STRATEGIC MARKETING / CLIENT DEVELOPMENT

Your next chapter.
Built on purpose.

Senior marketing leadership for architects, engineers, and construction professionals ready to grow.

Know where to compete. Build the right relationships. Turn market intelligence into project opportunities.

ARCHITECTUREENGINEERINGCONSTRUCTION
Contemporary university architecture and landscaped campus
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY.

25 yearsof direct A/E/C experience

Northeast networkowners, designers, developers & builders

Embedded leadershipfrom strategic direction to implementation

THE BUSINESS BEHIND YOUR BUSINESS

Keep designing.
Keep engineering.
Keep moving forward.

When project delivery takes priority, client development can lose momentum.

SMAT works as an extension of your executive team, bringing the perspective and hands-on involvement of a senior marketing and client development professional.

Through focused engagements or an ongoing part-time role, we help your firm connect its strengths to the next level of project opportunity, technical challenge, and fee reward.

Contemporary mixed-use architecture with landscaped public space

01 / SERVICES

A clear direction.
A practical way forward.

Research, positioning, and relationship development—connected to implementation.

01

Strategic marketing & planning

Align your firm’s capabilities, priorities, and growth ambitions with a focused market strategy. Define where to compete, how to differentiate, and what to do next.

  • Core strengths and competitive positioning
  • Target sectors and client priorities
  • Action plans and progress review
02

Internal & external marketing audits

Review your capabilities, marketing practices, and client development effort alongside client perceptions and market conditions. Candid third-party interviews surface strengths, unspoken concerns, and opportunities to strengthen relationships.

  • Internal review of capabilities, messaging, resources, and pursuit practices
  • External client interviews and competitive positioning review
  • Recommendations to inform your strategy
Explore the audit process
03

Market research & intelligence

Replace broad assumptions with a grounded view of the marketplace. Evaluate sectors, regional demand, competitors, and the owners and partners who shape opportunities.

  • Sector and regional market analysis
  • Competitive intelligence
  • Target account and opportunity identification
04

Client development & client outreach

Put the plan into motion through direct outreach and an established industry network. Develop decision-maker relationships and identify relevant RFQ and RFP opportunities.

  • Owner and partner introductions
  • Prospecting and relationship development
  • Pursuit positioning and interview coaching
05

Brand positioning & marketing materials

Make your value easier to understand. Connect your firm’s technical strengths to the needs of the clients you want to serve, with clear messaging and focused presentation materials.

  • Value proposition and messaging
  • Qualifications and pursuit presentations
  • Marketing materials aligned with firm strategy
06

Branch-office strategy & site selection

Evaluate your next geographic move with market research and competitive location analysis. Connect office decisions to client access, regional opportunities, and an actionable entry strategy.

  • Regional comparisons
  • Location and market assessment
  • Market-entry planning and outreach

02 / MARKETS

Industry knowledge.
Sharper market focus.

SMAT connects A/E/C capabilities with the owners, institutions, and project teams that need them.

Contemporary university campus architecture01

Education

Higher education and school markets.

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Healthcare

Healthcare owners and facility teams.

Modern public safety facility03

Municipal & government

Municipal, state, and federal markets.

Advanced manufacturing facility interior04

Industrial

Industrial owners and project partners.

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Advanced technology

Life science, biopharmaceutical, and electronics facilities.

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Resorts & hospitality

Hospitality owners and developers.

Urban mixed-use architecture07

Commercial & residential

Developers, building owners, and design teams.

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Energy & efficiency

Energy-conscious building and engineering markets.

03 / APPROACH

Close to your team.
Close to the opportunity.

Strategy is valuable when it changes what you do. We stay involved as the work moves from analysis to project award.

  1. 01 / UNDERSTAND

    Start with your firm.

    Assess capabilities, client perceptions, ambitions, and the realities of your business.

  2. 02 / FOCUS

    Choose your direction.

    Research markets, sharpen positioning, and prioritize the accounts and sectors that fit.

  3. 03 / CONNECT

    Build relationships.

    Reach decision makers, develop partner networks, and identify project opportunities.

  4. 04 / IMPLEMENT

    Maintain momentum.

    Support pursuits, guide implementation, review progress, and refine the plan.

THE VALUE OF WORKING WITH SMAT

Progress you can
recognize.

Three ways to connect your firm’s capabilities with its next opportunity.

