Catherine N. Email & Phone Number

Charlotte Metro

Gresham Smith is a 1,500 person Architectural and Full Service Engineering firm that also provides Program Management Services throughout our 26 offices nationally. I'm in our largest team, Industrial + Manufacturing.Senior Project Leadership on notable projects including: Lithium Anode Manufacturing Plant for Confidential Client, Electric Vehicle Axle Plant for confidential client, Largest High Voltage Lab in US and Technical Lab for Dominion Energy, Program New Manufacturing plant for Poppelmann Plastics, Continental New Americas Headquarters, New Manufacturing Plant for Giffin USA, several Duke Energy Mobility projects, and Giti Tire in Richburg SC. In addition to full AE services, also provided Program Management services for several projects including for a new 2MSF lithium separator plant and a new 250kSF energy-related manufacturing plant.

Charlotte, North Carolina Area

We are the leading EV battery plant designers in the US… and we do so much more! Our clients include those focused on FDA-regulated products, Advanced Manufacturing/Semi-conductor, Automotive, Aerospace, Energy Storage, Cogeneration / Generation, Data Centers. I am charged with leading complex projects and teams, and growing Gresham Smith's architectural and full-discipline engineering (MEP, Civil, Structural, Sustainable, Water and Transportation) presence with industrial and manufacturing nationally. On specific projects, I'm responsible for the overall success and client retention. Our 1,200+ (and growing) architectural and engineering professionals serve the industrial + manufacturing, life + workplace, mixed use, healthcare and aviation markets.

Ghafari Associates is a global multi-disciplined, family-owned EA firm || G-TECH Services, Inc. is a WBENC leading recruitment and placement firm. Member of global executive team for both firms. Charged with growth of 10 sector brands in 16 locations including India, Brazil, Mexico and the Middle East. My charge was to coordinate sales, improve diversification, develop strategic marketing initiatives to improve and expand the brands of both firms, and strengthen the marketing department's direct impact in reaching those goals beyond proposal preparation. • Developed diverse client climate instruments and processes including client satisfaction survey, brand survey and debriefing tools. These provided several points of reference to gauge our effectiveness in business development, marketing and corporate quality of service. Also deployed similar system to gauge internal communication effectiveness and overall culture• Lead strategic proposal efforts for major project wins• Lead strategy development and deployment, and cross functional teams in multiple offices to reach intentional diversification metrics.• Developed and deployed new brand and SEO strategy resulting in a 320% increase in website traffic. • Increased followers by over 1,100% on targeted social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, etc.).• Created a digital content marketing program including videos (Vimeo channel), subject matter expert Q+A and articles. Part of this program included a robust PR program resulting in over 300% increase in press and major publication presence including Wall Street Journal

My focus was identifying new markets, clients and business opportunities that drove top line growth throughout all of SSOE's nearly 30 offices worldwide, for every industry they served. During my tenure, SSOE tripled in revenue, entered multiple international markets, opened 12 new offices, integrated 6 acquisitions (due diligence on countless others), improved our win rate to 50%, entered many new industries, increased stock prices triple digits, and grew from 500 to 1500 employees. Attracting and retaining both clients and employees was the core mission. Building an effective marketing and BD initiative department (from scratch) with an eye on the bottom line and Shareholder Return was always in the forefront. SSOE was a well-kept secret with prominence in only one of its many markets. We changed that by creating a target campaign focused on researching and identifying key clients, an initial phase business development effort to establish client connection and identify opportunities for technical staff; increase the opportunity pipeline. On the marketing side, we created a brand and content program with a more approachable and vibrant personality as well as a template system and systems to keep all of this info updated and accessible. Then, we gauged value and impact through client audit interviews, client service satisfaction surveys, web hits, etc. This also included leading the firm's graphics department which closely aligned with the interiors efforts for our global offices and clients.Our targeted PR program included hits in int'l media such as New York Times, Shanghai Business Review, and myriad top industry pubs and speaking engagements. These positioned SSOE as thought leaders throughout their industry, and more importantly with clients. EVERY year the entire program, including labor, was less than half of the published industry standard MBR (budget ratio, or mktg as a % of revenue.) SSOE is an international EAC firm.

DeMattia Group was a leading development/design/build firm. My DOM responsibilities extended to its sister company Motown Harley-Davidson (now Biker Bob's http://www.bikerbobshd.com/). During my tenure as DOM, led the branding initiatives to drive the firm to be one fastest growing architectural firms, the top 10 construction firms and largest business park developer in Michigan. We also helped numerous clients not only with their real estate needs, but their wayfinding, branding, graphics and public relations initiatives including Volkswagen, Johnson Controls, ZF, Domino's Farms, Comcast, Karmann USA, Ricardo, Salvation Army, Focus:Hope, etc.I learned so much at this job and made many life-long friends. DeMattia fell into that "small but mighty" category. The work was intense, creative and rewarding. Smaller firms allow you to wear many hats...from branding, to BD, to motorcycle marketing...the exposure to the retail-consumer marketing world was new to me and afforded me broadened perspective. I lead the marketing due diligence and integration of two acquisitions which immediately positively impacted sales.The firm itself was as diverse as the experiences I had. Coming from a pure design firm - it opened my eyes to what REAL one-stop shopping was all about, and the types of personalities it takes to make a project come together. Real estate development, design, pre-construction, construction, property management...all in one. Huge learning and growth experience for me.

A full-service engineering and architectural firm. We grew from under 100 to 520 people in a few short years. (SSOE bought AVCA in early 2005). In addition to identifying and winning work for the firm, I also lead the graphics and interiors department serving clients directly.Additionally served as Marketing Manager to sister companies Sigma-Tech a specialty material handling systems integrator, and AV-Tech a technical staffing organization.Lead the marketing integration of two acquisitions.