Chad Smeltzer

Bidcurement

We’re developing and deploying the next generative AI business development matchmaking system—where every event becomes an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and educate.
My experience: 
Lead a team of software developers
Developing & Deploying A Generative AI civil infrastructure Matchmaking platform 
Provided Social media and Video Editing Services at One Time
I help people connect virtually

President and CEO

The Infrastructure Network

Built a virtual network connecting vendors and decision-makers, matching over 155 people across 37 events.
Launched and scaled a video podcast aimed at building relationships faster and partnered with influencers for business growth.
Produce podcasts, created engaging content, and promoted industries to drive development and awareness.

Maze of Life Resource Center

Maze of Life Resource Center is a resource-matching technology that connects people with the mental health resources they need to navigate life transitions.     
My experience: 
Architected Maze technology to connect people with resources effectively.
Educate teams on technological concepts and implementation.
Mentor individuals and provide business education to build growth.
Achieved certification as an anger management specialist.

Vice President of Technology

The Infrastructure Hot Seat Podcast

The Infrastructure Hot Seat podcast is a platform for government leaders to share their experiences, challenges, and achievements in public service. It’s for professionals—engineers, operators, and anyone interested in public service—who want to learn directly from leaders. Through these conversations, listeners gain insights into the realities of public works, city management, and other government roles, expanding their understanding of civil infrastructure and the issues public officials face. I created The Infrastructure Hot Seat to promote education and awareness around the work of public works officials, facilitating discussions on the infrastructure needs and challenges impacting our communities.

Podcast Host

ProStar - developers of PointMan

Pointman is a utility management tool that enhances safety, accuracy, and efficiency in locating and managing underground utilities through advanced data collection and visualization.

Shareholder

RMS UTILITIES INC

Developed and deployed the Dashboard Dynamics Sewer Inspection and Repair platform.
Oversaw all business development and sales operations.
Designed and implemented sales growth strategies, achieving $5M ARR.
Expanded the company from one employee to 25 employees prior to its acquisition.

Co-Founder & Sales Director

Duke's

* Took innovative products and brought them to market
* Managed day-to-day sales, project scheduling, sales schedules, client accounts, as well as managed a four-state territory in the upper Midwest
* Spent over 70% of my time traveling to government entities, public works departments, and industry trade shows
* Provided customer support, managed 100 customer accounts, and provided solutions to their problems
* Consistently increased sales growth within the territory

Midwest Account Manager

EPS Products llc

* Startup Founder & Owner
* Developed bioaugmentation services to help government entities remove fats, oils, and grease from their sewer systems
* Managed day to day operations, sales, and financials 
* Worked with WSSC and DC water to help improve their operations and maintenance of their sewer systems
* Solicited partners to work with, provided solutions and in order to drive revenue

President

Ehrlich Pest Control

* Senior Technician within 3 years  
* Trained and managed over 12 technician's annually
* Promoted to operations manager at the Baltimore, MD office
* Managed difficult tasks, increased sales, and increased company profitability
* Maintained a high hourly production rate, customer retention (over 97%), and increased territory size
* Specialized in the handling of major contracts like Starbucks, Friendly's, C&S Wholesale Grocers, and other high-end accounts

Pest Control Technician, Territory Sales, Operations Manager

Hi, it’s nice to digitally meet you.

I believe that “a vision without action is merely a dream.”

I believe you have the ability to execute and fulfill your purpose—but most people don’t even try.

I was told in 3rd grade that I wouldn’t get anywhere in life. It’s strange how something like that sticks with you. But honestly, it’s been one of the greatest motivators. Being challenged like that lit a fire.

I started running paper routes at age 10, learning customer service and developing social skills early on. I worked in public works at 15, volunteered as a firefighter for 15 years, and went straight to work after high school.

By 20, I had learned how to build relationships, sell services, deliver value, and develop territories. I started my first company at 26, and my second at 38. For the past 20 years, my focus has been on improving municipal wastewater infrastructure. 