Enter a new region with a plan you can act on.

Make your next office a strategic growth decision. SMAT connects location analysis with market demand, competitive positioning, and access to the clients your firm wants to serve.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR FIRM

A clearer basis for where to invest, whom to pursue, and how to establish a foothold.

  • Compare regions and locations against your capabilities and growth priorities.
  • Identify target owners, project opportunities, and potential teaming partners.
  • Translate the research into a focused market-entry and outreach plan.
Talk about your firm’s needs
Contemporary commercial architecture

CLIENT REFERENCES

Trusted by people
who design and build.

Client perspectives from SMAT’s 2026 qualification package.

15 client references

AES Northeast

“SMAT Consulting’s marketing audit was instrumental in kick-starting the strategic planning process for our firm. From the start, Philippe’s passion and enthusiasm for developing a strategy to grow a successful A/E firm was evident. He presented a systematic approach to evaluating our firm as well as assisting us to begin to plan for the future.”

Nathan Bull, P.E., Partner, Director of Building Systems Division

SMRT

“As a result of SMAT Consulting’s market research findings, SMRT opened a branch office in Albany and Philippe supported the office with his marketing effort for over 3 years.”

Paul Stevens, AIA

Wiemann Lamphere Architects

“The approach to marketing that SMAT provides allows us the time to do what we do best, Architecture.”

David Roy, AIA, LEED AP

Gardner Kilcoyne Architects

“Philippe assisted us with our internally perceived weaknesses and strengths, and to find out where we would be best situated in the crowded architectural services field in Vermont.”

Bill Gardner, AIA, NCARB

Rabideau Architects

“The insights I gained from Philippe’s in-depth analysis of our place in the market, and our client’s perceptions of us, changed the game for me and my staff.”

Greg Rabideau, AIA

Erdman Anthony

“Philippe’s network of professionals, identification of potential clients, and persistent approach has provided us with a foundation that would have taken years to develop on our own.”

Jake Malagisi, P.E.

Knight Consulting Engineers

“He has developed several new market areas for us and as a result we have had several opportunities that we would not otherwise have had.”

Martin Hain, P.E.

LN Consulting

“The impressive breadth and depth of his knowledge of owners and design firms region-wide has enabled him to provide our firm with many project leads.”

Scott Alexander, P.E.

Ben Fowler Consulting

“Working with SMAT Consulting feels like a partnership rather than a consultancy.”

Ben Fowler, P.E., QCxP

Liebert Engineering

“His personality, talent, and tenacious spirit have been instrumental in my firm’s market share and revenue gains over the past couple of years.”

Gregory Liebert, P.E.

Hallam / ICS

“Philippe is perhaps the best marketing professional I know. He seems to have a natural talent for relating to people. This, coupled with a strong work ethic, makes him extremely effective. He is also good to work with.”

Philip Matcovich, P.E., Chief Engineer

Cx Associates

“Philippe has opened doors for us we never could have opened on our own and has done a great job at helping us build relationships with clients, new and old, as well as some key professional partners.”

Matt Napolitan, P.E.

VIS Construction

“Philippe has worked with my company, VIS Construction Consultants, for over three years and as a result, we have been connected to several high value clients.”

Brian Haas, President

CLEANBOX

“He has an impressive network and understands the workings of our trade.”

Alex Lavoie, President

Turner Construction

“Philippe is a determined and organized "go getter" and brings the needed skills to the table to strategically plan out your project to ensure you meet your goals and reach your target audience.”

Jeff Farewell, Senior Project Manager, LEED AP

05 / ABOUT SMAT

Experience at the
intersection of people,
projects, and growth.

Read the 2026 qualification package (PDF)
Philippe Trotin, SMAT Consulting

Philippe Trotin

SMAT Consulting

Philippe brings 25 years of direct experience working with A/E/C clients, combining strategic planning, analytical market research, and hands-on client development.

His established Northeast network spans owners, facilities leaders, architects, engineers, developers, contractors, and construction managers. Client references describe an experienced and savvy marketing consultant who turns market insight into practical plans and stays involved through implementation.

SMAT’s mission is to position A/E/C clients for the next level of project opportunity, technical challenge, and fee reward.

LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT

Where do you want
your firm to go?

A new market. A clearer position.
A stronger client development effort.

Start a conversation with Philippe about your priorities and the kind of support your team needs.

ptrotin@smatconsulting.com802-922-3928