Spill The Ink

Hosted by Michelle Calcote King, Steven Gallo

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100

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Spill the Ink, a podcast by Reputation Ink featuring growth and visibility experts from professional services firms, including law firms and AEC firms.

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November 4, 202626 min

The Editor's Eye: What Makes a Story Newsworthy in Legal Journalism

In this episode of "Spill the Ink," Michelle Calcote King talks with Ross Todd, editor and columnist for The Am Law Litigation Daily, about what separates a genuinely newsworthy case from a routine update, how the Litigator of the Week nomination process works and why some stories don't make the cut. Ross also discusses how his newsroom uses AI, what he wishes PR professionals and lawyers understood about pitching him and where he thinks human judgment still beats a machine. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn Why a result alone doesn't make a story, and what Ross looks for instead How Ross and his team sort out who deserves credit when multiple firms are involved in a case What separates a pitch Ross acts on from one he passes over Where Ross sees AI changing legal journalism, and where he doesn't think it can compete with a human reporter About Our Featured Guest Since July 2020, Ross Todd has been the editor/columnist for The Am Law Litigation Daily, where he covers the intersection of disputes and the business of law. He started his legal journalism career at The American Lawyer magazine in January 2006 and has covered litigation since 2014 when he joined The Recorder, Am Law's California affiliate. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Check out The Am Law Litigation Daily Connect with Ross Todd 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 marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B 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 , creative services and more. To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

October 21, 202616 min

What Legal and Tax Marketers Get Wrong About ITR World Tax Rankings

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King sits down with John Harrison, Head of Research at ITR World Tax, to break down how the rankings and awards process actually works and why it matters for tax and legal marketers. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn What actually separates a tier one tax firm from a tier three firm (hint: it's not deal size) What ITR's submission process looks for and the two biggest mistakes firms make How much weight client interviews and market feedback carry versus the written submission Why ITR says its rankings aren't pay-to-play and what that actually means What firms new to ITR should expect in their first few years About Our Featured Guest John Harrison is the Head of Research for International Tax Review (ITR), part of Legal Benchmarking Group. He leads global research into tax and transfer pricing practices for law firms and professional services advisory firms. Before joining ITR, he worked as an awards research editor for Delinian. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Check out ITR World Tax Follow ITR World Tax on LinkedIn Connect with John Harrison 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 marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B 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 , creative services and more. To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

October 7, 202619 min

How to Deliver Holiday Greetings Without the December Dash

A holiday greeting that goes out on time starts with one person who owns the project and a team willing to plan earlier than feels necessary. In this episode of "Spill the Ink," host Michelle Calcote King talks with Jessi Bruton, group creative director at Reputation Ink, about how law firms, AEC firms and other professional services firms can trade the annual December dash for a plan that works. Jessi explains how to choose the best medium for your message, how to brief a designer on tone instead of tactics and why feedback works best when it explains the why. She also covers mailing list cleanup, production time after approval and where holiday marketing is heading. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn Why you should start planning earlier than you think Why one person should own the project and how to keep the review team small How to choose between print and digital based on your brand and your relationships How to brief a designer on tone and give feedback that explains the why How to keep list cleanup and production from derailing your schedule About Our Featured Guest Jessi Bruton is group creative director at Reputation Ink. An award-winning creative director with two decades of experience in graphic design and brand strategy, she has earned recognition for her visual storytelling from the American Advertising Federation, HSMAI and AIGA Jacksonville. She is also an award-winning podcast host, a certified Scrum master and a performance-minded creative thinker with a passion for testing and data metrics. Jessi has crafted branding, design and messaging for national and international brands, including Omni Hotels & Resorts, HomeVestors, Morocco World News and Brightway Insurance, along with challenger and regional brands. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Follow Reputation Ink on LinkedIn , Facebook and Instagram Connect with Jessi Bruton 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 marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B 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 , creative services and more. To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

