Devon Hayes is the Co-founder of Elevation Marketing, a Denver-based digital marketing agency specializing in smart, data-driven marketing for contractors and home service businesses. Under her leadership, Elevation Marketing has built a strong reputation for long-term client retention and results-driven strategies, with most clients working with the agency for over five years. Devon brings a unique blend of technical expertise from her background in the Navy and deep experience in SEO, digital strategy, and client education, recognized for her practical approach and clear communication style.

From coordinating missions at sea to navigating the chaos of a growing business, some careers take unexpected turns that shape how we handle change. What does it really take to move from structured routines to boldly stepping into uncertainty and innovation?

According to Devon Hayes, a veteran of the Navy turned marketing agency co-founder, the key lies in embracing flexibility and curiosity. She recalls confidently tackling every challenge head-on early in her career, only to realize that building repeatable systems and processes saves more time than improvising. This mindset shift — seeing obstacles as learning opportunities rather than setbacks — has been central to her growth and ability to guide her team through change.

In this episode of Own Your Next, Jennifer McPherson is joined by Devon Hayes, Co-founder of Elevation Marketing, to discuss moving from military precision to business leadership, navigating costly hiring mistakes, and leveraging AI as a tool rather than a threat. Devon also shares insights on mindset shifts that turn challenges into opportunities.

Alison Tierney is the Director of Inclusive Business Partnerships for the Pacific Mountain West region at WSP in the U.S., a global engineering and professional services firm specializing in complex infrastructure and environmental projects. At WSP, Alison fosters strategic partnerships and community-centric collaboration, supporting diverse businesses and advancing the company's global reach of 80,000 employees and its industry-leading inclusion initiatives. With over 20 years of experience across engineering, consultancy, and digital marketing, she combines business leadership with a passion for purpose-driven impact, bridging the gap between large organizations and small business partners.

Breaking into large organizations isn't usually about having the best capabilities or the perfect pitch. More often, success comes down to understanding how big companies operate, building trust over time, and staying committed long after the first conversation ends. So what does it really take for a small business to earn a seat at the table with major organizations?

According to Alison Tierney, a seasoned professional who has spent decades helping businesses build strategic partnerships and grow sustainably, the answer is patience. She explains that winning work with large organizations is a marathon, not a sprint, requiring years of relationship-building, consistent follow-through, and finding advocates within the organization who can champion your value.

In this episode of Own Your Next, Jennifer McPherson is joined by Alison Tierney, Director of Inclusive Business Partnerships at WSP in the U.S, to discuss how small businesses can successfully build relationships with large organizations and position themselves for long-term growth. They explore why patience is critical, how relationship-building creates opportunities, and the advantages small firms bring through agility and responsiveness.

Jennifer McPherson is the President of Chickenango Marketing Solutions. The company specializes in public outreach and marketing for government agencies, and branding, design, and proposal writing for the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) sector. Jennifer started her company at age 46 after gaining 27 years of experience in the AEC industry, and she is now launching Chickenango University, an educational program aimed at enhancing marketing and business development skills in the AEC space.

In today's fast-paced world, the pressure to create perfect proposals can leave teams scrambling to meet deadlines — often working late into the night. But what if there was a way to streamline the process, saving valuable time while ensuring accuracy and compliance? How much could businesses gain by eliminating the most time-consuming parts of proposal preparation?

Jennifer McPherson, a seasoned professional in the architectural, engineering, and construction sectors, points to the power of artificial intelligence to transform this process. She explains that AI can tackle the most tedious and error-prone tasks, such as reviewing complex, ambiguous RFPs and creating compliance matrices, shaving hours off of what used to be a grueling process. By implementing AI-driven solutions, professionals can focus more on strategy and narrative, areas that truly differentiate their proposals in competitive markets. This, she believes, could be a game-changer, giving teams the tools they need to win business while working more efficiently.

In this episode of Own Your Next, Chad Franzen of Rise25 interviews Jennifer McPherson, President of Chickenango Marketing Solutions, to discuss the RFP PursuitAI Hub and its potential to revolutionize proposal development. Jennifer shares insights on how AI can reduce the time spent on early-stage proposal tasks by 75%, cutting down on manual effort and preventing mistakes. She also delves into the broader impact on firms, from increasing proposal quality to allowing teams to focus on win themes.

Illianna Milldrum is the Communication and Engagement Specialist for the City of Loveland Public Works Department, where she serves as a vital community link between city projects and the public by delivering timely, transparent information about government initiatives and infrastructure. In her nearly three years with the city, Illianna has contributed to Loveland's award-winning communications efforts, supporting a municipality of over 75,000 residents and helping nurture a high level of community engagement and trust. Originally from Austin, Texas, she brings eight years of experience in communications, advertising, and event planning, and is passionate about leveraging both technology and authentic human connection within her work.

Every city project comes with noise — detours, dust, and frustration — but beneath it all is something deeper: trust. How do you communicate in a way that keeps a community informed without losing their confidence along the way?

For Illianna Milldrum, the key lies in remembering that communication starts with humanity. Drawing from her experience as a public-facing communicator, she explains that every project impacts real people, and the goal is to meet them where they are with honesty and presence. Whether it involves delivering hard truths early or simply showing up and listening, she's found that transparency builds credibility, and ultimately, stronger community support.

In this episode of Own Your Next, Jennifer McPherson is joined by Illianna Milldrum, Communication and Engagement Specialist for the City of Loveland Public Works Department, to discuss building public trust through transparent communication. They explore balancing honesty with community expectations, managing communication during disruptive projects, and leveraging internal collaboration. Illianna also shares insights on using AI while keeping the human touch.

