EVIDENCE-BASED AI.
artificial intelligence
THE FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE. WHAT’S NEXT IS NOW.
Not only do we LOVE technology and strategy, but we know how it applies to every aspect of an AEC firm. From design and technical staff to digital and IT solutions and all of the internal support services like HR, Accounting, CRMs, Facilities, Legal, Marketing, BD, and Finance.
AI is a marathon. So how do you start the race? Simple, hire JAM.
We prepare your leadership on oversight, opportunities, management, and implementation.
We kickstart your Core Accelerator Team!
We start your firm off right with AI First Steps (your AI Strategic Plan).
We educate and train your staff.
We can be your in-house resource team.
Consider us the best guides to navigate you through the great AI unknown. We've got you.
We are up-to-date on all the AI tools, strategies, technologies, apps, programs, extensions, and platforms that can make your jobs easier, more successful, and definitely more interesting. And more importantly, the "why" behind every single one.
You can do something right now to get ahead of this AI revolution. So, do it.
These five phases clearly show progression:
UNDERSTANDING → ACTIVATION → ROADMAP → Expansion → Momentum.
Phase 1: Leadership Training
Reason: We need leadership buy-in.
Understanding AI Without the Overwhelm isn’t just another AI talk. Kristin Lynn Kautz is known for her honesty, transparency, high energy (!), and, most importantly, her practical, real-world approach. She cuts through the noise and hype to deliver insights you can actually use. Kristin will not only show you what’s possible—she’ll excite you to move past the inertia and fear that’s holding your firm back. This session is designed specifically for your leaders to explore AI in a grounded, thoughtful, and actionable way. Whether you have no idea about AI, you are just beginning, or you are trying to move from random and scattered experimentation to results-driven execution, you’ll see:
A seismic shift in your mindset
A clear understanding of how we got here and how AI is showing up today
Real-world examples
Define your own use cases and the AI options you have
Actionable insights to get started
Phase 2: Core Team AI Accelerator
Reason: AEC firms often fail to get started on AI because no one truly “owns” the transformation, you underestimate the monumental mindset shift needed in your culture, and accountability tends to diffuse because your employees are already too busy to successfully take on an initiative of this size and importance. By identifying a Core Team of early adopters, we are creating champions who generate momentum through visible internal success. Early adopters are key to bringing along the rest of the employees as it pertains to tech implementation. The Core Team gets you moving.
Duration: 6 months minimum
Process and Format:
Training (24-course Minds & Machines Series)
Weekly 1-hour guided transformation sessions with group - deep dives into workflows, AI tool testing, and role evolution
Individual mentorship - 1:1 access to Kristin via email/call for mentoring and accountability
Asynchronous micro-assignments between sessions
Access to AI Role Evolution daily challenges
Deliverables:
Team charter
Shared AI adoption tracker
Final presentation/report at the end of the cohort
Phase 3: AI First Steps
Reason: The First Steps give you the roadmap.
Duration: 1 month
Process: We collect data through a variety of formats to better understand the organization from a larger perspective that includes feedback from multiple sources such as an all-staff survey. The better we know you, the better we can provide a framework that respects the culture, history, uniqueness, and goals of your firm. This helps us, as a team, come up with ideal solutions.
Deliverable: During the Phase 2 cohort, this document is written as your comprehensive AI implementation plan.
What It Includes:
1. Needs assessment
2. Formulate a clear AI theme, goals, objectives, and tracking
3. Develop oversight and viability
4. Develop use cases and validity
5. Develop your schedule
Why It’s Different:
Customized to Your Business – Tailored insights based on survey, conversations with leadership, and strategic priorities.
Actionable and Practical – Not just a report, this is a working plan designed for immediate implementation.
Human-Centric AI Approach – Focuses on AI as an enhancement, not a replacement for human expertise.
Ongoing Support – The document serves as a foundation for continued AI strategy development and execution.
