Are you wanting to level-up your proposal game by learning from industry experts? Are you wanting to understand how to better effectively use your time, resources and extract better information from your technical team members? Are you wanting to wow your team with enhancing graphics throughout your response? Or are you newer to working on proposals for the AEC industry and you want to learn tips and tricks from industry experts? If so, then this session is for you!

Please join us on Friday, August 18th for an in-person all-day Proposal 201 Bootcamp with dynamic speakers Alexis Jarvis, Vice President with SideCar Public Relations, industry renowned Rachelle Ray, Owner / Strategic Consultant with RMR Consulting, Callie Morris, CPSM, Senior Marketing Specialist with JE Dunn Construction and Kristen Lakey, Account Director with SideCar Public Relations. The Bootcamp will be split into four 45-minute sessions + 45-minutes of hands-on instruction focusing on:

• Setting Your Team Up for Success - Best Practices!
• Cover Letter & Executive Summary
• Project Approach
• Infographics + Org Chart + Resumes

We ask that each attendee bring a previous proposal you would like guidance on or we’ll provide one for you to use during the working time portions of each session.

Session 1: Setting Your Team up for Success – Best Practices!

• Discussing win themes
• Focusing on the importance of proposal strategy
• Expanding upon Proposal Best Practices discussed during the recent AEC Marketing 101 session in June

Session 2: Cover Letter & Executive Summary

• Crafting a memorable cover letter
• Creating an executive summary tactfully highlighting the main points
• Discussing the differences between a cover letter and executive summary

Session 3: Project Approach

• Dissecting/Sleuthing RFPs
• How to read the RFP for what the client is actually asking for
• Best practices for interviewing the technical team to really get the information you want

Session 4: Infographics + Org Chart + Resumes

• Learn how to design compelling infographics to tell your story and design for readability
• See multiple examples of transforming a block of text into an infographic
• How to make the org charts and/or resumes easier for the reviewer to read and understand

DETAILS ABOUT PARKING:

For parking at JE Dunn’s office, please park in the Tower 2 Parking Garage and bring the ticket with you to the Bootcamp. We will be able to validate your parking ticket before you leave.

Speakers

Rachelle Ray
Owner / Strategic Consultant
RMR Consulting

Rachelle Ray is the founder of RMR Consulting, a proposal management consulting company dedicated to helping clients improve their proposal responses through process efficiency, better management, and a little bit of creativity. Her clientele includes small studio design firms, multinational engineering corporations, ENR Top 20 design firms, general contractors, and developers. Rachelle's unique approach emphasizes collaboration and strategic communication techniques to create compelling, successful proposals. She is passionate about education in the proposal space and helping fellow proposal professionals improve their proposal delivery.

Alexis Jarvis
Vice President
SideCar Public Relations

Alexis draws on 15+ years of communications experience to help our clients reach the audiences that matter to them. With equal time spent on the agency side and in-house at large national and international brands, she understands how to effectively work with a diversity of stakeholders to achieve meaningful results quickly. A born storyteller, Alexis earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Arizona. Alexis lives in Centennial with her husband, two boys and a very big garden.

Callie Morris, CPSM
Senior Marketing Specialist 
JE Dunn Construction, SMPS CO Director-At-Large 

Callie Morris, CPSM, is a Senior Marketing Specialist for JE Dunn Construction and has been in the industry for 9 years. At JE Dunn, she leads many local pursuits and marketing efforts, as well as community and employee engagement. Callie has been a member of SMPS Colorado since 2014 and has been Education Chair and is currently the Director-at-Large. When she’s not working or supporting SMPS, Callie is actively involved in volunteering efforts with multiple non-profits throughout the Denver Metro area. She grew up in Durango, Colorado, where she graduated Cum Laude from Fort Lewis College in 2014 with her Bachelors in Marketing.

Kristen Lakey 
Account Director
SideCar Public Relations and Incoming SMPS CO Education Committee Chair

Kristen has more than a decade of strategic and creative marketing, brand management, and communications experience. Much of her career has been spent in the A/E/C industry, giving her in-depth insight into the unique challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving built environment. Kristen is a graduate of Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing management and minor in psychology. When she’s not at work, she is jet-setting, exploring new restaurants, writing, and enjoying theater and live music.

Schedule

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM: Registration (light breakfast and coffee included)
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM: Work Sessions (lunch included)
Every presentation has 45 minutes of instruction with 45 minutes of hands-on working time.

Session 1: Setting Your Team Up for Success – Best Practices!
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM (best practices) 9:15 AM – 9:30 AM (questions)
Break 1: 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Session 2: Cover Letter & Executive Summary
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM (instruction) 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM (working time)
Break 2: 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM (LUNCH – included with registration)

Session 3: Project Approach
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM (instruction) 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM (working time)
Break 3: 1:15 PM – 1:30 PM

Session 4: Infographics + Org Chart + Resumes
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM (instruction) 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM (working time)
3:00 PM: Networking Happy Hour (one drink ticket included)

A light breakfast, coffee, lunch and one drink ticket for happy hour will be provided with the Proposal 201 Bootcamp registration cost.

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT!

Please email SMPS Colorado’s admin to be placed on the waitlist for this event.

CEUs Available: 6, 4 Proposals

Note: Only SMPS Colorado Members may register at member pricing. All ticket prices increase $25 on Aug 4.
Finding it difficult to allocate funds for SMPS programming and/or membership? The Colorado Believes page program is rooted in our core values of learning, commitment, and community through charitable giving, membership sponsorships, scholarships, and industry engagement. This program is also part of our efforts to help diversify membership and help provide opportunities for BIPOC individuals and DBE, WBE, MBE, VBR, and LGBTBE firms to elevate their marketing efforts while helping your company save. Please email SMPS Colorado’s admin for reduced pricing and scholarship opportunities.

If you are a member of another SMPS Chapter and would like a member rate, please email the admin. Job seekers, students, and other new professionals, please visit our Colorado Believes page for details on our student membership programs and professional development scholarship opportunities. Refunds are available if submitted to the admin one week prior to the event.