Spill The Ink Michelle Calcote King

On paper, Julia Thomas is a one-woman band as Dean Mead’s marketing director. But in reality, she works in tandem with more than 100 unofficial marketers. Yep — attorneys and staff have a crucial supporting role to play as advocates for their firm and its brand, and Julia has made it her mission to empower them.
In this episode of Spill the Ink, Julia discusses how her approach to legal marketing creates a culture of shared responsibility and reveals what she’s learned about helping busy attorneys stay engaged with community-focused initiatives. And with 20 years of experience in global, national, regional and local marketing roles across the legal, accounting and construction sectors, she’s learned a thing or two.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn Why Dean Mead’s marketing director Julia Thomas views all attorneys and staff as unofficial marketers
About Florida-based Dean Mead, a commercial law firm founded in 1980
What a 20-year career in global, national, regional and local marketing roles in various industries has taught Julia about using internal communications to support external communications — and surviving debates with attorneys
How law firms can approach strategic partnerships in the local community and engage attorneys to participate
Julia’s advice to busy legal professionals pursuing pro bono and community work
Why thought leadership doesn’t necessarily mean writing a long, in-depth article (and, in fact, that’s often less effective) 
The impact of reputable law firm awards and rankings in building credibility with prospects 
About our featured guest Julia Thomas is Dean Mead’s director of marketing and business development, based in Orlando, Florida. With 20 years of experience designing, implementing and directing initiatives that support consistent internal and external communications, Julia brings a thorough understanding of marketing and business development to the firm. Leveraging her experience serving Fortune 100, national and regional companies, she is the chief marketing strategist for Dean Mead and each of its offices, departments and industry teams. Julia works closely with the president, board, department chairs and industry team leaders to develop and implement marketing and business development activities.
Resources mentioned in this episode Check out Dean Mead’s website
Follow Dean Mead on LinkedIn, Facebook and X
Connect with Julia Thomas on LinkedIn
Say hello to Michelle Calcote King on X and LinkedIn
Sponsor for this episode This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink.
Founded by Michelle Calcote King, Reputation Ink is a public relations and content marketing agency that serves professional services firms of all shapes and sizes across the United States, including corporate law firms and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms. 
Reputation Ink understands how sophisticated corporate buyers find and select professional services firms. For more than a decade, they have helped firms grow through thought leadership-fueled strategies, including public relations, content marketing, video marketing, social media, podcasting, marketing strategy services and more.
To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

Reaching 100 years is a commendable accomplishment for any business and should be celebrated to the fullest extent. As Dana Galvin Lancour leads Barton Malow’s centennial marketing campaign, she joins us to discuss the challenges and opportunities in marketing a legacy construction firm with deep community roots. 
In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle interviews Dana, Barton Malow’s VP of branding and communications, about the strategic planning behind the firm’s 100th anniversary. They discuss how Barton Malow structures its team to facilitate cross-functional collaboration, the firm’s forward-thinking approach to thought leadership and the importance of getting internal communications right. Dana also opens up about her 17 years working in construction marketing and explains how participating in the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) shaped her career.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn About Barton Malow
Insights from Dana’s rich career managing and marketing Barton Malow’s legacy brand
Do’s, don’ts and ideas when planning your firm’s anniversaries and milestones
Why Barton Malow decided to capture its history with a digital archive program 
How to encourage cross-functional collaboration across multiple offices, geographies and brand families while maintaining messaging consistency
The ways Barton Malow demonstrates its values (rather than simply talking about them)
Using thought leadership to advance your firm’s strategic business goals, including how to improve buy-in with busy subject-matter experts
The importance of internal communications, especially for geographically dispersed teams
How Barton Malow is integrating artificial intelligence into its work
Why making time to actively participate in professional organizations, such as SMPS, is a worthwhile investment
About our featured guest As Barton Malow Holdings’ Vice President of Branding and Communications, Dana Galvin Lancour provides creative and strategic direction to the Barton Malow Family of Companies’ brands while overseeing a talented team of marketing and communication professionals across North America. She brings a vision that inspires her team to continually strengthen Barton Malow’s brand, reputation and unique approach to marketing Barton Malow’s services.
Throughout her 17-year tenure, Dana has reimagined the company’s marketing strategy, helping modernize and bring the enterprise’s marketing and communications efforts to the forefront of the industry. She helped implement an email marketing platform to design and optimize targeted campaigns, redesign the Barton Malow intranet and create a vision for the first all-employee conference. 
Dana is a certified professional services marketer (CPSM) and a dedicated member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), acquiring the prestigious Fellow designation in 2013. She was appointed as President of the Board of Directors in 2022, where she plays a key role in ensuring the organization continues to positively impact marketing and business development in the industry.
Resources mentioned in this episode Check out Barton Malow
Follow Barton Malow on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram
Connect with Dana Galvin Lancour on LinkedIn
Say hello to Michelle Calcote King on LinkedIn
Sponsor for this episode This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink.
Founded by Michelle Calcote King, Reputation Ink is a public relations and content marketing agency that serves professional services firms of all shapes and sizes across the United States, including corporate law firms and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms. 
Reputation Ink understands how sophisticated corporate buyers find and select professional services firms. For more than a decade, they have helped firms grow through thought leadership-fueled strategies, including public relations, content marketing, video m

