Christina Ryan, CPSM
Since 2018
Active
SMPS Sacramento member
AEC marketing professional
Christy leads comprehensive marketing strategy as Principal and Marketing Director for Ascent, one of California’s most respected environmental planning and design firms serving clients across five California offices in Sacramento, Berkeley, Lake Tahoe, Irvine, and San Diego. She guides brand management, business development strategy, and marketing operations for a firm specializing in CEQA/NEPA environmental compliance, urban design and planning, natural resources management, and climate adaptation services.
Her expertise spans environmental consulting marketing, strategic positioning for complex regulatory projects, and client relationship management serving local governments, state agencies, federal entities, special districts, and private developers. Christy brings specialized knowledge in marketing for technical environmental services, with deep experience in proposal coordination, brand strategy, and CRM implementation. She successfully led Ascent’s brand update, new website development, and Vantagepoint CRM implementation.
With over 14 years at Ascent and 20+ years total AEC marketing experience, Christy has been instrumental in growing the firm from a small Sacramento startup to a reputable multi-office consultancy. Her career includes a decade conducting environmental site characterization fieldwork before transitioning into marketing, providing her with authentic technical understanding that enhances her marketing effectiveness.
Christy demonstrates exceptional professional leadership through her CPSM certification and distinguished recognition as SMPS Sacramento’s 2024 Marketer of the Year, one of the region’s most prestigious honors for AEC marketing excellence. This recognition celebrates her role model status “in practice and in principle” for advancing professional marketing standards throughout Northern California’s vibrant AEC community.
As a long-serving member and dedicated contributor to SMPS Sacramento’s Programs and Relationship Committee (PRC Committee), Christy has consistently supported professional development programming, networking events, and educational initiatives that benefit hundreds of AEC marketing professionals across the Sacramento region. Her committee involvement demonstrates sustained commitment to elevating the marketing profession beyond her firm responsibilities.
Christy’s leadership extends to mentoring emerging professionals and fostering collaborative marketing culture within Ascent. She has participated in California Association of Environmental Professionals (CAEP) events and maintains active engagement in environmental planning communities. Her career trajectory from environmental scientist to marketing leader provides inspiring proof that technical professionals can successfully transition into strategic marketing roles.
Through her volunteer work with Vitalant blood donation services and SMPS Sacramento, Christy exemplifies servant leadership and community engagement. She received her promotion to Principal in recognition of driving innovation with kindness and building collaborative relationships across the firm.
Her 20+ years spanning environmental science fieldwork, site characterization, and marketing leadership provide valuable cross-disciplinary perspective that enhances professional excellence in environmental consulting marketing. Her Oregon State University environmental science degree provides authentic credibility when positioning complex CEQA/NEPA projects and natural resources services.
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