Carley Smith, CPSM
Since 2023
Active
NA
AEC marketing professional
Carley leads comprehensive marketing strategy and brand development for SMA Architecture + Design, supporting the firm’s mission of creating meaningful architecture that enhances communities across Montana and beyond. As Director of Marketing for a regional architecture firm with offices in Bozeman and Helena, she oversees strategic communications, proposal coordination, social media strategy, video production, creative content development, and cultural storytelling that positions SMA’s work for competitive advantage while celebrating the special culture that makes the firm distinctive in Montana’s architectural landscape.
Her expertise spans architecture and design marketing with deep specialization in social media, program coordination, digital photography, fine art, illustration, and creative visual communications. Carley brings a unique combination of Master of Fine Arts training in sculpture combined with practical marketing expertise, enabling her to approach AEC marketing through the lens of an artist who understands both aesthetic principles and strategic business objectives.
Her educational foundation from the University of Victoria with a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture (2012-2014) provides distinctive capabilities in three-dimensional thinking, spatial relationships, material understanding, and creative problem-solving that translate directly to architecture marketing where visualizing and communicating built environments is essential. This fine arts background enables Carley to collaborate effectively with designers and architects who share a visual, creative language while also translating complex design concepts into accessible narratives for clients and communities.
Carley demonstrates exceptional professional leadership through her CPSM certification and sustained commitment to positioning architecture as a profession that creates meaningful impact in communities. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes that “culture is the reason people stay at companies, the reason they wake up in the morning with purpose, and the why that fuels the work we do”—a perspective that informs both her marketing strategy and her approach to team building and colleague celebration.
As Director of Marketing at SMA Architecture + Design, Carley has been described by colleagues as “a critical team player in driving SMA’s success in winning amazing projects, all while shaping and celebrating our special culture.” This recognition reflects her dual focus on business development outcomes (winning projects) and cultural stewardship (celebrating what makes SMA distinctive). Her belief that “company culture is relevant not only to how a firm defines itself internally, but how it shows up externally” demonstrates sophisticated understanding of brand strategy where internal culture authenticity drives external market perception.
Carley’s professional journey reflects the creative convergence she describes: “Never would have thought my passions in marketing, architecture and design would come together in such a perfect way. But, here I am 7+ years later…” This authentic enthusiasm for the intersection of art, architecture, and marketing drives her approach to storytelling that celebrates design excellence while honoring the people and processes that create it.
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