It’s as untraditional as it gets, but having a non-attorney in the driving seat of your law firm can do wonders for streamlining operations, enhancing the client experience and strengthening team culture. But it’s not without its challenges — as our guest discovered when he built a law firm from the ground up (with the help of a team of attorneys) in just two weeks. 
Before Jonathan Delk was CEO of Colorado-based JVAM, he was a ski instructor-turned-digital marketer with a Master of Business Administration. In this episode, he tells Michelle Calcote King how he leveraged those skills and experiences to support and enhance the firm’s legal work by finding new ways to innovate and build a team culture that attracts talent from around the country. Jonathan also shares his take on how technology will disrupt the legal industry in the coming years.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn How Jonathan went from ski instructor to digital marketer to law firm CEO.
About Colorado-based law firm JVAM, which believes in specialization (no one team member should do everything all the time).
The benefits of allowing a non-attorney (or non-practicing attorney) to call the shots.
The biggest hurdles of leading a firm without a law degree, including navigating the occasional, “Wait, you’re not a lawyer?!”
How to obtain buy-in as a non-attorney leader.
Why marketing skills are the special sauce for client experience and firmwide communication.
How artificial intelligence and automation will disrupt how law firms operate.
About our featured guest Jonathan Delk is responsible for all facets of JVAM’s business outside the practice of law, including general management of finance, human resources, location management, information services and business development. Specializing in legal management, Jonathan works to keep JVAM at the forefront of practice management and an employer of choice in the legal field.
Jonathan attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he double majored in Economics and Political Science. Later, he earned a Master of Business Administration at Colorado State University, focusing heavily on finance and leadership.
Before starting his career in the legal industry, Jonathan worked in the outdoor industry as a professional ski and snowboard instructor, and a trail guide and coach for downhill and cross-country mountain biking. For years, he tallied 200-plus days a year on snow between Aspen, Colorado and Queenstown, New Zealand. Now, he takes his ski days with his wife, Erin, and daughter, Amelia.
Resources mentioned in this episode Check out JVAM 
Follow JVAM on LinkedIn and Facebook
Connect with Jonathan Delk on LinkedIn and X
Say hello to Michelle Calcote King on X and LinkedIn.
Sponsor for this episode This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink.
Founded by Michelle Calcote King, Reputation Ink is a public relations and content marketing agency that serves professional services firms of all shapes and sizes across the United States, including corporate law firms and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms. 
Reputation Ink understands how sophisticated corporate buyers find and select professional services firms. For more than a decade, they have helped firms grow through thought leadership-fueled strategies, including public relations, content marketing, video marketing, social media, podcasting, marketing strategy services and more.
To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

Michael Mantese brought a fresh perspective to Eskew Dumez Ripple, a nationally recognized architecture firm, when he joined in 2017. Coming from a New York City digital marketing and advertising agency, he brought a data-driven, people-centric approach to the firm’s marketing and content creation strategies. As marketing director, he leads the firm with the same values and elevates its brand storytelling through his photographer’s eye.
In this episode, Michelle chats with Michael about tools and strategies for cutting-edge architecture marketing, content ideation and amplification, and how marketing departments can leverage analytics and technology. Michael also shares how his photography background influences his marketing work, including ways marketers can collaborate with photographers to tell better project stories.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn Who is Michael Mantese is
About Eskew Dumez Ripple
The growing importance of data analytics in effective marketing
Insights into Eskew Dumez’s research-based content ideation approach
How to repurpose project case studies and proposals into omnichannel content
Ways thought leadership can support proposal writing (and vice-versa)
How Eskew Dumez leverages technology as a competitive advantage
New ideas for leveraging photography to tell better project stories
About our featured guest Michael Mantese brings a storyteller’s craft to communicating Eskew Dumez Ripple’s brand identity and mission. A writer at heart, he expands this skillset with a background in user experience design — letting market insights, data and analytics drive his decision-making, rather than assuming he knows what every audience is thinking. He augments this storytelling with a keen visual eye and maintains a particular fondness for photography and typography.
Before joining Eskew Dumez Ripple, Michael worked in the tech industry, designing digital experiences for some of the world’s biggest brands, including Marriott, Amex and City University of New York (CUNY).
Resources mentioned in this episode Check out Eskew Dumez Ripple
Follow Eskew Dumez Ripple on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram
Connect with Michael Mantese on LinkedIn
Say hello to Michelle Calcote King on X and LinkedIn
Read the latest on EDR+
Sponsor for this episode This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink.
Founded by Michelle Calcote King, Reputation Ink is a public relations and content marketing agency that serves professional services firms of all shapes and sizes across the United States, including corporate law firms and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms. 
Reputation Ink understands how sophisticated corporate buyers find and select professional services firms. For more than a decade, they have helped firms grow through thought leadership-fueled strategies, including public relations, content marketing, video marketing, social media, podcasting, marketing strategy services and more.
To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

