EchoEngagement, Indianapolis, IN, US, President and Chief Strategy Officer

Virtual Speaker and Virtual Event Facilitator
The world of meeting and presenting has changed and Zoom has suddenly become a verb.

Maybe you're tired of Zoom meetings and webinars. That's probably because you've already sat through 36, long, boring, sessions with a dozen heads staring back at you.

We've all suffered through boring speakers, been annoyed by bad lighting and terrible sound, and wished we'd had that hour of our lives back.

The good news is that virtual meetings don't have to be terrible. In fact, they can be really good.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, I've helped organizations provide leadership and value to their employees, members, and sponsors.

• Your monthly association meeting doesn't have to be another boring lunch and learn. You can host an interesting and engaging program your members will actually thank you for.

• Your all-company meeting doesn't have to be an hour of dread. You can connect with your team and make them glad they have you at the helm.

• Your annual conference doesn't have to be canceled because of health or economic concerns. You can produce a virtual event that has everyone saying, 'This was the best decision you could have made!'

Even though things may start to open up and people may be headed back to their offices, it's time for you to realize that you can continue to leverage the lessons we've learned during the quarantine. As things return to normal, remember that virtual meetings and events will still be easier to schedule, less expensive to produce, and free of the logistical nightmares you used to face with onsite, in-person events.

I'm here to help you, either as a speaker or a facilitator of your event, because two things that will continue to be in high demand are leadership and value.

Professional Speaker and Podcast Host
EGO VS EMPATHY
As a preview to the upcoming publication, Jeff Echols presents “ego VS empathy: How the stories you’re telling are making you a commodity” from the Keynote stage.

Your audience will embark on a journey, fly-on-the-wall-style, through a collection of conversations with activists, braggarts, candidates, and corporate leaders to see how the words they use and the stories they tell make or break their success and even their ability to lead a movement.

"ego VS empathy" is a must-see for anyone that needs to move people. If you attend ego VS empathy, your customers, employees, shareholders, and volunteers will thank you.

President and CSO (Chief Strategy Officer)
If you look the same, sound the same, and act the same as everyone else, you’re no more relevant than anyone else and you’re certainly considered a commodity.

Your prospects, your employees, and the employees you’re trying to recruit all have lots of options and they’re all asking the same question: “Why should I choose you?”

What’s more, in a world where most company leaders say that a huge percentage of their business comes from repeat clients and referrals, even your best clients are asking, “Why should I continue to choose you?” AND “Why should I refer you to my friends and colleagues?”

They’re all wondering if there’s any reason they should choose you or continue to choose you over one of your competitors.

So whether or not you’re struggling with revenue, talent retention and recruitment, or the client experience that will compel people to not only continue to work with you, but to refer you to others, communicating a clear, concise, and compelling answer to “Why should I choose you?” is critical to the sustainability of your organization.

Helping everyone in your organization answer “Why should I choose you?” is the most important work you can do today.

Revenue Path Group, Indianapolis, IN, US, Managing Principal, A/E/C

Picture this:
Sometime in the next 2 years, a CEO in your city is going to say to the smart speaker in her office: "Alexa, I need a new office building. Who should I call?"

What's Alexa going to say? Will she mention you?

That's the new reality. The screen is becoming the new shortlist.

When you pop up on your prospect's screen beside three or four of your closest competitors are you able to differentiate yourself?

Do your prospects think you look, say, and act the same as your competition?
Are you struggling to win projects you just know should be yours?
Do you feel like you're being commoditized?

When your prospects ask "Why should I choose you?" are you making it easy for them to pick you?

It's important to understand that what it takes to get into the room is not the same as what it takes to win the room.

In order to consistently win more of the projects you really want, you need a little more knowledge of your real prospect’s process, speed, and emotional drivers to a decision. Those who are consistently winning more projects are using brain science to separate from the pack and connect at a visceral level with their audience, whether or not they realize it.

AIA Indiana, Waxhaw, Membership Development Director

I help Architects demonstrate the value of good design and shape a more sustainable future by connecting them with the resources they need to succeed.

Charrette Venture Group, Grinnell, IA, US, Director of Marketing

By understanding the unique value proposition and purpose of Architects and Architecture Firms, I help Charrette Venture Group partners and investments craft and tell engaging stories around their unique passion, purpose and value.

I provide assessment, measurement, strategy and execution of all marketing services under the CVG umbrella of services.

My goal is to help new and growing design firms realize more success through expertly executed marketing plans.

ONE 10 STUDIO Architects, Indianapolis, IN, US, Director of Marketing

As the Director of Digital Marketing for this small startup firm, I developed and executed a Digital Marketing strategy that can be attributed to over $4.25 Million in construction and multiple awards in just four years.

My approach included:
• Development of online and offline networks
• Creation of Social Media platforms
• Content Creation
• Targeted email campaigns

HAUS | The Architecture Studio, Indianapolis, IN, US, Project Manager

I represented the HAUS brand and designed and managed the production and execution of significant, interesting and unique residential and commercial architecture.

WERK | build, Indianapolis, IN, US, Director

When I joined this startup company only a name and business filing existed. I designed and developed a brand and an identity into a successful Architect-led, Construction Management firm.

My responsibilities included:
• Logo Design
• Website Design
• Creation of Marketing Collateral
• Business Development
• Business Management

Weaver Design Group, Indianapolis, IN, US, Designer

Designer and Project Manager for multi-million dollar multi-family, mixed use and 'new urbanist' projects around the Midwestern United States.

HNTB, Indianapolis, IN, US, Practice Leader for Historic Preservation

As the Practice Leader for Historic Preservation I was charged with Business Development and Marketing of preservations services for one of the nation’s largest Architecture and Engineering practices.

My key activities included:
• Building and Managing Project Teams across a nation-wide network of offices
• Representing HNTB at events and conferences
• Offline networking with Preservation Officers in targeted market areas
• Creating Marketing Collateral
• Developing RFP / RFQ Response Packages

2012 AIA Indiana Distinguished Firm Award, Other

AIA Indiana Firm of the Year

2011 Monumental Affair Architecture Honor Award, Other

Lutheran Child and Family Services: Lutherwood is a faith-based residential treatment center for children who are recovering from the effects of abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment. Boys and girls aged 6-21 who are experiencing chronic behavior and/or emotional problems and who may be in danger of hurting themselves or others are housed in this forward thinking facility.

2011 AIA Indianapolis Citation Award, Other

Brand PhotoDesign: The owners of this portrait photography and graphic design business set forth the challenge to the architects to design a new facility within a business technology park just north of Indianapolis.

2011 AIA Indiana Honor Award, Other

Lutheran Child and Family Services: Lutherwood is a faith-based residential treatment center for children who are recovering from the effects of abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment. Boys and girls aged 6-21 who are experiencing chronic behavior and/or emotional problems and who may be in danger of hurting themselves or others are housed in this forward thinking facility.

2011 Great Indy Neighborhoods Initiative Neighbor Power! Connecting Community Award, Other

Awarded for the Irvington Green Initiative's “SkillShare ‘Feast’ival," the group’s 2010 Spirit and Place Festival event that was the largest attended of the Festival’s 2010 offerings.

The group connected communities and organizations by creating an event, in cooperation with over 20 collaborative partners and organizations, that offered 17 “garden to kitchen” skill demonstrations.