm culture.
• Balancing vision, profitability, and innovation in a competitive market.
• Emerging trends in AI, marketing, and design technology shaping the AEC industry.

🎧 Whether you’re an architect, engineer, or firm leader, this episode offers valuable lessons on leadership, firm growth, and the evolving future of AEC.

📌 About Katie Vander Putten
Katie is the President and Director of Healthcare at MOA Architecture, leading the firm’s strategy, growth, and client experience. She’s been recognized as one of Denver Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 for her leadership and community impact.

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Today’s show is brought to you by OpenAsset and Shred.ai.

AEC pursuits are more competitive than ever, and the best firms know it’s not just about what you say, but how you say it.

That’s why leading AEC marketers are turning to OpenAsset, the industry’s go-to platform for managing project photos, staff resumes, and marketing files—all in one easy-to-search place. And now, OpenAsset is even more powerful with Shred.ai, the AI-powered proposal writing tool purpose-built for AEC workflows.

With OpenAsset and Shred.ai, your team can:

• Instantly surface past proposal content
• Draft, edit, and polish responses with AI
• Seamlessly pull in project visuals and resumes
• Eliminate the busywork and focus on the storytelling

Together, they’re transforming how AEC marketers win work: faster, smarter, and with fewer late nights.

Visit openasset.com/shred to learn more.

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Thank you for joining us today on the Bold Brand Show.

For all of today’s shownotes and links to our sponsors, head over to BoldBrand.Show

Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter, where I’ll update you on the latest episodes and other exciting things happening at Bold Brand.

If you liked today’s episode, do me a favor and share it with a colleague.

Over at BoldBrand.Show you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere you get podcasts, including YouTube—where you can watch full versions of each episode and join the conversation by commenting below.

The Bold Brand Show is produced by yours truly, Josh Miles, and is a product of Bold Brand LLC - a branding and video agency for AEC Firms, based in Denver Colorado.

Visit BoldBrand.com to learn more, or hit that orange button to schedule a time to chat about your branding or video project.

Catch us next time where we chat with another BOLD innovator in the AEC industry.

Thanks for listening. See you next time.

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Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuamiles/
https://www.youtube.com/@BoldBrandShow
https://boldbrand.show
https://boldbrand.com
https://instagram.com/boldbrand
https://instagram.com/joshmilescom

https://www.moaarch.com/
https://www.instagram.com/moaarch_denver/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-vander-putten-b713018/

Subscribe: https://boldbrand.show

On today’s episode, we’re chatting with one of the leading voices in the AEC industry, Evan Troxel.

Evan’s unique career path from practicing architecture to creating one of the AEC industry’s most respected podcasts. Evan shares insights on:

- How architects can think beyond design and embrace storytelling.
- The role of media, technology, and AI in shaping the future of architecture.
- Why curiosity, creativity, and side projects matter for leaders in the AEC industry.
- Overcoming perfectionism and building meaningful work outside traditional practice.

👉 Whether you’re an architect, designer, or AEC leader, you’ll get practical ideas for staying relevant, creative, and connected in a rapidly changing industry.

📌 About Evan Troxel

Evan Troxel is a licensed architect in Oregon and California, founder of TRXL Media, and host of the industry-leading TRXL and Archispeak podcasts, where he interviews the AEC industry's most innovative thinkers. His work sits at the intersection of design, technology, and communication.

He brings over two decades of experience in architecture, education, and digital practice leadership—most recently as Principal and Director of Digital Practice at a 400-person architecture firm. This background gives him a rare blend of real-world leadership experience and deep knowledge of emerging technologies.

Evan's passion lies in helping architecture and design leaders cut through the hype, overcome cultural and technical barriers, and help them adapt and thrive in an evolving industry.

I think I first came across Evan Troxel on the Brand Groupies podcast, as I was doing some early planning for guests on this show, so I’m excited to be having this conversation over a year later!

🎧 Listen to the Bold Brand Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

https://www.trxl.co/
https://www.archispeakpodcast.com/
https://www.trxl.co/trxl/
https://confluence.getavail.com/podcast