Phase 4: Firm-Wide Training, Specific Group Training, and Workshops
Process: Once the Core Team is modeling adoption, we can expand AI education to the rest of the firm. We conduct seminars and workshops to enhance AI literacy across your organization and build internal AI competencies to reinforce a culture of innovation. Programs can be tailored to address different proficiency levels, adoption rates, needs, and even AI personalities (like openness and ability to embrace change). We can work with you if you want us to deliver a full agenda of seminars. Topics include:
AI 101 (firm-wide foundation)
Data Privacy, Security, and Ownership in AI Applications
Illuminating AI Applications (These seminars can be tailored based on the group’s particular needs. For example, “AI in AEC,” AI in Business Development,” “AI in Marketing,” “AI in HR,” etc.)
AI in Project Management
ChatGPT Demonstrations including Assistants/GPTs and Agents
Setting the Foundation for AI: Microsoft Copilot & AEC Data Security
Firm-Wide Operational Shifts
Industry Updates and Collaborations
Phase 5: AI Support
Duration: 12 months (starts at the end of the Core Team engagement)
Process: This ensures the availability of JAM for meetings and on-call AI consultation.
We can work through the AI First Steps with you to build strategy and execute tactics tailored to your firm. We can support or lead these efforts as needed.
We can provide comprehensive messaging and change management support to help your leadership and employees adapt to the AI-driven environment and leverage its capabilities to their fullest potential.
We can also advise on AI advancements and build AI applications that apply in specific context to you, your firm, your clients, and AEC.
“I use a lot of analogies when I talk about AI, but one of my favorites is thinking about AI as a marathon. And not just any marathon, but one that runs along a Mobius strip. You need to prepare to run it with the right training and foundation. It’s endless, looping, and often disorienting. You don’t know the route or your pace, and you’re likely blindfolded. You may feel like you circle back to where you started, but I promise you have made significant progress. Each pass brings deeper insight and stronger foundations through ongoing use, adaptation, and learning. I use this image to illustrate that AI has no finish line. Success comes from starting and moving forward. Get in the race. Run your race. Stay in the race.” ~Kristin
build the talent (ai AND you): FUTURE-PROOFING INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE
As part of our AI consulting services, Build the Talent ensures that critical institutional knowledge is captured, preserved, and made accessible for the future. Our process starts with humans—we work directly with your experienced professionals to extract their expertise in a structured, meaningful way. Then, we leverage AI to organize and provide seamless access to this knowledge, transforming it into a powerful, searchable resource. Finally, we train your internal teams to sustain and evolve this system, ensuring long-term continuity and workforce resilience. This approach safeguards your firm’s intellectual capital and empowers your next generation of talent.
We don’t replace human expertise—we amplify it. AI + You = Super You. By combining human intelligence with AI’s capabilities, we create a system where knowledge is not just preserved, but enhanced.
Beyond knowledge preservation, this initiative helps define the future of work in your organization. By integrating AI into information management, you begin to create new, essential roles that will be crucial in the very near future—such as Data Curators and Knowledge Officers.
This service is partnered with Barbara Shuck at Everest Marketing Services.
Preserve Institutional Knowledge – Capture the expertise of seasoned professionals before it’s lost and transform it into structured, accessible AI-driven resources.
Empower the Next Generation – Train internal teams to take over knowledge management, ensuring a seamless transition and sustainable growth.
Enhance Firm Competitiveness – Firms that invest in knowledge continuity stay ahead by reducing skill gaps, improving efficiency, and leveraging AI-powered insights.
Future-Proof Workforce Development – Retain critical expertise, evolve with industry shifts, and create a culture of learning and legacy.
let’s get started and raise your ai iq.
Email KLK@JAMideaagency.com
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Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
Strategy Training Consulting
Strategy Training Consulting
“The room held 300 people, and not a single person was looking at their phone for two hours. This is the AI information that your firm needs: relevant, current, and in context to AEC. I don’t gatekeep. If I know it, I want you to know it.”
THE AI EXPERT
Kristin Kautz, FSMPS, CPSM is an experienced marketer with over 23 years of expertise in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. With a passion for innovation and technology, Kristin has become a leading expert in AI for the built environment, helping companies implement and maximize AI in their business.
