The Proposal Odyssey: Navigating the Path to Winning is a full-day, hands-on bootcamp designed to guide AEC marketing and proposal professionals through the complete proposal lifecycle, from prepositioning and team kickoff to final submission and post-proposal debriefs. Through four distinct, interactive sessions, participants will gain strategies for evaluating opportunities, aligning teams, crafting compelling content, ensuring compliance, and managing content for future efficiency. Whether you're new to proposals or a seasoned professional, this event offers actionable insights and real-time application to elevate your proposal process and outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand how to evaluate RFP opportunities, make strategic go/no-go decisions, and organize a successful proposal kickoff.
  
• Learn how to analyze RFP requirements, craft messaging that highlights differentiators, and create strong, persuasive content.
• Explore best practices for collaboration with technical teams, achieving consistency in voice and style, and enhancing proposals with graphics and layout.
• Discover effective techniques for proposal closeout, content management, and client debriefs that support continuous improvement and relationship building.
• Gain hands-on experience through applied exercises that reinforce each step of the proposal process.

Speakers:

Edie Adams, CPSM
Senior Marketing Coordinator
Olsson
Edie Adams, CPSM | LinkedIn

Edie Adams (she/her) has more than a decade of experience managing proposals for engineering, environmental science, surveying, and field services teams at Olsson. Between serving a broad range of disciplines and working with a variety of personality types, she has developed an adaptive proposal process that upholds professional excellence, personal boundaries, and mutual respect. She is well known at Olsson for her rigorous documentation and communication processes that keeps things on track, and she enjoys onboarding new marketers and mentoring colleagues through Olsson’s mentorship program.

Edie served in a leadership role for several years on Olsson’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, where she has led and supported transformative efforts to incorporate inclusivity into internal and external practices. Edie also helped create the framework for the company’s Employee Resource Groups and founded Prism, Olsson’s LGBTQIA+ ERG. In 2023 she was recognized by the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce as a 40 Under 40 Business Leader.

Jamie Bridenstine
Marketing Coordinator
Saunders
Jamie Bridenstine | LinkedIn

Jamie Bridenstine is a marketing coordinator at Saunders Construction with three years of experience in the AEC industry and over 10 years of professional writing experience. She leads proposal pursuits, crafts compelling RFP responses, and shares Saunders’ project stories through press releases, internal articles, and social media. Jamie also coordinates the company’s biweekly internal newsletter, connecting employees across job sites and offices. Her writing has earned two top honors at the Association of General Contractors of Colorado's ACE Awards. Jamie currently serves as Chair of SMPS Colorado’s new Northern Colorado Committee, where she is passionate about building community and supporting AEC marketers. Before entering the AEC field, Jamie served eight years in the U.S. Army, including four years as an artillery officer and two as a public information officer focused on storytelling. She also worked as a producer and multimedia journalist for Wyoming News Now in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Carolyn Anderson
Graphics & Marketing Manager
ME Engineers
Carolyn Anderson | LinkedIn

Carolyn Anderson is a design and marketing professional with nearly a decade of experience in the AEC industry. She holds an accredited degree in architecture from the University of Miami (B.Arch) with a minor in history, and a certificate in technical and analytical writing, giving her an extensive background in both technical writing and graphic design.

After a brief stint as an architect-in-training in post-grad, she quickly found her niche in crafting successful and impactful marketing proposals, interviews, and brand materials for clients in the architecture, construction, and engineering industries. Throughout her career, she has deftly applied her uniquely suited visual and written communication skills to all aspects of the proposal process — consistently winning work while creating and maintaining brand consistency across all deliverables. She currently functions as the graphic and marketing manager for ME Engineers.

Summer Westbrooks
Founder & Owner
Aloha Spirit Marketing
Summer Westbrooks | LinkedIn

Summer Westbrooks is the founder and owner of Aloha Spirit Marketing, bringing nearly 15 years of experience in the construction industry to her work in marketing, business development and strategic communications. She began her career at Kiewit Building Group and later advanced to Kiewit’s Tunneling and Underground District, where she led district communications, proposals, and client interviews. She went on to spend nearly a decade at Saunders Construction before joining Gilmore Construction, a certified minority-owned firm based in Denver.

Throughout her career, Summer has helped companies secure high-priority projects by identifying and articulating their strategic value during the pursuit process. She brings strong knowledge of proposal development best practices. Her leadership and impact have been recognized through several awards, including the 2023 ENR Mountain States Top 20 Under 40 Young Professional Honoree, the 2023 HCC Ambassador Award, and the 2023 Gilmore Leadership Spirit Award.

 Schedule of Events:

Morning
Check-in (and Breakfast): 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM

Opening: 8:00 AM - 8:15 AM

Session 1: 8:15 AM - 9:45 AM

Break: 9:45 - 10:00 AM

Session 2: 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Lunch
Lunch provided: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Afternoon
Session 3: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Break: 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM

Session 4: 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Happy Hour
Happy Hour (drinks and light refreshments provided): 3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

 Location Sponsor:

REGISTER

CEUs Available: 6, 4 Proposals

Note: Only SMPS Members may register at member pricing. All ticket prices increase $25 on August 16.
The Colorado Believes program is rooted in our core values of learning, commitment, and community through charitable giving, membership scholarships, and industry engagement. This program is part of our efforts to diversify membership and help provide opportunities for small and diverse firms to access educational programs. Please email SMPS Colorado’s admin for scholarship and reduced pricing opportunities.
Refunds are available if submitted to the admin one week prior to the event.