5 Questions with an Expert: Stephanie Jude on Building a Career in AEC Marketing
Stephanie Jude, Clark Nexsen’s Marketing Manager for the Community and Culture and Education markets, has spent 26 years navigating the complexities of AEC marketing. Known for her strategic mindset, commitment to continuous learning, and dedication to mentoring the next generation of marketers, she champions a relationship-driven approach, which has shaped how Clark Nexsen tells stories and connects with clients. We sat down with her to discuss building a career in AEC marketing, what makes the field unique, and where it’s heading next.
1. How would you describe your background, and what brought you to the AEC marketing industry?
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English, I’d envisioned a job in book or magazine publishing. However, I had a friend reach out to me about a marketing position for a large design firm in the Washington D.C. area. The firm wanted someone with a strong writing background, and I successfully landed the role after an intense interview process.
At the time, I knew very little about the AEC industry. In the earlier years of my career, I absorbed as much information as I could. I even bought an architectural dictionary so I could speak the language of the technical teams. That eagerness to learn had an immense impact on my career. I’ve now had the opportunity to work at firms across the industry and accumulate knowledge from diverse disciplines. The understanding that I’ve gained has not only helped me create successful proposals but also strengthened my connections and deepened relationships with technical staff, industry experts, and marketing professionals across the industry.
2. How would you describe AEC marketing to a person who is not familiar with it?
What’s unique about AEC marketing is that we’re not selling a product off a shelf. We’re convincing a client that we’re the right team to bring their design vision to life. We create detailed, persuasive, and cohesive marketing collateral, proposals, and presentations to tell that story. When responding to requests for proposals (RFPs), we aren’t simply formatting cookie-cutter boilerplates in pretty colors. Each proposal is customized to the client and their needs. Even before the RFPs come out, our team is at work building relationships within our firm and communities to learn as much as we can. We use those relationships to engage in storytelling and craft a compelling vision for our clients. Strategy is at play throughout the entire process, and marketing plays a key role in developing an approach to win.
Stephanie, center, at Fuquay-Varina Middle School with members of the project team.
3.What do you think sets Clark Nexsen apart from the other firms you’ve worked at?
I love winning new projects and seeing them come to life! The firm values innovation and high design, and it shows throughout our work. I’ve been at Clark Nexsen for 14 years, and I can confidently say that the people are what makes this company great. The collaborative nature of our firm is like no other that I’ve been a part of. I love all the people I work with, whether they’re on my team, in another department, or technical staff members like architects or engineers. I also appreciate our overall approach to marketing. By switching from a regional to a market-based structure, we’ve deepened relationships, strengthened our proposal strategy, and ultimately increased our win rate.
Additionally, Clark Nexsen is incredibly supportive of our greater industry involvement. Some of my career highlights include serving as President of the Research Triangle Chapter and Chair of the Southeastern Regional Conference for the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). I stepped out of my comfort zone and learned so much about myself as a leader, which directly translated to my role as a marketing manager within our firm.
4. How has AEC marketing changed over your 26-year career, and what excites you about the future?
When I first started in 2000, I had a Rolodex on my desk and would call potential subconsultants one by one, sometimes dozens of them for a single proposal. Email wasn’t the primary way we communicated. You picked up the phone first. From formatting proposals in PageMaker to InDesign or developing our CRM system to now navigating artificial intelligence in our workflows, I’ve been here for all of it. Through conferences and educational sessions, I get to hear how other professionals across the industry are adapting and evolving with these tools. That exchange of ideas and approaches keeps the work exciting and helps me bring fresh perspectives back to my team.
We’re all navigating how AI fits into our workflows right now, but the fundamentals of what we do aren’t changing. It’s still about relationships and storytelling. Technology can help us be more efficient, but it can’t replace that human connection with a client. What really excites me about the future is growing our team and bringing in fresh ideas. When you add people with different experiences — whether that’s from other AEC firms or completely different industries — you get new ways of thinking about things. Adding that diversity of thought only makes the team stronger and inspires everyone.
Stephanie, second from right, receiving the 2025 Life Saver Award and the 2025 Runner Up Marketer of the Year Award at the SMPS Southeastern Conference.
5. What advice would you give to someone considering a career in AEC marketing?
First, know that this is an option! Service marketing isn’t taught in school. So many people, including myself, were unaware of this career. Don’t be afraid to pursue paths that aren’t conventional.
Once you’re in the field, never stop learning and find your people. It’s something that has kept me going all these years. Absorb as much as you can about the projects and processes. Relationship building is pivotal, so I highly recommend joining organizations like SMPS to sharpen your skills and invest in educational opportunities while expanding your network.
Lastly, diversify your work and step outside of the office. I encourage my team to visit our project sites and also explore creative outlets beyond proposals — whether that’s creating graphics, pursuing photography, or writing web content for our firm and professional organizations. Taking breaks, working on something different, and experiencing our projects in real life can re-energize you. Overall, successful people in this field are the ones who are inquisitive, build relationships, and remain proactive.
Stephanie Jude is Clark Nexsen’s Marketing Manager for the Education and Community + Culture markets. With over 20 years of AEC marketing experience, she is a recognized leader in the industry, developing strategic proposals and interview approaches, mentoring marketing coordinators, and driving growth across both of her market sectors. To speak with Stephanie, please email stephanie.jude@clarknexsen.com or call (919) 576-2082.
