Suzanne Small, CPSM
Since 2015
Active
NA
AEC marketing professional
Suzanne leads comprehensive marketing strategy and regional business development for Olsson, supporting the firm’s mission of improving communities by making them more sustainable, better connected, and more efficient. As Vice President and Senior Marketing Leader for a nationally recognized, employee-owned engineering and design firm founded in 1956 with over 1,200 employees and nearly 30 offices across seven states, she oversees marketing strategy, communications, leadership development, and innovation initiatives that position Olsson as a purpose-driven firm committed to leaving the world better than it was found.
Her expertise spans engineering and design marketing, strategic communications, marketing strategy, proposal development, event planning, and public relations with deep specialization in leadership, innovation, creativity, and continuous improvement. Suzanne brings comprehensive knowledge of AEC marketing best practices gained through 20+ years of progressive experience that includes nearly two decades at Olsson (2005-2024) where she advanced through roles from Vice President Regional Marketing Leader to her current senior leadership position.
Her educational foundation from Truman State University (B.S.), St. Ambrose University (MBA), and University of Kansas (Master of Journalism – Integrated Marketing Communications) provides distinctive triple-degree expertise combining business fundamentals, advanced management principles, and integrated marketing communications strategy. This comprehensive academic background enables Suzanne to approach AEC marketing with both strategic business acumen and sophisticated communications expertise.
Suzanne demonstrates exceptional professional leadership through her CPSM certification and sustained active engagement with SMPS conferences and regional programming. Her commitment to advancing professional services marketing excellence is reflected through enthusiastic participation in industry events including the SMPS Mid-Valley Regional Conference (MVRC) where she has represented Olsson with creative conference swag initiatives that emphasize sustainability and environmental consciousness—including bee-friendly seed paper notecards that support pollinator populations while providing practical networking tools for attendees.
As a Vice President at Olsson, Suzanne contributes to marketing leadership for a firm recognized nationally for its employee-owned structure and commitment to community improvement. Her tenure spanning nearly two decades (2005-2024) reflects sustained dedication to a single organization’s growth trajectory from regional firm to nationally recognized multi-state operation with 30 offices, demonstrating loyalty, adaptability, and increasing strategic responsibility through progressive role advancement.
Suzanne’s professional philosophy centers on the intersection of marketing strategy, communications excellence, leadership development, innovation, influence, creativity, and continuous improvement—as reflected in her LinkedIn professional tagline. She approaches AEC marketing as a strategic discipline that requires both creative thinking and analytical rigor, combining right-brain innovation with left-brain measurement and accountability.
Her leadership at Olsson has contributed to significant firm growth and strategic partnerships including the 2024 collaboration between Olsson and APTIM to leverage each firm’s respective strengths in offering comprehensive resiliency and sustainability services to municipalities and federal agencies nationwide. This strategic partnership supports initiatives like the City and County of Denver’s Waterway Resiliency Program, which aims to reshape waterways by enhancing natural ecosystems, reducing flood risk, and creating environments where people and nature can thrive in harmony.
Suzanne’s work supports Olsson’s involvement in major national infrastructure projects including data center engineering (#6 ranking on BD+C’s 2025 list of America’s top data center engineering firms), transportation engineering innovations, and sustainable community development across multiple market sectors. Her marketing leadership helps communicate Olsson’s comprehensive capabilities across planning and design, engineering, field services, environmental, and technology disciplines.
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