SMMA is pleased to announce the hiring of Sam Galvin as the firm’s Head of Business Development. In this role, Sam will lead SMMA’s efforts to deepen client relationships, drive strategic growth, and expand the firm’s presence across its core markets.
A fourth-generation Massachusetts native, Sam brings a diverse professional background in architecture, advisory services, and business development to the New England market. “All my roots are here,” says Sam. “I’ve spent several years working in the A/E/C space, building relationships with developers, corporate groups, health systems, and academic institutions up and down the East Coast.”
SMMA’s leadership team is excited for Sam to join at a time of ambitious growth and a recent changing of the guard at CEO level. “We’re thrilled to have Sam at SMMA,” said Ryan Farias, Chief Marketing Officer. “His genuine passion for building trusted relationships and creating new opportunities aligns seamlessly with who we are as a firm. Sam will play a key role in helping us deepen connections with our clients and partners, while collaborating with leadership to guide our strategic growth and long-term vision.”
Sam’s role will involve working with market and practice leadership to drive strategic planning, market intelligence, and business development initiatives that strengthen the firm’s independent future and deepen client trust.
Sam’s approach to business development is deeply collaborative. “What connected me with SMMA was how the firm views business development as a cultural cornerstone. Everyone has a role in BD. I see myself as someone who supports the talented individuals who lead projects and cultivate client relationships, helping the firm look ahead to what’s next.”
A graduate of Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, Sam’s first job was in financial services for a national investment management firm. “That experience grounded me in analysis, discipline, and understanding how decisions create long-term value. Working in architecture and engineering, you get to build something tangible—from an idea to ribbon cutting. That’s always been exciting to me.”
Sam’s joins SMMA with a track record of nurturing deep, quality relationships in the A/E/C industry. “It’s no longer just one person holding relationships, it’s entire teams. Company-to-company relationships become people-to-people connections. My role is to facilitate a culture of client development that’s growth-oriented, bringing in new projects and making sure everyone knows SMMA’s name.”
He is also passionate about understanding the broader forces that shape client needs. “The better we understand our clients and the impacts they’re feeling, the better we can support their goals. It’s about positioning ourselves to help when they need someone they can trust.”
Outside of work, Sam is an avid New England outdoorsman. “I love to fly fish in the spring and fall, ski in the winter—mainly in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Being outside is where I’m happiest. Fly fishing teaches patience, and skiing is highly technical—you learn trails, give it your all, and take it one run at a time.”
