RS&H Welcomes Shawna Zachman as Senior Vice President, Business Development Operations & Marketing

Why It Matters

The appointment underscores RS&H’s commitment to a data‑driven, integrated go‑to‑market strategy, which can sharpen its competitive edge in the fast‑evolving AEC sector.

Key Takeaways

• Shawna Zachman joins RS&H as SVP, Business Development Operations & Marketing.
• Over 20 years AEC growth and marketing experience.
• Previously led 100‑person BD and marketing team at ENR Top 20 firm.
• Tasked with integrating marketing, sales, and analytics into measurable growth engine.
• Aims to boost RS&H’s market alignment and long‑term revenue expansion.

Pulse Analysis

RS&H, a fully employee‑owned AEC powerhouse, has been scaling its portfolio of infrastructure, aviation and consulting projects while navigating a market that rewards agility and data‑centric decision‑making. The firm’s leadership has signaled a shift toward tighter alignment of marketing, sales and business development functions, a move that mirrors broader industry trends where firms seek to eliminate silos and accelerate win rates. By consolidating these disciplines under a single executive, RS&H aims to create a more responsive operating engine that can adapt to client demands and emerging opportunities.

Shawna Zachman’s appointment brings a rare blend of strategic vision and operational depth. In her previous role at an ENR Top 20 design firm, she oversaw a 100‑person organization that spanned everything from proposal development to sales analytics, and she instituted KPI‑driven models that linked marketing spend directly to revenue outcomes. Her experience with mergers and acquisitions also equips RS&H to integrate new capabilities as it expands. Zachman’s track record of building measurable growth engines suggests she will embed performance dashboards, refine lead‑to‑win processes, and foster cross‑functional collaboration across RS&H’s market and operations leaders.

The strategic impact of this hire could be significant for RS&H’s market positioning. Integrated, analytics‑backed business development can improve bid success rates, shorten sales cycles, and enable more precise forecasting—critical advantages in a competitive AEC landscape where project pipelines are increasingly complex. Moreover, as client expectations shift toward sustainability and digital delivery, a unified growth engine can help RS&H align its service offerings with evolving market demands, ultimately driving higher revenue and reinforcing its reputation as an innovative, purpose‑driven firm.