I successfully exited both startups, learning a lot about what not to do in business. Both companies generated revenue and had the ability to scale—they lacked automation, education, and the right people. It’s people who build a business—not money. The money is a tool, and it must be used wisely. 

In 2020, I wanted to learn how to build software.
In 2021, I built my first platform with a developer.
In 2022, I launched a video podcast to explore virtual relationships.
In 2023, I built my first virtual network, connecting people to events.
In 2024, we launched a video RFP process that used AI to streamline vendor and buyer matchmaking—from months down to just days.
In 2024–2025, we’re deploying and developing AI-powered events based matchmaking technology that streamlines how business relationships are built in the digital world.

We now automate how people connect and educate—through virtual events, network, and collaborate on infrastructure projects.

The future of business and professional development needs a streamlined solution—one built for connection and collaboration. We built it.

The traditional approach to biz dev is archaic. Fragmented.

We fixed it.

Join us for beta testing.

At Bidcurement, we're more than a done for you podcasting system; we're your storytelling partners. With 30 years of building relationships between businesses and governments, we understand what makes a community tick. Our mission? To humanize your message, educate your audience, and build a culture that's distinctly yours. Let's make your story heard and your solutions seen. Together, we'll create something unforgettable.

What We Do:

❤️Custom Podcast Production: From idea to airwaves, we manage all aspects of podcast creation, delivering content that captivates and educates our audience.

🧲Expert Guest Acquisition: Our podcasts feature insights from leading experts in the civil infrastructure field, adding depth and value to every episode.

🎙️Strategic Content Management: We ensure your podcast reaches its full potential with strategic planning, audience engagement, and performance analytics.

🗝️Integrated Support: Our plug and play approach includes SEO, social media content, and cross-platform distribution to maximize your podcast's visibility.

😊Exclusive Networking Opportunities: Join our growing network of over 150 businesses and government entities, opening doors to new collaborations and opportunities.

Our team is passionate about leveraging technology and media to make a tangible impact on the civil infrastructure sector. Through Bidcurement, we bridge knowledge gaps, promote innovative solutions, and build a more connected and informed community.

Let's connect and remember no one wants to have a meeting, everyone wants to have a conversation!

Degrees Don’t Build Value — Experience Does.

This popped up in my Instagram feed and felt too fitting not to share here.

We live in a world obsessed with credentials.
Degrees. Abbreviations. Titles.

And somehow, that’s supposed to mean someone should be hired first.

But here’s the truth:
If you’ve never built something from the ground up, how can you possibly advise those who do?

Too often, businesses hire based on academic credentials not on proven experience.

That’s how institutional knowledge disappears.
That’s how billion-dollar mistakes happen.

Starbucks learned this the hard way.
They once brought in “highly credentialed” consultants and nearly broke the company in the process.

It took bringing back the people who knew the craft the ones who understood operations from the inside to rebuild what was lost.

The same lesson applies to engineering.

Firms are full of people with degrees, but short on those who’ve actually built.

We keep promoting theory, not experience.
And that’s why we keep repeating the same mistakes.

Hire the doers.
Listen to the ones who’ve been there.
That’s where the real ROI lives.

⸻

If you’ve seen this play out in your industry, share your story below.

Let’s rebuild the value chain around skill, not just status.

#EngineeringReform #ValueCapture #CivilEngineering #InstitutionalKnowledge #Leadership

Talks about #innovation, #procurement, #construction, #environmental, and #technologysolutions

Business Development Leader | Construction & Public Sector | Growth Strategist | No Code Solution Architect | Civil Engineer Advocate

David Kratochvil

“Engineer” Means Nothing and That’s the Problem

This email was sent to me by a president of an engineering company, a 25+ year veteran. I’ll summarize it. 

In the U.S., anyone can call themselves an engineer.
No degree. No PE. No license. No accountability.

