Meet McKenzie Richardson ‘09, director of marketing at PAE in Portland, Oregon, and Lundquist alumna. With a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a focus on marketing, McKenzie has spent the last 15 years focused on marketing in the built environment.1
She joined her current company, PAE—then a 60-person engineering firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, technology, and lighting systems design—as a marketing assistant back in 2010. Fast forward to 2024, McKenzie is now the national marketing director and a shareholder at the company, which has grown to a 400-person firm with seven offices nationwide. In addition to her professional experience as a marketer, McKenzie has served as president for the Oregon chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (2019-2020) and currently manages a team of ten other marketers across the country at PAE.
I asked McKenzie for her advice, as a successful marketing professional, for Lundquist students who want to pursue a career in marketing. Here is what she shared:
Critical thinking is your strongest asset.
The most valued employees can think critically, ask the right questions, and use their professional judgment to complete work with creativity and innovation. Focus on developing this skill as much as you can.
Be a lifelong learner.
Approach every challenge with curiosity and passion. Always pursue growth, seek new knowledge, and take advantage of professional development opportunities.
Proactivity is key.
Look for ways to add value. In my experience, the most valued employees are the proactive ones—those who offer help or notice when something needs to get done and take the initiative to do it.
Always default to overcommunicating
Overcommunicate with your boss, team, and especially clients. This is crucial in remote and hybrid work environments, where you have fewer chances for impromptu interactions.
Invest time in building a community
Build a community both within your workplace and within your professional industry. A strong network increases your value and makes you more resilient in any job market.
I also asked McKenzie her thoughts on what soon-to-be-graduates should focus on right now to build the skillsets they need to be successful marketers. These are her insights:
- Practice writing professional emails to improve your communication skills.
- Attend networking events and engage with professionals.
- Sign up for a Professional Edge event, training, or immersion.
- Foster connections with classmates and professors—they become part of your professional network.
Bonus tip: as you develop these skills, don’t forget to add them to your resume—they are just as important as the technical skills you learn!
If you’re looking to build a successful career in marketing, we encourage you to use Lundquist Connect, our curated networking platform connecting current Lundquist students with alums who are ready and willing to support you in your career and student journey.
1The built environment touches all aspects of our lives, encompassing the buildings we live in, the distribution systems that provide us with water and electricity, and the roads, bridges, and transportation systems we use to get from place to place. It can generally be described as the man-made or modified structures that provide people with living, working, and recreational spaces. Creating all these spaces and systems requires enormous quantities of materials. (https://www.epa.gov/smm/basic-information-about-built-environment)
About PAE: PAE is a national leader in high-performance engineering design. With a vision of clean air, energy, and water for all, the firm is well known for designing some of the world’s largest Living Buildings, the most rigorous sustainability certification for buildings. While PAE boasts internships and jobs in engineering and design, there are other employment opportunities at PAE, including marketing, human resources, finance, and administrative operations. Interested in careers at PAE? Visit: https://www.pae-engineers.com/careers
