Tara Wallace, CPSM
Since 2008
Active
SMPS Orange County member
AEC marketing professional
Tara drives comprehensive proposal management strategies for Sundt Construction, one of America’s most respected general contractors with 135+ years of building excellence. Based in Sundt’s Irvine, California office, she leads proposal development and strategic pursuit coordination for a 100% employee-owned firm ranked among the nation’s top 60 construction companies by ENR, with approximately 4,500 employee-owners and 13 offices across the western United States.
Her expertise spans construction, architecture, and design marketing with deep specialization in proposal management, business development support, and strategic market positioning. Tara brings comprehensive knowledge of education, healthcare, civic, and commercial construction sectors, having supported marketing initiatives across higher education campus projects, K-12 facilities, healthcare institutions, and civic infrastructure.
With over 24 years of AEC industry experience, Tara has contributed to marketing excellence at premier California firms including Sundt Construction, HMC Architects (100% employee-owned architecture firm specializing in healthcare, education, and civic design), and gkkworks. Her diverse background across architecture and construction provides valuable cross-sector marketing perspective that drives competitive advantage in complex, high-stakes pursuits.
Her proven track record includes supporting business development efforts that contributed to 230% growth in higher education practice areas and successfully positioning firms for transformative project wins across multiple market sectors.
Tara demonstrates exceptional professional leadership through her CPSM certification achievement and active engagement in SMPS Orange County, one of the most dynamic chapters in the Pacific region. Her involvement reflects deep commitment to advancing professional services marketing excellence and supporting the vibrant Southern California AEC marketing community.
As a recognized professional development advocate, Tara has invested significantly in continuous learning throughout her career, earning certifications that reflect her commitment to staying at the forefront of marketing innovation and artificial intelligence integration. Her recent completion of LinkedIn Learning certifications including “AI Powered Proposal Engineer,” “Boosting Your Time Management with AI Tools,” “Leading with Intelligent Disobedience,” and “Holding Yourself Accountable” demonstrates forward-thinking leadership in adopting emerging technologies while maintaining professional accountability and strategic judgment.
Tara’s career trajectory from marketing coordinator roles through marketing management to senior proposal management demonstrates sustained professional growth and expanding strategic impact. Her 20+ years at the time of joining Sundt Construction was recognized by the company in their official announcement, noting her “extensive knowledge of different construction markets” and ability to “best support business development teams.”
Her willingness to embrace innovative technologies while maintaining core marketing fundamentals exemplifies the adaptive leadership approach necessary to navigate the rapidly evolving AEC marketing landscape. Tara’s dual MBA and Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from University of Phoenix provide strong business acumen that enhances strategic proposal positioning and competitive analysis.
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