“Engineer” is not a protected title.
“Professional Engineer” is  - but how many even know that?

Meanwhile, the Manufacturer/Industrial Exemption quietly stripped power from the profession decades ago.
Only engineering was targeted.
Not medicine.
Not law.
Not accounting.
Not architecture.

Industry uses that loophole to outsource billions in engineering work overseas — often to firms with no U.S. licensure, hiding behind a legal technicality that was meant for “in-house staff.”
And because tariffs apply to goods, not services, there’s zero recourse.

Civil. Mechanical. Electrical. Chemical.
We’re all on the same sinking ship — fragmented, deregulated, and undercut by our own system.

The result?
U.S. engineers carry liability and risk, yet compete with $30/hr offshored labor.
And the public still assumes “engineer” means licensed and accountable.

It doesn’t.
Not anymore.

If we ever want engineering to become a true profession, reform has to come from the next generation not academia, not the boards, and definitely not industry.

Do you agree?
⸻

If you have things to share and would like me to share them. Dm or email me. 

Join our community group. https://lnkd.in/gdPDwXsp

Additionally, if you’re wondering why I haven’t been posting as frequently, I’m currently in a transition phase. I’ll resume posting more regularly soon.

Let’s work together to decentralize civil engineering hiring and optimize project designs!  

#EngineeringReform #ValueCapture #RiskVsReward #CivilEngineering #ProtectThePE

I keep seeing job postings from engineering firms looking for business development professionals. 

But here’s what stands out most of them list a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, a professional license, or even a master’s degree as a requirement.

Now, I know plenty of operators and construction professionals who live and breathe building/ maintaining infrastructure the ones who’ve spent decades in the field, not just behind a desk.

So when did business development become a role for engineers (degrees only)? These are two entirely different skill sets. Business development takes creativity, passion, and a drive for financial growth. It’s about relationships, communication, and understanding people not designing culverts or calculating loads.

Sure, a degree gives you credibility. It proves you’ve put in four years of academic effort. But it doesn’t teach you what it feels like to stand in the mud at dawn, solving real problems alongside the crews installing the infrastructure that keeps communities moving. That hands-on experience is where the real understanding comes from.

I’ve sat in countless capital project meetings, and not once has anyone asked me about my education. What mattered was that I spoke the truth about what infrastructure really is and how it impacts lives. When you’ve done the work, you can tell the story in a way that connects.

You can talk about design/infrastructure all day long, but business development is about relationships. It’s about earning trust from mayors, council members, public works directors, and yes even civil engineers. Aka Decision Makers 

And from what I’ve seen, the business developers who truly succeed are the ones who can relate to people not comparing degrees.

Join our group! https://lnkd.in/gdPDwXsp

Decentralize civil engineering by partnering with business developers who connect with the audience, guide the conversation, know procurement, collaborate with field expertise, and deliver quality work beyond just the hourly rate. 

That’s what we’re building for the next generation of civil engineers who aspire to become civil engineers rather than business developers. 

#CivilEngineering
#InfrastructureDevelopment
#ConstructionIndustry
#PublicWorks
#EngineeringDesign
#TransportationInfrastructure
#WaterInfrastructure

Building a Decentralized Hiring System to Help Civil Engineers Build Sustainable Infrastructure in America | Open to Building Businesses & Coaching Business Developers

No alternative text description for this image

Are the city engineers actually doing the design work for the engineering firms?

Here’s how it usually goes:
The city or land developer hires the firm. The firm hands the plans to an engineer fresh out of college. A senior engineer glances over the design, then pushes it to the city engineer. 

The city engineer reviews it, marks it up, and sends it back to the firm. The firm adjusts the designs based on those markups and resubmits them to the city engineer who finally approves them.

So now we have designs created by inexperienced engineers, while city engineers are essentially doing the design work for firms that are being paid for “professional engineering services.”

Then it moves to construction, and all hell breaks loose.

RFIs pile up. Projects stall. Construction costs skyrocket.