Kristin is advising a wide range of organizations on how to integrate AI into their operations, from small firms to large corporations. AI is going to revolutionize our industry. With a deep understanding of the latest AI trends and technologies, Kristin provides strategic guidance and develops customized organizational structures, guidelines, policies, procedures, and training to ensure that companies can fully leverage AI to drive growth, improve efficiency and productivity, and enhance both client and employee satisfaction.
Her unique blend of marketing expertise, industry knowledge, and technical know-how has made her a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the field of AI for the built environment. Whether speaking at regional and national industry conferences, writing articles for leading publications, or collaborating with industry associations, Kristin is committed to advancing the use of AI in the AEC industry and helping companies stay at the forefront of innovation.
With a proven track record of success, Kristin is passionate (some call it contagious enthusiasm!) about providing clients with the insights, tools, and strategies they need to succeed in the ever-evolving world of AI and technology. Ask her anything at klk@jamideaagency.com.
ai REFERENCES
“I had the pleasure of sitting in on your 'Oh My AI' presentation at SMPS Amplify, and weeks later, I am STILL raving to my colleagues about the depth of tools out there and the benefit to AEC marketers. Truly amazing presentation, thank you!”
~Senior PR Manager, Engineersing Firm. SMPS Amplify National Conference in July 2024. Kristin presented once for AI in BD, twice for AI in marketing, and once on the main stage for AI in proposals.
“Best conference/symposium I’ve been to in a long time. Inspiring stuff!”
~Practice Lead, MEP. Minds & Machines Chicago in July 2024. Kristin created the symposium and was a key speaker.
"Thank you for the great presentation today! Finally, a webinar that moved so quickly that I didn’t read emails at the same time. 😊"
~Joe Loidolt, President, Classic Homes. Chief Executive Network AIA in AEC seminar in February 2024. Kristin was the featured keynote.
"I attended your sessions and I have NEVER enjoyed a presentation as much as I enjoyed yours. I came back to the office with so much good intel and excitement....and now have gotten myself nominated to lead our newly developed "AI committee" (my first time as chair of a committee). This is all your fault."
~Holly Kimble, Marketing + Business Development Coordinator, Digital Engineering. SMPS SRC AI seminars and workshop in January 2023 and February 2024. Kristin was the featured speaker.
“One of our attendees said it was the most interesting and terrifying luncheon I have been to in years.”
– David Kim, Executive Director, Urban Land Institute Houston. Member luncheon seminar in June 2023 titled AI in Real Estate. Kristin was keynote and panelist.
“The buzz around your presentation was electric.”
– Sarah W Kinard, The Flamingo Project. SMPS Southern Regional Conference in January 2023. Kristin spoke twice on Digital Guerilla Marketing.
“I loved your talk - so much great information. I loved how I could use it immediately!”
– Janki DePalma, LEED AP, CPSM, Senior Associate, Kirksey Architecture. SMPS Southern Regional Conference in January 2023. Kristin spoke twice on Digital Guerilla Marketing.
”It was amazing and worth the conference price alone for your session. I tell everyone about it! It was life-changing!”
– Deanna Rodriguez, CPSM, Senior Associate, Marketing Manager, Walter P Moore. SMPS Southern Regional Conference in January 2023. Kristin spoke twice on Digital Guerilla Marketing.
”Your presentation during SRC blew me away. I left so inspired and excited! I appreciated that there was so much content in your presentation and minimal fluff. I really enjoyed hearing you speak and hope to learn more from you in the future!
Sara Grayum, Digital Content Specialist, Dunaway. SMPS Southern Regional Conference in January 2023. Kristin spoke twice on Digital Guerilla Marketing.
”Everyone was talking about you, the tools you provided, and how info PACKED your presentation was!”
– Anne-Marie Funk, FSMPS, CPSM, Marketing Strategy Manager, ADG Blatt Architects. SMPS Southern Regional Conference in January 2023. Kristin spoke twice on Digital Guerilla Marketing.