Laura Ewan, CPSM
Since 2011
Active
SMPS Washington member
AEC marketing professional
Laura brings exceptional brand strategy and integrated marketing communications expertise to AEC consulting, currently serving as Brand Strategist at Dragonfly AEC Consulting, where she partners with architecture, engineering, and construction firms to build authentic brands rooted in their most aspirational versions of themselves. Her consulting practice specializes in helping firms live their brands through creative internal and external communications practices that reinforce corporate culture and mission.
Her comprehensive expertise spans brand strategy, corporate communications, content marketing, digital presence, social media strategy, employee engagement, and culture development with over 18 years of experience in the AEC industry. Laura excels at building community through the integrated use of strategic content and online platforms, translating complex technical excellence into compelling brand narratives that resonate with diverse stakeholders.
With a BA in Marketing Education from the University of Georgia and completion of the inaugural SMPS University Leadership Advancement Program, Laura specializes in working closely with firm leadership to gain buy-in, develop internal champions, and make the connection between successful communications and overall firm success. Her passion lies in advancing the marketing profession within the AEC industry through thought leadership, mentorship, and authentic storytelling.
Laura demonstrates extraordinary professional leadership through both her CPSM certification and her prestigious FSMPS designation, representing the highest level of achievement in AEC marketing. As a Fellow of SMPS, she has been recognized for sustained excellence and exceptional contributions to advancing the professional services marketing profession through transformative chapter leadership, pioneering podcast creation, and national thought leadership spanning nearly two decades.
Her most significant leadership achievement came through her service as SMPS Washington, DC Chapter President, where she provided strategic direction and fostered the collaborative, inclusive culture that continues to characterize one of the nation’s most active SMPS chapters. Her presidential leadership established programming priorities focused on education, networking, and professional development that positioned SMPS DC as a model chapter for professional excellence.
Laura’s pioneering contribution to the AEC marketing profession includes co-creating and co-hosting Communiqueso Podcast with Kate Attilio, CPSM—one of the first and most influential podcasts dedicated specifically to AEC marketing and communications professionals. Through weekly episodes spanning multiple years, Communiqueso informed, advised, and inspired in-house marketers to challenge the status quo and create organizational change by sharing expertise and candid stories of success and failure. The podcast brought career insights from leading professionals who leveraged their expertise to create real change and advance the role of marketing within their organizations, reaching thousands of AEC marketers nationwide and establishing the format that many subsequent industry podcasts would follow.
Her thought leadership extends through published articles including “Getting the Most Out of Your CRM,” “Become Your Firm’s Culture Captain,” “Streamlining Your Procurement Process,” and participation in the “Mo Data, Mo Problems” podcast. These publications provide practical frameworks for improving marketing operations, developing corporate culture, and maximizing technology investments.
Laura’s industry recognition includes the 2014 SMPS President’s Award, honoring her exceptional service and contributions to the Society. She also received the 2012 New Heights Award – Education Committee, recognizing her dedication to developing educational programming that elevated professional standards across the chapter. Her design excellence was recognized through 2014 HOW In-House Design Awards: Merit Winner (two awards), validating her creative capabilities in addition to strategic expertise. She was also named a 2015 SXSW Eco Place by Design Finalist in the Resilience Category, demonstrating her work’s impact on sustainable design and community resilience.
As an inaugural graduate of SMPS University Leadership Advancement Program, Laura was among the first cohort selected to participate in this intensive professional development experience designed to cultivate future SMPS leaders. This distinction positioned her among an elite group of emerging leaders who would go on to shape the Society’s direction for years to come.
Laura serves as a 2021 SMPS Marketing Communications Awards Juror and has appeared as a speaker at SMPS Women + A/E/C conferences, presenting on “Lean on Me: The Power of Peer Networks” alongside Kate Attilio and Jen McGovern, sharing insights on building supportive professional communities that advance careers and organizational impact.
Beyond SMPS, Laura demonstrates comprehensive industry engagement through her work with firms including Hickok Cole, MGAC, and RTKL, where she led transformative brand initiatives, corporate website redesigns, employee engagement programs, and integrated global marketing campaigns that set new standards for excellence in AEC communications.
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