Join our group https://lnkd.in/gwkCiDdn

Let’s decentralize and bring back ethics and professionalism to a broken profession! 

#CivilEngineering #EngineeringReform #DesignQuality #ValueCapture #RiskVsReward #Publicsector

This morning I woke up to a comment that hit a nerve.

Silas Callahan  shared this:

“Here’s an issue I’ve experienced first-hand breaking into new markets. Jurisdictions will frequently require years of experience in the specific field of the RFP and often with that jurisdiction specifically. You can be incredibly talented, and it still counts for nothing.

I’ve worked with engineers with 20 years of experience but that doesn’t mean they have knowledge. Some are one-trick ponies who resist change. They haven’t kept up with modern practice. Meanwhile, engineers like me who focus on learning, creativity, and collaboration get shut out.

It’s demoralizing.”

He’s right.

This is what I’ve been talking about, civil engineering as a profession is being trashed.
Not respected by project owners or contractors.

New engineers are underpaid, undervalued, and lack training from college about the essential skills required for designing infrastructure. Most haven’t stepped foot onto a construction site or even know how to use CAD. Additionally, business development is prioritized by “selling” hours across various projects. This isn’t business development at all, at least not the kind that I had to learn to build businesses. I sold millions annually and managed to avoid responding to RFPs or bids altogether (to the extent possible). It’s a skill.

They burn out.
Senior engineers carry the weight.
And the principals? Most played the game long enough to rise.

I’ve had people call this system modern-day slavery in response to my posts and honestly, it’s not far off.

⸻

Let’s go back to what Silas said about RFP requirements based on jurisdictional experience.

Here’s what’s really happening:
Someone convinced the procurement department or director/engineer that “only local (jurisdiction) experts” can deliver better results (quality designs) That language made it into the bid to block outside competitors.

Fewer responses = higher win chance. That’s the game.

⸻

How do you beat this?

1. Build relationships.
Figure out who you need to know. Take your time. Trust wins.

2. Go nuclear: File a bid protest.
You’re not getting the job anyway — what do you have to lose?
A protest can:
	•	Force justification of specs
	•	Create a paper trail
	•	Signal that someone’s watching

3. Stop waiting on bids.
If you don’t have a BD process, your win rate is probably under 20%. Why? Because the RFP authors don’t know you. And they don’t trust you.

And trust wins.

⸻

The best business developers know how to build credibility long before the bid drops.

If no one knows you, why would they buy from you?

Want to break out of this cycle? DM me.

Join our civil engineering community. https://lnkd.in/gdPDwXsp

Let’s decentralize civil engineering and save it.

#CivilEngineering #RFP #GovTech #PublicProcurement #Infrastructure #BidProtest #EngineeringCommunity #BusinessDevelopment #GrowthLeadership #DecentralizeEngineering

I’ve been quiet. Here’s why. A few months ago, I came to a hard truth:      Civil engineers are undervalued.

Despite being essential to nearly every public and private infrastructure project, they’re often treated like interchangeable parts in a machine managed by utilization rates rather than respected for their skill, experience, and insight.

I’ve experienced this firsthand managing my own projects. There’s a disconnect between engineers and opportunities. Communication is broken. 

The system is outdated.
So, I stopped posting and started building.

We’ve been developing a decentralized hiring system, built for civil engineers, by a team of seasoned AEC professionals who understand the full spectrum:
Academia
Corporate expectations
Business development
And most importantly, how to actually deliver quality engineering while saving time and money not just squeezing more billable hours out of shrinking budgets.

This isn’t a job board.
It’s a system that helps engineers:
Own their career path
Seamlessly manage and track projects
Learn and grow while they work
Build a business around their expertise

The feature you see in the image below. 

That’s our Digital Card System.
It’s a smarter way for engineers to showcase verified credentials, instantly connect to projects, and stay visible in a competitive market.
We’re heading into beta testing soon.

