Team Member Updates for 2026

Promotions

Lisa Connelly, Principal + Chief Marketing Officer

After 17 years with SMBH, Lisa has become the first non-technical Principal in the firm's history. She started as our first dedicated Marketing professional in 2009, was promoted to Director of Marketing & Business Development in 2013, became a Partner in 2017, and earned her title Chief Marketing Officer in 2021. Lisa works to expand our firm and create a framework for successful business development by bringing organization, expertise, strategy, and accountability to our marketing and branding. Lisa is passionate about creating and building meaningful, lasting relationships within SMBH, with clients, and with her community, driven by her constant desire to put people first and generate positive change. She puts this passion into practice with her active role in the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), even serving as the SMPS Columbus Chapter Director of Communications from 2015 – 2016.

Ebiji Akah, Senior Project Engineer + Sustainability Lead

Ebiji has been with SMBH since 2015, when he began working as a Design Engineer. In 2020, Ebiji was promoted to Project Engineer after earning his Professional Engineering registration in Ohio. He is also a LEED-certified Green Associate, the sustainability head at SMBH, and a Director and Co-Chair of the SEAoO Sustainable Design Committee.

New Hires

We've recently added two new full-time members to our team. Let us introduce you!

Joe Covac, Design Engineer

Joe Covac is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University who started with us as an intern and went full-time last month. He's also currently pursuing his Master's Degree in Structural Engineering at The Ohio State University.

Shara Baumann, Accounting Assistant

Shara joined SMBH on a temporary basis late in 2025, and we liked her so much that we asked her to stay. She happily accepted, and started on a permanent basis in January 2026.