We are thrilled to announce the return of our in-person annual symposium, a chapter-exclusive one-day conference. We issued a member survey last year asking your opinion on format, time, and location. We listened! Mark your calendars for March 4-5, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. An evening happy hour will be followed by a full day of keynote speakers and compelling sessions on a range of topics including proposal management best practices, mental health, and career development.
Registration for this event includes happy hour (with two top shelf drinks and heavy appetizers), breakfast, lunch, two keynotes and 10 available breakout sessions. Guests will also receive a copy of a book by one of our keynote speakers, You Are Here: Kick-Ass Inspiration for Navigating Your Journey to Success. Attendees will also receive a giftbox of Kansas City inspired treats and have the opportunity to win more than $500 in cash or door prizes!
The complete agenda will be released soon. Grab your ticket now! Symposium and hotel space is limited.
EVENT INFORMATION
- Tuesday, March 4, 2025 5:00 – 7:00 PM (Registration, happy hour)
- Wednesday, March 5, 2025 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM (All day event)
TICKETS
- Early Bird Rate (before December 31): $250
- Regular Rate (after January 1): $275
- Non-GMC Member Rate: $300
- Get your ticket: REGISTRATION LINK HERE
HOTEL
Guests will be responsible for reserving and paying for their hotel rooms. We’ve negotiated a group rate and limited room block at Crossroads Hotel. Use the link below to access our rate. If our block is full, please call the hotel directly at 816-897-8100 to inquire about availability.
- Crossroads Hotel: 2101 Central Street, Kansas City, MO
- $209/night
- Group block: BOOK ROOM HERE
AGENDA
We are continuing to secure fantastic speakers and refine our agenda. Take a look at some of the exciting breakout sessions we have lined up!
Communicating Through Chaos
In the high-stakes world of proposal management, chaos can strike even the most prepared teams. This talk will explore top-down strategies for leaders and proposal managers to foster effective communication and build accountability within proposal organizations and specific bid teams. We’ll discuss how to create role clarity, build trust, and safely express vulnerability to create a cohesive team dynamic. Join us to learn how to transform chaos into clarity and ensure every team member is accountable for their part in the proposal process.
Building a High-Performing Proposal Team
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.
Unlock the Secrets to Building Stellar Presentations
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!
Brevity in the Age of Warp Speed
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.
Procurement Portals: The Good, Bad, and Ugly
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.
Ignite Your Career Trajectory
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.
Jaime is the dynamic CEO and Founder of Keystone Group International and is a driving force in leadership development, organizational strategy, and change management. With a passion for cultivating strong leadership and fostering change-resilient cultures, Jaime leads her team in guiding leaders and organizations toward sustainable growth. She is a regular contributor to Forbes and Authority Magazine and has been named to Inc. Magazine’s 200 Top Female Founders list, a 100 Women to KNOW in America, and Twin Cities Business Notable Female Entrepreneurs.
About Jaime’s keynote: We all have proverbial mountains that we have to climb in our careers and personal lives. But the journey to success and the top of the mountain can be full of obstacles and things that will knock us off course. In her keynote for our event, Jaime will share her personal story of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and simple approaches to help us shift our perspectives in our day-to-day lives to increase energy and performance. Don’t miss this exciting and inspirational session! She will also be on-site for a signing of her book, which will be included for all attendees.
Tina is a long-time writer/panicker. She spent most of her career writing funny cards for Hallmark. She loved her job, but it was hard. She fruck out a lot. But she also learned a ton about how to gain confidence and keep writing, day after day after day. Tina has also created social content, contributed to Hallmark’s creative blog and web site, written material for Chris Rock, and was featured in several crafting DIYs, interviews, and on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family.
About Tina’s keynote: After 17 years at Hallmark, Tina is now teaching workshops and sharing stories via her newsletter, The Panicked Creative. She wants to help anyone looking for inspiration or ways to make the creative process feel a little easier. It kills her to think how many interesting, wise people are out there, too scared to give us their stories. Tina has amassed a ton of low-pressure tricks throughout her writing career. In this keynote, she is passing them along to us, providing tips for filling our creative tanks when they are on empty.
CROSSROADS HOTEL | KANSAS CITY, MO
We are so excited to host this year’s symposium at Crossroads Hotel in Kansas City. This is a 131-room boutique hotel that opened in 2018 in two historic commercial buildings that were originally built in 1911 as Pabst Brewing depot.
With 2,000 square feet dedicated to public art, local artists and artists with historic ties to Kansas City, Crossroads is not just community-driven but art-driven. Their gallery program is a thoughtful effort to reflect and contribute to the surrounding art district. We will be hosting our happy hour on March 4 in the Art Gallery, which is open 24/7.
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OUR SPONSORS
Sponsorship by companies like these helps us add greater value for members including inspirational keynote speakers, extra swag in giveaway bags, and valuable resources on mental health, proposal best practices, and professional development. We are deeply appreciative of their contributions and support for APMP GMC’s 2025 Symposium!
Check back soon and often as new sponsors join our event! For questions, please reach out to kstutsman@gmcapmp.org.
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