Rachel Headings, CPSM
Since 2008
Active
SMPS Columbus member
AEC marketing professional
Rachel leads comprehensive marketing strategy and brand positioning for Burgess & Niple, a nationally recognized engineering and architecture firm with over 110 years of infrastructure excellence. As Director of Marketing Communications, she develops and implements long-range marketing strategy that drives brand awareness across the firm’s multi-state operations, ensuring consistent messaging that positions B&N’s practical infrastructure solutions and commitment to quality of life, safety, and sustainability.
Her expertise spans transportation infrastructure, water and wastewater utilities, architectural services, land development, and environmental engineering serving federal, state, and local governments along with private sector clients throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and the District of Columbia. Rachel brings specialized knowledge in corporate marketing strategy, pursuit capture planning, interview coaching, branding, and creative team leadership for complex multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects.
With 23 years of AEC industry experience across engineering and architecture disciplines, she has contributed to marketing excellence at prominent firms including Burgess & Niple, Woolpert, and Fanning Howey. Her marketing degree from Cedarville University combined with extensive pursuit coordination experience enables effective positioning of engineering and architectural capabilities across diverse infrastructure markets. Rachel’s leadership encompasses both strategic planning and tactical execution, supporting business development for award-winning infrastructure solutions that improve communities throughout the United States.
Rachel demonstrates exceptional professional leadership through her CPSM certification achievement in 2008, marking her as an early adopter of professional services marketing certification and demonstrating sustained commitment to industry excellence for over 16 years. Her certification reflects mastery of the six domains of professional services marketing practice at a pivotal period in the credential’s development.
As Director of Marketing Communications at Burgess & Niple since 2018, Rachel champions comprehensive marketing programs that position one of the nation’s oldest engineering firms for continued growth and market leadership. Her strategic approach integrates corporate branding, pursuit capture planning, interview coaching, and creative content development to support B&N’s 450+ professionals across 27 offices in 12 states and Washington, D.C. The firm’s recognition as one of Virginia’s Best Places to Work reflects the positive culture that marketing and communications leadership helps cultivate.
Rachel’s tenure at Burgess & Niple spans over 14 years, demonstrating exceptional organizational loyalty and sustained contribution to firm growth. During her progression from Corporate Marketing Manager to Director, she has supported the firm through significant expansion, including merger and acquisition integrations that have extended B&N’s geographic reach and service capabilities throughout the United States. Her interview coaching and strategic positioning expertise directly supports business development success in highly competitive infrastructure markets.
Prior to Burgess & Niple, Rachel spent nearly eight years at Woolpert, where she provided corporate marketing support across 20+ offices for the firm’s design and infrastructure management service lines. Her experience coordinating strategic interviews, client events, and marketing initiatives for Woolpert’s multi-office operations prepared her for the executive marketing leadership role she now holds. Rachel’s commitment to professional development is evidenced through completion of multiple LinkedIn Learning certifications including Creating and Giving Business Presentations, Holding Yourself Accountable, Leading at a Distance, and Inclusive Mindset for Committed Allies—demonstrating ongoing dedication to leadership excellence and inclusive workplace culture.
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