Reports of attorneys grappling with issues like anxiety, depression and substance abuse remain alarmingly high as the legal industry continues fighting for ground in the battle against mental health and well-being issues. 
This Mental Health Awareness Month and Well-Being in Law Week, we’ve invited well-being consultant Tara Antonipillai to discuss the state of the legal industry and actionable strategies law firms can implement to expand wellness programs and enact positive change at their firms.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn Who Tara Antonipillai is
About Cultivate and The Institute for Well-Being in Law
The common mental health challenges attorneys and legal professionals experience
Practical strategies for sparking positive change at your law firm
How to spot signs that your attorneys may be struggling, and what you can do to help
Tips for leaders on fostering a supportive work environment
Why following through is the most crucial step in promoting mental health at work
What loneliness in the workplace looks like and how it affects attorneys
Whether mental health and well-being programs can influence a firm’s ability to grow business and revenue
About our featured guest The founder of Cultivate, Tara Antonipillai's experience in professional well-being comes from a career in Big Law, a master's degree in applied psychology and ongoing research in the field. Tara is a consultant, speaker and coach who combines her unique set of skills to introduce topics that include the science of well-being, job satisfaction, communication, stress management, compassionate leadership, mindfulness, resilience, mindset, and engagement and belonging to law firms and other organizations.
Tara received her J.D. and undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and was a tax lawyer at Arnold & Porter’s DC office. She also holds a master’s degree in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Tara is a certified leadership and performance coach through Brown University. She is also a certified yoga instructor and meditation teacher, as well as a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor.
Resources mentioned in this episode Check out Cultivate and The Institute for Well-Being in Law
Follow Cultivate on LinkedIn
Follow The Institute for Well-Being in Law on X, LinkedIn and Instagram
Connect with Tara Antonipillai on LinkedIn
Say hello to Michelle Calcote King on X and LinkedIn
Sponsor for this episode This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink.
Founded by Michelle Calcote King, Reputation Ink is a public relations and content marketing agency that serves professional services firms of all shapes and sizes across the United States, including corporate law firms and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms. 
Reputation Ink understands how sophisticated corporate buyers find and select professional services firms. For more than a decade, they have helped firms grow through thought leadership-fueled strategies, including public relations, content marketing, video marketing, social media, podcasting, marketing strategy services and more.
To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

Soon after starting as an intern architect, Heather Blazi realized the job didn’t spark joy quite the way she imagined while watching HGTV as a kid. So she adjusted her path. Today, she’s the marketing director at Pfluger Architects, a design firm specializing in the education market.
Heather joins us to discuss owning your niche, market expansion and building an effective team with diverse skills. She shares why Pfluger encourages architects to use LinkedIn and how a strong brand supports proposal development, boosts employee engagement and amplifies recruitment efforts.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn Who Heather Blazi is
About Pfluger Architects
How Heather’s architecture background influences her work as a marketer
Insights into the growing intersection between marketing and business development
The benefits of niche marketing
How to effectively leverage your niche during proposal writing and market expansion
Why use thought leadership to market your team’s knowledge, expertise and capabilities
The importance of a strong firm brand and positioning
About Pfluger’s recent successes with strategic email marketing
Why Pfluger encourages its architects to use LinkedIn
How people-centric social media posts aid in attracting prospective clients and architecture talent
About our featured guest Heather Blazi is the principal-in-charge of marketing at Pfluger Architects, a firm on a mission to inspire people to create a more meaningful human experience. With nearly 10 years of experience, Heather has planned and executed marketing initiatives contributing to Pfluger's growth and expansion across Texas. Beyond the world of architectural marketing, Heather has two daughters who bring boundless inspiration (and chaos) to her every day, reminding her of the importance of creativity, adaptability and being open to a fresh perspective. Heather enjoys volunteering and crafting anytime she can. With a heart for service, a commitment to her family and a flair for strategic thinking, she hopes to continue making a positive impact on those around her.
Resources mentioned in this episode Check out Pfluger Architects
Follow Pfluger Architects on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram
Connect with Heather Blazi on LinkedIn
Say hello to Michelle Calcote King on X and LinkedIn
Sponsor for this episode This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink.
Founded by Michelle Calcote King, Reputation Ink is a public relations and content marketing agency that serves professional services firms of all shapes and sizes across the United States, including corporate law firms and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms. 
Reputation Ink understands how sophisticated corporate buyers find and select professional services firms. For more than a decade, they have helped firms grow through thought leadership-fueled strategies, including public relations, content marketing, video marketing, social media, podcasting, marketing strategy services and more.
To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.