September 24, 202631 min

Inside the Inbox: What Gets a Pitch Read at Roads & Bridges

Gavin Jenkins, Head of Content at Roads & Bridges (Endeavor Business Media), reads dozens of pitches a week deciding what gets covered and what doesn't. In this episode of Spill the Ink, Jenkins joins host Steven Gallo to walk through what actually catches his attention in a pitch email, how newsworthiness and timing factor into his decisions, and the difference between pitching a story idea, a source and contributed content. He also talks about how editorial priorities shift across the Roads & Bridges website, print magazine and podcast, what it takes to land a spot on the Top 10 Roads & Bridges Awards list, and where he sees AEC media coverage headed as the industry moves deeper into AI adoption. It's a practical look inside a trade editor's inbox for AEC marketers trying to break through. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn What makes Jenkins stop and read a pitch right away The biggest time-wasters in his inbox Pitching a story idea vs. a source vs. contributed content Where the line is between mentioning your company and being too promotional Tips for entering the Top 10 Roads & Bridges Awards About Our Featured Guest Gavin Jenkins is Head of Content at Roads & Bridges, part of Endeavor Business Media, where he oversees the website, print magazine and Infrastructure Technology Podcast. He also teaches journalism as an adjunct professor at the Community College of Allegheny County and has freelanced for The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Atlantic. Before joining Roads & Bridges, Jenkins was an associate editor at Pitt Med Magazine, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's quarterly publication. He holds a master's degree in nonfiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh and has won two Golden Quill Awards from the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania. He is based in Pittsburgh. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Check out Roads & Bridges Follow Roads & Bridges on LinkedIn , Facebook and Instagram Say hello to Steven Gallo on LinkedIn Sponsor For This Episode This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink . Founded by Michelle Calcote King , Reputation Ink is a marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B 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 , creative services and more. To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

September 9, 202620 min

Think Like an Editor: Getting Published in Law360

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Ellen Jones, Senior Editor of Expert Analysis at Law360, pulls back the curtain on what actually gets attorneys published in one of legal media's most widely read outlets. Law360 distributes newsletters to more than 3 million recipients every business day, and its Expert Analysis section is where attorneys can reach the GCs, compliance officers and business leaders who rely on it for substantive analysis. Ellen walks through what separates a strong submission from one that goes straight to the slush pile, how the 90-day news hook works in practice, what the editorial collaboration process looks like and how legal marketers can position their attorneys to succeed. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn How Law360's Expert Analysis section differs from its breaking news coverage and why that distinction matters for legal marketers The 90-day news hook rule and what options exist when a topic doesn't fit neatly into that window Why submissions that simply recap what happened get rejected and what editors want instead How to pitch in 150 words and what the collaborative editing process looks like from there How AI is changing the visibility equation for law firms and why expert analysis matters more, not less, because of it About Our Featured Guest Ellen Jones is an experienced legal content strategist with a strong background in writing and editing. She serves as a senior editor for Law360's Expert Analysis vertical, where she works directly with attorneys and marketing and communications pros from AmLaw200 firms and beyond to create guest bylines for a premiere legal news brand that reaches more than three million readers across law, business and government daily. Her journalism background, relationship-building skills and keen understanding of legal industry trends guide her approach to curating thought leadership content that connects with audiences. With a passion for helping lawyers and firms spotlight their knowledge and capabilities, she collaborates with world-class legal experts to distill can't-miss business news into compelling analysis for busy decision-makers. She is a member of the American Society of Business Publication Editors and holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication and information sciences from The University of Alabama. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Check out Law360 Follow Law360 on LinkedIn , Facebook and Instagram Connect with Ellen Jones 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 marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B 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 , creative services and more. To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

