Cathy Vittorio, CPSM
Since 2003
Active
SMPS Connecticut member
AEC marketing professional
As Associate and Business Line Manager at Fuss & O’Neill, Cathy brings strategic planning and business development expertise to one of New England’s most established engineering firms. She leads marketing and client development initiatives for a full-service consulting firm celebrating 100 years of service, specializing in civil and environmental engineering, planning, and scientific studies across public and private sectors throughout the region.
Her career path demonstrates the evolution from accounting to marketing leadership—a journey that began in an architecture firm’s accounting department before discovering her true calling in AEC marketing. This unique background provides distinctive insight into the business fundamentals that drive successful professional services firms. With over 30 years of comprehensive AEC industry experience, Cathy has held marketing leadership positions at Tecton Architects, where she served as Marketing Manager for five years, and Kenneth Boroson Architects, where she directed marketing and business administration for 16 years.
Cathy’s expertise spans strategic planning, marketing communications, small business management, information systems management, team development, and mentoring. She specializes in identifying new opportunities, developing strategies to grow existing relationships, and building sustainable business development capabilities. Her reputation for integrity, honesty, and a down-to-earth manner has been instrumental in forging lasting client relationships and contributing to firm growth.
Cathy’s leadership within the Society for Marketing Professional Services Connecticut chapter represents one of the most sustained and impactful contributions in the chapter’s history. She has served as SMPS Connecticut President twice, demonstrating the chapter’s confidence in her vision and leadership. Her 20+ year membership with SMPS CT reflects deep commitment to professional development and community building within the AEC marketing profession.
In 2017, Cathy received the SMPS Connecticut Lifetime Achievement Award, the chapter’s most prestigious honor, recognizing her exceptional contributions to advancing professional services marketing excellence. This award celebrates not just her individual achievements but her dedication to mentoring other members and elevating the entire Connecticut AEC marketing community. As one colleague noted, “Getting a mentor is such a great opportunity within SMPS. I still have a mentor I talk to. I find that it’s a crucial part of member’s professional development.”
Cathy’s volunteer leadership extends throughout Connecticut’s construction industry. She serves on the advisory board of the ACE Mentor Program in Hartford, an organization that connects high school students with construction and design professionals to explore careers in architecture, engineering, and construction. She also serves on the programs committee for Professional Women in Construction – Connecticut Chapter, where she handles sponsorship coordination and helps advance opportunities for women and minority-owned businesses in the construction industry.
Her industry involvement includes service as allied committee co-chair for the Connecticut AIA, building bridges between design professionals and the broader AEC community. This multifaceted engagement demonstrates her commitment to advancing the entire built environment industry, not just marketing professionals.
Cathy describes her connection to the AEC industry with genuine passion: “You get a taste of working in this industry and it’s hard to break away. There’s something about the built environment that makes you proud of the work you do. You can see the tangible results from a project.” She recalls being “hooked” after attending the opening of a school her firm had helped repair, exemplifying the meaningful impact that drives her career dedication.
Her professional philosophy centers on connecting with people who make life better, more interesting, and less stressful—an approach that translates into her mentorship, her client development strategy, and her volunteer service. Cathy emphasizes curiosity as a cornerstone of success: “You need to be earnestly interested in what your firm is doing, what projects make a difference, and which people are your greatest allies.”
Achievements:
