Project Pursuit Playbook™ — Prado Consulting Group
NACDA Conference Compass
You cannot win high-profile projects without understanding what your clients value most.
A pre-conversation preparation tool for AEC and professional services professionals at NACDA and collegiate athletics industry conferences.
What this tool does
01
Prepares you for typical conversations at industry events — from a 30-minute coffee to a trusted dinner.
02
Builds your introductory pitch so you show up with a confident, memorable introduction.
03
Surfaces the questions that separate vendors from trusted advisors — the ones that uncover what clients value most.
04
Helps you close conversations with a specific next step and capture what you learned before you leave the building.
Specifically built for sports industry conferences
Vendors compete at the RFP stage. Trusted advisors are invited before the RFP is issued. This tool is built around that principle — and around the idea that the client's success is the priority. Your firm is the guide.
Step 1 of 8 — Scenario
What type of conversation is this?
Each scenario has a different goal, a different preparation mindset, and different questions. Be clear on where you are before you walk in.
01
Casual Coffee
~30 min
A spontaneous or loosely scheduled conversation — coffee bar, convention hallway, between sessions. Could be a new introduction or a reconnection.
Goal: Make a strong, memorable impression. Learn one or two meaningful things about their current priorities. Earn the right to a more focused follow-up conversation.
02
Exhibit Hall & Reception
High volume
Networking in a high-energy environment — exhibit hall, sponsored receptions, awards luncheons. Conversations are short and often interrupted.
Goal: Breadth over depth. Meet the right people, make a strong first impression, plant seeds, and identify who deserves a longer conversation.
03
Focused Meeting & Lunch
60–90 min
A scheduled or semi-scheduled meeting — a hosted lunch, a reserved meeting room session, a deliberate sit-down with a prospective client or referral introduction.
Goal: Substantive discovery. Understand their capital priorities, organizational dynamics, near-term project pipeline, and what they need from a professional services partner.
04
Dinner & Trusted Relationship
Extended
A dinner or extended evening conversation with someone you have known for years — a past client, a longtime colleague, a mutual friend in the industry.
Goal: Deepen the relationship. Learn what is really happening in their organization. Understand what is coming in their capital plan. Reinforce your position as a trusted advisor.
Step 2 of 8 — Who You Are Meeting
Who are you about to engage?
Select the stakeholder type to calibrate question relevance and conversation framing.
Athletic Director / Deputy ADStrategic vision, capital priorities, donor relationships, institutional alignment
Associate / Assistant AD for FacilitiesFacility needs, deferred maintenance, project delivery, day-to-day constraints
Conference Commissioner / StaffConference-wide priorities, media rights, competitive landscape, governance
Industry Peer / ColleagueAnother firm, consultant, or vendor — referral relationships, teaming, market intelligence
Unknown / New IntroductionFirst meeting — discovery mode, learn their role and organization first
Step 3 of 8 — Your Firm
What type of firm do you represent?
This calibrates your elevator pitch framework and some of the question language to your specific role in a project.
Architecture / Design Firm
Construction Firm
Engineering Firm
Step 4 of 8 — Mindset
Before you walk in.
Read these once. Then put the phone away and be fully present.
Step 5 of 8 — Introduction Builder
Your introduction.
The client's success is the priority. Lead with curiosity, not credentials. Choose the option that fits where you are in the conversation.
Quick Intro
Warming Up
Proof Points
Executive
What NOT to Say
Memorable Hook
Hallway, Coffee Line, Exhibit Hall, Reception
You may only have 60–90 seconds. Lead with curiosity. End with a question about them, not a statement about you.
Option A — Area of Focus
"Hi, I'm [Your Name] with [Your Firm]. My specific area of focus is helping organizations think through large, complex decisions before they become projects. I've found that alignment around priorities, goals, and success measures usually determines the outcome long before implementation begins. What brings you to NACDA this year?"
Best for: Consultants, Architects, Engineers, Owner's Representatives
Option B — Industry Perspective
"Hi, I'm [Your Name] with [Your Firm]. I spend most of my time working with organizations that are trying to balance growth, investment, and long-term planning. It's always interesting to hear what different programs are focused on because every institution seems to be facing a unique set of challenges right now. What are you hoping to get out of the conference this week?"
Best for: Anyone — works across all firm types and stakeholders
Option C — Curiosity First
"Hi, I'm [Your Name] with [Your Firm]. We work throughout the industry, so one of the things I enjoy most about events like this is hearing what people are seeing in their own organizations and markets. What's been top of mind for you and your team recently?"
Best for: Social events, receptions, and first-time introductions
The Conversation Has Lasted 2–3 Minutes
You have earned a little more time. Add context about how you approach your work — still without leading with your resume.
Option A — Problem You Help Solve
"I'm [Your Name] with [Your Firm]. We typically work with organizations that are navigating important decisions around growth, capital investment, operations, or long-term planning. One thing we've learned is that the most successful outcomes usually come from clearly defining the problem before discussing solutions. I'm curious — what challenges or opportunities are receiving the most attention from your team right now?"
Option B — Relationship-Based Differentiator
"I'm [Your Name] with [Your Firm]. We help clients execute projects and initiatives, but what differentiates our approach is that we spend a lot of time understanding what success actually looks like from the client's perspective before we recommend anything. I'd love to hear more about your organization. What are you and your team most focused on right now?"
Option C — Strategy-Based Differentiator
"I'm [Your Name] with [Your Firm]. Our work often starts long before a project officially begins. We've found that the organizations that achieve the best outcomes usually spend more time aligning stakeholders, defining priorities, and establishing a clear vision before implementation ever starts. What does that process look like in your organization?"
Adding Context — Not Bragging
A proof point should sound like context, not a credential drop. Use one of these naturally when the moment calls for it — after they have shared something, not as an opener.
Option A — Relevant Experience
"We've recently worked with several organizations facing similar challenges, and one thing that continues to stand out is how important early planning and alignment become as projects increase in complexity."
Option B — Market Experience
"We've spent a significant amount of time working with organizations across this market sector, and it's been interesting to see how priorities continue to evolve."
Option C — Industry Observation
"One thing we've observed across many of our clients is that the organizations seeing the strongest outcomes tend to focus as much on strategy and decision-making as they do on implementation."
Option D — Project Experience
"We recently completed several projects in this space, and one of the biggest lessons was how important it is to understand the organization's long-term objectives before making major investments."
Option E — Research-Based
"We spend a lot of time studying trends across the industry, and it's fascinating to see how organizations are adapting to changing expectations, funding models, and competitive pressures."
Executive-Level Introduction — ~1 Minute
For a focused meeting or dinner with a senior leader. More conversational, less scripted. Leads with how you think, not what your firm has built.
Option A — Focused Meeting or Lunch
"I've spent much of my career helping organizations navigate significant decisions, investments, and change initiatives. One thing I've come to appreciate is that the most successful projects are rarely about the project itself. They're usually about achieving a larger organizational goal — whether that's growth, performance, efficiency, experience, revenue, recruitment, retention, or long-term positioning. What I enjoy most is helping organizations think strategically about those bigger questions before decisions are made. I'm interested in learning more about your organization. When you think about the next three to five years, what opportunities or challenges occupy the most space in your thinking?"
Option B — Dinner or Small Group
"Most people assume my job revolves around projects, but the reality is I spend a lot of time helping people think through decisions. That's probably what I enjoy most — the opportunity to learn how different organizations approach challenges and opportunities. What has been the most interesting issue or opportunity you've been working through recently?"
Best for: Trusted relationships, evening conversations, smaller gatherings where a more personal tone lands better.
✖ What NOT to say
✓ Instead, do this
What Makes a Strong Hook
A hook is not a sales pitch. It is a brief insight, observation, or trend that demonstrates you have a point of view and understand the challenges facing the industry. The purpose is to create curiosity, establish credibility, and transition naturally into a conversation.
The Formula
Observation → Insight → Opportunity or Risk → Question
Topic-Based Hooks
Revenue Generation & Premium Experience
"One of the biggest shifts we're tracking right now is that athletic departments are becoming much more sophisticated about viewing facilities as revenue-generating assets rather than simply capital projects. The schools creating the most momentum seem to be thinking differently about premium experiences, sponsorship integration, and year-round activation. I'm curious — where are you seeing the greatest opportunities for revenue growth within your program?"
Student-Athlete Performance
"One trend we're watching closely is how quickly the definition of a high-performance environment is evolving. It's no longer just strength and conditioning space. Recovery, nutrition, sports science, mental wellness, and athlete development are becoming much bigger parts of the conversation. What areas are receiving the most attention from your leadership team?"
Campus & District Development
"One of the most interesting shifts we're seeing is that athletic facilities are increasingly being planned as part of larger campus and district strategies rather than standalone projects. The institutions creating the most value seem to be thinking beyond the venue itself. How does athletics fit into your institution's broader campus vision?"
Competitive Advantage
"If I had to identify three trends we're paying the closest attention to right now, they would be revenue diversification, athlete performance environments, and campus-wide activation strategies. The programs that seem to be creating separation are investing thoughtfully in those areas before they become industry standards. Which of those do you think will have the biggest impact on your institution?"
Future of College Athletics
"One thing I find fascinating is that nearly every athletic department is being asked to navigate increased expectations, increased competition, and increased financial pressure — all at the same time. The institutions responding most effectively seem to be rethinking long-term strategy rather than simply reacting to change. What challenges are occupying the most space in your thinking right now?"
Firm-Specific Hooks
Architecture / Design Firms
"Most firms show up to NACDA looking for projects. We show up to understand what athletic directors are losing sleep over. The buildings come later."
Construction Firms
"The question we ask before any project is not 'can we build it' — it's 'do you actually have what you need to get through this without it becoming the hardest two years of your career?' Most programs don't. That's the real conversation."
Engineering Firms
"Every athletic facility that creates problems five years after opening had an engineer who knew there was a better option and said nothing. We're the firm that says something."
Write Your Own
Your Version
Draft your own hook using the formula above — Observation → Insight → Opportunity or Risk → Question
Step 6 of 8 — Question Navigator
Select your questions.
All 16 categories shown. Star the questions you want to take into the conversation. Introductory = safe for any relationship. Developing = some rapport established. Trusted = candid relationship earned. ★ Elite = consistently produces the deepest conversations.
Complete this within 30 minutes of leaving the conversation. This is where your follow-up strategy begins. ⚠ Download your notes before closing this tab — they are not stored between sessions.
What did you learn that you did not know before you sat down?
Which question produced the most insight — and what did it surface?
What is this person actually dealing with that did not come out directly?
What is the one thing I can deliver in the next 48 hours that would be genuinely useful to them?
What is the agreed next step — and when does it happen?
The Pursuit Edge
What do I now know about this person's priorities, challenges, or organization that most firms in the room do not?
Follow-Through Checklist
□Send a personal follow-up within 24 hours — reference something specific they said
□Deliver the value-add I promised (connection, article, case study)
□Log key insights and pipeline notes in CRM
□Next touchpoint scheduled: _______________
□Introduction I committed to make: _______________
□Who else in their organization do I need to meet?