August 27, 202630 min

What AEC Marketers Need to Know About Pursuit Intelligence Tools

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Steven Gallo talks with Troy Meyer, Director of Marketing & Insights at Kantiv, about what pursuit intelligence tools actually are, how they differ from general AI platforms and what AEC marketers need to evaluate before choosing one. Before Troy joined Kantiv, he spent more than 20 years in AEC marketing, which gives him a practitioner's lens on how these tools work. He also shares what firms should evaluate before buying and why the biggest adoption challenges usually have nothing to do with the technology itself. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn What a pursuit intelligence tool is and how it differs from general AI platforms How institutional knowledge gets lost in the proposal closeout process What to ask vendors — and yourself — before committing to a tool Why adoption stalls and what it takes to make implementation stick How the right tools can shift AEC marketers from overhead to revenue driver About Our Featured Guest Troy Meyer is a marketing and communications leader with more than 20 years of experience in the AEC industry, specializing in marketing strategy, proposal development, content operations and AI enablement. He has held marketing and business development roles at firms including Harris & Associates and ICF, and served as owner of Infusion Design Group. He now serves as Director of Marketing & Insights at Kantiv, where he helps AEC marketing teams modernize their pursuit processes through scalable, insight-driven systems. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Check out Kantiv Follow Kantiv on LinkedIn , Facebook and YouTube Connect with Troy Meyer on LinkedIn Say hello to Steven Gallo on LinkedIn Sponsor For This Episode This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink . Founded by Michelle Calcote King , Reputation Ink is a marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B 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 , creative services and more. To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

August 12, 202620 min

What Actually Gets You in the Lawdragon 500

In this episode of "Spill the Ink," Michelle Calcote King talks with Katrina Dewey, founder of Lawdragon, and Alison Preece, director of rankings and content, about how the Lawdragon 500 actually works. They cover the selection process behind Lawdragon's 36 guides, what separates a targeted, journalism-style submission from a weak one, how AI is changing the way lawyers get discovered, and why Lawdragon sees a ranking as the beginning of a relationship — not the end of one. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn How Lawdragon selects lawyers across its 36 guides and why nominations, peer review and editorial research all play a role What makes a strong submission and why firms should write like journalists How AI is changing the way lawyers and firms get discovered and how quality rankings factor in How to leverage Lawdragon recognition once you have it About Our Featured Guests Katrina Dewey is the Founder and CEO of Lawdragon. She is a drop-out lawyer, dedicated legal journalist and has been creating lists of lawyers since 1989. With the Lawdragon team, she has created a vital voice in the legal profession that allows legal professionals to share their stories with the world. She views legal recognition as the beginning of the journey, not the destination. Alison Preece is Director of Rankings & Content at Lawdragon. She is a core member of the Lawdragon Guides research team, highlighting the work of the most elite lawyers and legal professionals in the nation and globally. She oversees editorial content and assists in the strategic direction of the company. She is particularly interested in how the leadership of female lawyers is reshaping the profession, and enjoys speaking with the many incredible lawyers who wrangle with complex and relevant topics daily. Alison previously managed strategic communications at Cravath, Boies Schiller Flexner, and Shearman & Sterling. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Check out Lawdragon's website View Lawdragon's editorial calendar and guide methodology at lawdragon.com/guides Follow Lawdragon on LinkedIn and Facebook . Connect with Katrina Dewey on LinkedIn Connect with Alison Preece 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 marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B 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 , creative services and more. To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