If you’re a civil engineer who's tired of the same cycle or just curious about how we’re changing the system, send me a message.

Or join our group https://lnkd.in/gwkCiDdn

Because sometimes the best way to fix a broken system… is to build a better one.
#CivilEngineering #EngineeringInnovation #Decentralized #Engineeringreform #publicworks #AEC #EngineeringCommunity

Strategic Growth Executive | Public Sector Partnerships | Infrastructure Market Expansion | GovTech SaaS | B2G Sales | Decentralizing Civil Engineer Hiring

Dennis D. Truax

What If Public Water Had a Brand? I was scrolling through LinkedIn today and came across a post about Liquid Death.

The author (https://lnkd.in/edPQCH4s was talking about the price difference between a can of Liquid Death and tap water how we’ll pay a few dollars for a can of “mountain water,” but only fractions of a penny for what comes out of our taps.

And it got me thinking…
What if water utilities started investing in marketing and branding, selling their water like private companies?

Imagine something like “Bison Water City of Helena, Montana”, proudly bottled at the source, supporting the very systems that make clean water possible.

This kind of approach could help generate the funds needed to repair, upgrade, and replace our aging national water infrastructure.

Of course, that raises important questions:
 💭 Is it even legal?
 💭 Could a public utility actually do it?

The answer is… technically, yes but it’s complicated. Public systems are regulated by the EPA, while bottled water falls under FDA rules. It would take new licensing, compliance, and transparency measures to pull it off.

#WaterInnovation #WaterInfrastructure #PublicUtilities #CleanWater
 #SustainableInfrastructure #WaterSystems #WaterQuality

People buy from their favorite people!
It still amazes me how little the civil engineering industry understands about competing in business and marketing. 

Too many firms keep chasing RFPs that were never written for them, wasting time and money in the process.

Business development isn’t about waiting for a bid it’s about building relationships strong enough that people want to hire you. Yet, our industry keeps selling itself on hourly rates and unrealistic expectations instead of quality and trust.

This is why margins stay low and firms keep struggling. We run inefficient operations and then pat ourselves on the back for an 8–12% profit. That’s not success that’s survival.

You can’t keep selling your team like a commodity. Selling hours is easy. Selling quality, trust, and partnership takes skill and grit. But most BD teams are stuck in the office, drinking coffee and waiting for RFPs, instead of being out there meeting people, posting on social media (millions of people 2-4hrs a day live), connecting with construction professionals virtually, and educating the industry everyday. It’s takes work and hard work. 

You don’t need a degree for that.
You need drive. You need resilience. You need passion for growth.

Sales isn’t about education. It’s about hunger. And this industry is ripe for disruption for those ready to move beyond academia and start solving real-world problems through real relationships.

Join our group! https://lnkd.in/gdPDwXsp

We are decentralizing civil engineering so you can do engineering and our team of business development professionals can do the selling. 

#CivilEngineering
#InfrastructureDevelopment
#EngineeringIndustry
#ConstructionIndustry
#PublicWorks
#InfrastructureDesign
#UtilityEngineering
#TransportationInfrastructure

taplio

Chad Smeltzer's Linkedin Analytics

Chad Smeltzer

Performance ScoreChad Smeltzer's LinkedIn Performance

What is Chad talking about?

Chad Smeltzer's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

.css-6ytdur{background-image:linear-gradient(284deg, rgba(39, 43, 72, 1) 0%, rgba(33, 47, 183, 1) 100%);color:transparent;-webkit-background-clip:text;background-clip:text;}Chad Smeltzer's Linkedin Analytics

Chad Smeltzer

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Chad Smeltzer's LinkedIn Performance

What is Chad talking about?

Chad Smeltzer's Best Posts .css-1emoo84{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:400;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);}(last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Chad Smeltzer's Linkedin Analytics

Performance ScoreChad Smeltzer's LinkedIn Performance

Chad Smeltzer's Best Posts (last 30 days)