Phil Lockwood is the Co-founder of ABC Trips, where he designs bespoke travel experiences for families and adventurers, drawing on his extensive background as a professional traveler, travel advisor, and content creator. Under his leadership, ABC Trips has curated unique journeys in over 40 countries across all seven continents and built an engaged global audience of more than 700,000 YouTube subscribers in a few years. Phil's expertise comes from real-world exploration with his family, turning their adventures into insightful video content and inspiring others to prioritize meaningful, personalized travel.

Some people spend years waiting for the "right time" to start living the life they actually want. But what if the only thing standing in the way is the decision to begin?

For Phil Lockwood, the key lies in shifting from "one day" thinking to "day one" action. Drawing from decades of experience building businesses and later redesigning his life around travel, he explains that fulfillment doesn't come from waiting for perfect conditions, but from choosing priorities and acting on them now. That shift led him to trade routine for adventure, creating a life centered on family, exploration, and meaningful experiences. The result is a powerful reminder that the life you want often starts with a single, intentional decision.

In this episode of Own Your Next, Jennifer McPherson is joined by Phil Lockwood, Co-founder of ABC Trips, to discuss designing a life centered on travel and freedom. They explore turning family adventures into a business, why curated experiences matter more than bookings, and how travel reshapes perspective. Phil also shares advice on making the mindset shift from "one day" to "day one."

Brent Weaver is the CEO of E2M, a company specializing in white-label digital services to help agencies scale through web development, digital marketing, AI solutions, and fractional account management. Under Brent's leadership, E2M has expanded its offerings and now serves a global client base, empowering hundreds of agencies to grow profitably and confidently. A digital agency entrepreneur who started building websites as a teenager, Brent is passionate about connecting people and empowering business owners to achieve their dreams through technology.

The way agencies are built and scaled is shifting faster than most leaders can keep up. With AI accelerating everything from operations to creativity, the real question becomes: how do you grow without becoming the bottleneck?

Brent Weaver believes the answer lies in rethinking how work gets done and who (or what) does it. Drawing from his experience as a longtime agency leader and ecosystem builder, he explains that AI isn't about replacing people but expanding what's possible, giving teams near-infinite capacity to execute. He compares it to having a tireless assistant that can scale instantly, freeing up human energy for higher-level thinking and creativity. The result is a new kind of agency model where growth is no longer capped by time but by imagination.

In this episode of Own Your Next, Jennifer McPherson is joined by Brent Weaver, CEO of E2M, to discuss how AI is transforming agency growth and operations. They explore why agency owners become bottlenecks, how fractional account management unlocks scale, and where AI creates new competitive advantages. Brent also talks about building community through Vistara and how leaders can stay ahead in an AI-first world.

Josiah Bussing is the Founder and CEO of Mountaintop Web Design, a digital agency that helps businesses generate leads through strategic website design and digital marketing systems. Under his leadership since 2013, the company scaled rapidly from a solo side project into a thriving, remote-first agency. It now serves clients ranging from small businesses to billion-dollar enterprises, while maintaining a strong focus on high-quality work and long-term client retention.

AI is changing the way businesses show up online, but it's also raising bigger questions about trust, strategy, and what really matters when technology moves fast. In a world full of hype and fear-driven headlines, how do you stay grounded and build something that actually helps your clients grow?

According to Josiah Bussing, a digital marketing strategist with years of experience helping businesses get found online, the key lies in using AI as leverage, not a replacement for real expertise. He explains that the best results come when professionals bring context, clarity, and human judgment to the tools, instead of letting automation cover up a lack of strategy. The takeaway is clear: AI can make work more efficient, but trust and thoughtful guidance are what truly move businesses forward.

In this episode of Own Your Next, Jennifer McPherson is joined by Josiah Bussing, Founder and CEO of Mountaintop Web Design, to discuss AI, SEO, and building client trust in a rapidly changing marketing landscape. They explore how AI is being used to improve internal operations, why SEO still depends on human strategy, and how businesses can avoid fear-based marketing narratives. Josiah also shares advice on using AI responsibly while keeping quality and relationships at the center.

Megan Franklin is the Principal and Lead Civil Engineer at SCE Engineering, a full-service design consulting firm specializing in geotechnical, roadway, civil, and structural engineering for community infrastructure projects. As majority owner, Megan oversees a team spanning three offices, and under her leadership, SCE Engineering has maintained a strong culture with remarkable employee retention and has implemented advanced technologies like AI-powered drone surveying to accelerate project delivery and ensure safety.

Stepping into ownership is rarely a straight line. It's a mix of timing, confidence, risk, and a quiet question many professionals wrestle with: how do you know when you're ready to take the leap and lead something that already has a history?

For Megan Franklin, the answer starts with patience and perspective. As an experienced engineer who spent years building technical depth and leadership confidence, she believes ownership comes after you've seen the industry from multiple angles and learned what kind of leader you want to be. By progressing through hands-on roles and observing what made teams thrive or struggle, she gained clarity that ownership wasn't about perfect timing, but about trusting her growth and values. That mindset reframes leadership as something earned through experience, not rushed by ambition.

In this episode of Own Your Next, Jennifer McPherson is joined by Megan Franklin, Principal and Lead Civil Engineer at SCE Engineering, to discuss stepping into ownership and leading the next chapter of a legacy firm. They explore why timing is rarely perfect, how company culture outweighs company size, and what it means to lead with trust and ethics. Megan also shares advice on embracing risk and staying flexible as a new owner.