July 31, 202629 min

Know Before They Go: Knowledge Transfer as an AEC Marketing Strategy

In this episode of "Spill the Ink," Steven Gallo talks with Barbara Stiles, FSMPS, CPSM, senior consultant in the Strategic Growth Advisory practice at Stambaugh Ness, about why institutional knowledge is one of the most valuable — and most vulnerable — assets an AEC firm has, and what marketing and business development leaders can do to capture it before it walks out the door. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn What gets lost when an experienced employee leaves an AEC firm — and why it goes beyond technical knowledge The difference between explicit and tacit knowledge, and why tacit knowledge is where competitive advantage lives How marketing and BD teams can make the business case for a knowledge transfer initiative to firm leadership Practical first steps for firms that want to start capturing institutional knowledge before it becomes a crisis About Our Featured Guest Barbara Stiles, FSMPS, CPSM, is a Senior Consultant in the Strategic Growth Advisory practice at Stambaugh Ness. With more than 35 years of experience in the AEC industry, she is a proven leader in strategic planning, business development and marketing. A former vice president and shareholder at WGI, Inc., she has worked with firms ranging from 200 to 80,000 employees. Barbara has been presenting on business development, leadership, communication and strategic planning topics for more than 20 years at the local, regional and national levels. She is a longtime member of SMPS, has served on the SMPS National board and the SMPS Foundation board, and was recognized as a Fellow of SMPS in 2016. She also holds the Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) designation. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Check out Stambaugh Ness Follow Stambaugh Ness on LinkedIn , Facebook and Instagram Connect with Barbara Stiles on LinkedIn Say hello to Steven Gallo on LinkedIn Sponsor For This Episode This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink . Founded by Michelle Calcote King , Reputation Ink is a marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B 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 , creative services and more. To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

July 15, 202619 min

How to Submit for IFLR1000 (And Actually Get Ranked)

In this episode of "Spill the Ink," Michelle Calcote King sits down with Shailyn Tirado, Global Head of Research at Legal Benchmarking Group, to discuss what it takes to succeed in the IFLR1000 rankings process. Shailyn explains the program's three-pronged research methodology, what firms consistently get wrong when describing deal impact and why the program made the decision to combine its rankings and awards submissions into a single process this cycle. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn What sets IFLR1000 apart from generalist legal directories and who it's designed to serve Why IFLR1000 combined its rankings and awards submissions into a single process this cycle How deal evidence, client feedback, and peer and market insight each factor into the final assessment What firms consistently get wrong when describing deal impact and what the research team actually wants to see Why quality matters far more than quantity when selecting client referees and participating in peer surveys About Our Featured Guest Shailyn Tirado is the Global Head of Research at Legal Benchmarking Group, where she has worked since 2020. She leads research and data analysis teams across a range of markets, with expertise spanning the legal and publishing industries. Prior to joining Legal Benchmarking Group, she was a research editor at Euromoney Institutional Investor, now known as Delinian. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Check out Legal Benchmarking Group Check out IFLR1000 Follow Legal Benchmarking Group on LinkedIn Connect with Shailyn Tirado 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 marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B 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 , creative services and more. To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.

July 1, 202624 min

The AEI Professional Project Awards: Why AEC Firms Should Pursue Them

In this episode of "Spill the Ink," Steven Gallo sits down with Nick Piteo, PE, a principal at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger and chair of the AEI Professional Project Awards jury. Nick pulls back the curtain on what the jury is actually looking for, why the collaboration between marketers and engineers makes or breaks a submission and how to make the business case for pursuing these awards internally. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn What the AEI Professional Project Awards are and why they exist What the jury is actually looking for in a submission Why the disconnect between marketing teams and engineers is one of the most common submission killers The business case for pursuing these awards — from recruiting to getting shortlisted on competitive proposals How to get started and why submitting as a full project team can strengthen your entry and reduce costs About Our Featured Guest Nick Piteo, PE, is a principal at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH), where he has spent nearly 25 years specializing in building enclosures and forensic engineering. His work spans the investigation of existing structures, rehabilitation design, historic preservation and new design, with a focus on higher education, laboratory, healthcare and museum buildings. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, North Carolina, New York and Pennsylvania and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in architectural engineering from Penn State University. Nick also serves as chair of the jury for the AEI Professional Project Awards . Check out the AEI Professional Project Awards Learn more about Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) Follow SGH on LinkedIn Connect with Nick Piteo on LinkedIn Say hello to Steven Gallo on LinkedIn Sponsor For This Episode This episode is brought to you by Reputation Ink . Founded by Michelle Calcote King , Reputation Ink is a marketing and public relations agency that serves B2B 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 , creative services and more. To learn more, visit www.rep-ink.com or email them at info@rep-ink.com today.