AltCMO is proud to announce that Perryn Olson, FSMPS, CPSM and Ryan Kovach will be speakers at the 2026 SMPS Southern Regional Conference (SRC), to be held January 28–30 at the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas.

They will both present on Thursday, January 29, in sessions tailored for A/E/C marketers, business developers, and principals navigating the evolving digital and talent landscapes.

Perryn’s Session: Outrank the Giants: Data-Backed A/E/C SEO & AI Strategies

In this session, Perryn will dive into how search visibility has evolved beyond Google into a Search-Everything landscape that includes answer boxes, generative AI, voice interfaces, social feeds, and local SEO. Drawing from AltCMO’s audits of ENR Top 400 Contractors and ENR Top 500 Design Firms, he’ll highlight where industry leaders succeed, where they leak traffic, and how under-resourced teams can punch above their weight.

Perryn will translate technical concepts like Domain Authority, Core Web Vitals, backlink equity, page speed, and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) into actionable, plain-language steps. Attendees will leave with clear strategies, free and paid tools, and a script for earning executive buy-in, even in firms with limited marketing bandwidth.

Key Takeaways:

A unified, plain-English framework aligning SEO strategy with firm growth and talent goals
A tiered toolkit of resources matched to different capacity levels
A proven executive-buy-in script to secure budgets and support for strategic SEO

Ryan’s Session: Digital Talent Acquisition in 2025: Beyond Job Boards and Trendy TikToks

Recruiting is no longer about filling open positions; it’s about being discovered. In this session, Ryan will explore how top candidates now find firms through AI-curated results, content, and brand storytelling, rather than through traditional job boards or viral TikTok stunts.

He’ll show how large-language models (LLMs) crawl culture pages and extract employer signals before recruiters even engage. He’ll also compare the ROI of one-time recruiter fees to the compounding value of digital recruiting funnels, and outline how HR and Marketing can collaborate to craft authentic narratives that attract “right-fit” talent.

Ryan will cover how to feed AI engines with your firm’s differentiators, DE&I commitments, growth paths, and more, so your organization becomes a magnet for talent across roles, from retiring road foremen to next-gen BIM specialists.

Key Takeaways:

A step-by-step framework for optimizing your digital presence so AI and search engines highlight your firm
A cost-per-hire comparison showing how evergreen content and micro-targeted campaigns can cut recruiting costs by 50–70%
A playbook for aligning HR and Marketing to attract and convert skilled candidates via narrative, not gimmicks

About SMPS SRC 2026

The SMPS Southern Regional Conference, also known as SRC, is the marquee regional gathering for A/E/C marketing and business development professionals in the Southern U.S. This year’s 2026 SRC will take place January 28–30 in San Antonio, Texas, at the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk.

Called “UNIFY”, the 2026 program is designed to bring together marketers, BD professionals, and firm leaders to explore integrated strategies, shared challenges, and collaborative growth in the built environment.

Learn more and view the full schedule at the SMPS SRC website: smps-src.org

Overview of the 2026 SMPS Southern Regional Conference

The 2026 SMPS Southern Regional Conference (SRC) is a pivotal event for professionals in the architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) industries. Scheduled for January 28–30 in San Antonio, Texas, this conference aims to unite marketers, business development professionals, and firm leaders to discuss innovative strategies and collaborative growth.

Attendees can expect a comprehensive program featuring sessions that cover the latest trends and challenges in the A/E/C sector. With a focus on integrated marketing strategies, the conference will provide valuable insights and networking opportunities, ensuring participants leave with actionable takeaways to enhance their firms' visibility and growth.

Key Takeaways from Perryn Olson's Session

Perryn Olson's session, titled "Outrank the Giants: Data-Backed A/E/C SEO & AI Strategies," will equip attendees with essential tools and insights to navigate the evolving digital landscape. By focusing on the importance of search visibility beyond traditional search engines, Perryn will help marketers understand how to leverage various digital platforms effectively.

Participants will learn about critical concepts such as Domain Authority and Core Web Vitals, which are crucial for improving a firm's online presence. This session promises to transform complex SEO strategies into straightforward, actionable steps that attendees can implement immediately to boost their firm's search performance.

Insights from Ryan Kovach on Digital Talent Acquisition

Ryan Kovach's session, "Digital Talent Acquisition in 2025: Beyond Job Boards and Trendy TikToks," will explore innovative approaches to attracting top talent in the A/E/C industry. Ryan will share strategies on how firms can effectively communicate their unique differentiators and commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion to appeal to a broader range of candidates.

By focusing on the evolving expectations of job seekers and the importance of a strong employer brand, this session will provide attendees with practical insights on how to position their firms as attractive workplaces for the next generation of talent, including roles that are becoming increasingly vital in the industry.

Networking Opportunities at the Conference

The 2026 SMPS Southern Regional Conference will offer numerous networking opportunities for attendees to connect with peers, industry leaders, and potential collaborators. These interactions are designed to foster relationships that can lead to future partnerships and shared growth within the A/E/C community.

From structured networking sessions to informal meet-and-greet events, participants will have ample chances to engage with others in the industry. Building these connections is essential for navigating the challenges of the built environment and ensuring collective success in the evolving marketplace.

AltCMO’s Olson & Kovach Deliver SEO & Talent Talks at SMPS SRC 2026