Candace Wilson, CPSM
Since 2017
Active
SMPS Wichita member
AEC marketing professional
Candace drives comprehensive marketing strategy for TESSERE, a 100% employee-owned architecture and design firm founded in 1919 that recently rebranded from GLMV Architecture to reflect over a century of evolution, growth, and commitment to innovation. As Director of Marketing serving the Wichita headquarters and coordinating firmwide initiatives across Kansas City and Houston offices, she leads a marketing team supporting 150+ employees nationwide who provide architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, civil engineering, and master planning services across 48 licensed states.
Her expertise spans full-service design firm marketing with deep specialization in proposal development, client event coordination, marketing process improvement, and strategic planning gained through progressive experience across multiple AEC sectors. Candace brings comprehensive knowledge of communicating complex architectural and engineering solutions across eleven diverse project markets including government, public safety, corporate, aviation/industrial, healthcare, education, hospitality, historic preservation, and zoological design—requiring nuanced marketing approaches that address varied stakeholder needs and procurement processes.
With over 20 years of AEC marketing experience spanning geotechnical engineering, construction, architecture, and multi-disciplinary design, Candace has built a distinguished career characterized by strategic thinking, team leadership, and winning proposal coordination. Her career progression includes Director of Corporate Marketing at Geotechnical Partnership, Director of Business Development & Marketing at Zernco, Marketing Manager at UCI Construction, and progressive roles at TESSERE from Marketing Manager to Manager of Marketing to Director of Marketing—demonstrating sustained excellence and expanding strategic responsibility.
Candace’s proven track record includes coordinating TESSERE’s signature ECHO event (an annual educational and networking initiative bringing together clients, partners, and community leaders), developing winning proposal strategies that drive new business growth, implementing marketing team process improvements for company-wide efficiency, and building authentic client relationships that reflect TESSERE’s core values of being Authentic, Collaborative, Driven, and Creative. Her leadership philosophy centers on bringing out the best in team members, supporting professional growth, and doing excellent work alongside colleagues rather than delegating from distance.
Candace demonstrates exceptional professional leadership through her CPSM certification, multi-year SMPS Wichita board service, and recognition as a Wichita Business Journal Woman Who Lead. Her sustained commitment to SMPS Wichita includes serving as Board Treasurer and previously holding multiple leadership positions, reflecting dedication to advancing professional services marketing excellence throughout the region and supporting the chapter’s mission of connecting AEC marketing professionals across Kansas.
As a recognized Woman Who Lead, Candace was honored by the Wichita Business Journal for going above and beyond for her team and company. Her leadership philosophy centers on being a supportive leader who brings out the best in those around her: “I truly feel that helping others grow helps me grow, too. I don’t believe in asking someone to do anything that I wouldn’t dig in and do it right along-side them.” This hands-on, collaborative approach has cultivated marketing talent throughout her career.
Her commitment to mentoring women in the AEC industry extends to supporting several early-career marketing professionals on TESSERE’s team. When asked about her advice for young women considering the industry, Candace emphasizes: “Surround yourself with others who lift you up and you can learn from. The marketing industry continuously evolves, and the majority of the expertise can’t be learned from textbooks. As the saying goes—it’s not what you know but who you know.”
Candace’s career path was “long and winding” but every stop taught lessons that prepared her for marketing leadership today. Starting in an administrative role at accounting firm Kennedy and Coe in 2002, the position quickly transitioned into marketing, where she discovered a love for strategizing, storytelling, and connecting with people. This serendipitous entry into AEC marketing launched a 20+ year career characterized by continuous learning and expanding expertise across multiple industry sectors.
Her professional philosophy reflects genuine passion for the work: “There are so many things about my job that I love but above all it’s the people that I work with every day. [TESSERE employees] are incredible people and I am so fortunate to be a part of the team here.” This people-first approach extends from internal team development to external client relationships, creating the authentic connections that differentiate TESSERE’s marketing approach.
As coordinator of TESSERE’s annual ECHO event, Candace demonstrates thought leadership by bringing together diverse perspectives on design, innovation, and community impact. Recent ECHO Digital sessions have featured conversations on public art’s role in enriching urban landscapes, wildlife conservation technology, and transformative community development—reflecting her commitment to elevating industry dialogue beyond traditional project marketing.
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