Saskia Dennis-van Dijl

About Saskia Dennis-van Dijl

My love of design and the creative people who practice it drive my work. I am passionate about creating platforms and environments where individuals and groups can learn, grow, and engage in meaningful and challenging exploration.As a Principal Consultant in the Cameron MacAllister Group for over two decades, I have advised architecture, engineering, and construction firms around the country on team building, business development and marketing, strategic direction, and practice management. I frequently lead clients through the development of strategic and marketing plans, provide counsel to principals and senior staff on national best practices, marketing trends, and strategic positioning. In recent years, I have focused much of my work on issues of equity and diversity. Working with firms around the nation and at a variety of scales, I apply a process of assessment, engagement, and evaluation to help firms arrive at initiatives that can bring meaningful improvement to their leadership and governance cultures. I facilitate discussions among firm owners to help them understand how to make changes at both a policy and cultural level.In 2016, I became Executive Director of the Global Design Alliance, an international network of 20 design, planning and construction firms who are committed to fostering dynamic growth and change. The GDA intentionally brings together a diverse group of companies to facilitate trusted partnerships and knowledge sharing amongst the most forward-thinking leaders in the AEC industry. I live with my family in the Columbia River Gorge and spent as much time as possible hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Experience

1. Principal Consultant

   Cameron Macallister Group

   Jan 1999 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US

   Advise firms in the A/E/C industry broadly on areas of business development- Lead clients through the development of strategic and tactical marketing plans and budgets and work closely with firms to ensure implementation of those plans- Provide advice and counsel to in-house marketing principals as well as senior marketing staff on best practices, marketing trends, and prospective clients- Provide coaching and advice to architectural staff both at the principal level and at the more technical level on how to approach business development and marketing including how to call prospective clients, how to research a project, and how to play a substantive role in marketing- Work with principals, key team members, and consultants to develop strategies for successful marketing presentations- Work in individual and group sessions to prepare teams for competitive presentations- Teach a one or two-day presentation training workshop nationally to both the design and construction firms.

Skills

• Leed
• Sustainable Design
• Submittals
• Architecture
• Comprehensive Planning
• Space Planning
• Marketing
• Coaching
• Public Relations
• Business Development
• Interior Design
• Marketing Research
• Design Research
• Architectural Design
• Marketing Strategy