Discover how Baker Tilly’s pursuit strategy team, a finalist for the 2023 APMP Bid & Proposal Team of the Year Award, achieved remarkable growth and success. This session will cover team formation, professional development, process innovations, client satisfaction and future-proofing strategies. Attendees will learn actionable insights for building high-performing proposal teams, leveraging technology and fostering a culture of inclusivity and continuous improvement. Whether you’re new to proposal management or a seasoned leader, gain practical tips to enhance your team’s performance and drive career growth.

Alyssa Voboril and Silke Cole, senior managers at Baker Tilly, played a pivotal role in transforming the firm’s pursuit strategy team, a finalist for the 2023 APMP Bid & Proposal Team of the Year award. Both hold APMP Practitioner certifications. Silke served on the APMP Greater Midwest Chapter’s board of directors from 2019 to 2022, while Alyssa is active in the mentorship program. They are committed to APMP best practices, leading team trainings to drive excellence in proposal management. Selected for Baker Tilly’s Rising Leaders program, they gained valuable insights into effective team management to share in this session.

Why do most PowerPoint presentations fall flat? The answer lies in their inability to engage and connect with the audience. In this session, participants will identify common pitfalls that lead to dull presentations and learn strategies to effectively connect with their audience (as well as a little brain science). Key takeaways include gaining the confidence and skills to ditch the PPT template, using visual thinking to amplify the central message, and a valuable reference handout. Join us to unlock the secrets to memorable, audience-focused presentations!

Jared Haskett is a seasoned graphic designer with a wealth of expertise spanning over a decade across various sectors, including the fashion, home goods, and energy industries as well as small business brand consulting. He understands the power of visual communication. At the core of his design philosophy is a commitment to service-based design. He understands that successful design goes beyond aesthetics, focusing on the target audience, an effective message, and ultimate goal of the project. He holds a B.A. in Art and Design from Northwest Nazarene University.

In an age characterized by information overload provided at warp speed, the ability to communicate effectively and succinctly has never been more crucial. This presentation explores the principles of brevity in language, examining its impact on clarity, purpose, and intention. We will analyze the use of fluff language, qualifiers, and the dreaded “just” by highlighting techniques that promote conciseness without sacrificing meaning. By investigating the balance between brevity and thoroughness, we will uncover strategies for enhancing both personal and professional communication.

Michelle Harrison shines in marketing and communications within the A/E/C community. With 12 years of experience, Michelle’s dedication and professionalism has made a significant impact on business practices, marketing, and sales deliverables. Michelle’s relentless advocating for alignment of marketing with business development activities results in complete and maximized sales data. Michelle’s leadership extends beyond internal operations. She is an active member in the Kansas City Society of Marketing Professional Services chapter serving on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee while also attending professional development courses via APMP where she earned her Foundation Certification.

Many industries are shifting from hard copy proposal productions to portal uploads. Some industries made this shift more than a decade ago, while others are shifting as a response to COVID 19 or environmental sustainability goals. The headlines are ripe with cyber attacks and procurement portals are becoming more sophisticated and complex. Each portal is different, with unique requirements, hurdles, pain-points, and multi-factor authentication which complicates and restricts portal access. Participants will learn about successful workarounds to reduce risk and increase on-time, compliant submittals.

Susan Melidosian is a collaborative Proposal Director responsible for leading efforts of practice leadership and senior practitioners in the development of new business in the commercial, state, and Federal markets. This includes client-facing sales efforts (proposals, presentations, case studies) and thought leadership (whitepapers, issue briefs). Her focus includes brand consistency and successfully demonstrating win themes, value proposition, and differentiation in the market. Susan’s leadership style is a “player / coach” model with an emphasis on quality, team collaboration, information sharing, standard process, content development and management, training, and career development. 

Hear from professionals who have expanded their knowledge base while opening doors for their careers through certification. With certifications in project management, Lean Six Sigma, and proposal management, Mary Frances discusses an inner drive for knowledge and what certifications have been worth it. Then Certification Study Group Co-Chairs Lindsay and Kaitlin will join her for an interactive panel discussion on APMP certification, micro-certifications, and how to boost your career.

You may have heard the term “inclusivity” or have seen posts about why DE&I is important to workplaces and companies’ productivity. But how can individuals contribute to inclusive workspaces? Creating inclusive workspaces does not just benefit those who identify as neurodivergent or who have mental health concerns or conditions, but every employee. During this interactive session, we will discuss many free (or low-cost) ways that employees, managers, and other leaders can create team and work environments where everyone can thrive, leading to lower turnover, increased productivity, and overall well-being for proposal management teams!

Tori Bunk is currently a member or APMP’s Board of Directors and former Chair of APMP’s Mental Health Affinity Group. She began her proposal journey almost 10 years ago and has found her passion at the intersectionality between proposal management and mental health. As a neurodivergent proposal manager, she understands the importance of creating and fostering inclusive environments.

Just getting started in the world of AI? See how quickly AI is evolving and learn a few easy tools to integrate into your every-day business processes. Our panel will share first-hand stories and lessons learned while piloting and scaling AI across their organizations. They will discuss important factors to consider as you deploy and scale new tools such as use cases, data governance, and demonstrating value. They will also talk about common misconceptions and how AI can boost productivity rather than replace jobs.

Scott Bort is a Senior Marketing and PR Business Partner for Burns & McDonnell and one of the leaders of the marketing organization’s Generative AI Initiative. He drives measurable business results for his clients and innovation and AI adoption across the marketing team with a focus on scaling their approach to AI adoption across other business units. As a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, he seeks to create sustainable and lasting change.