UPCOMING EVENTS
Knowledge Management: Maximize the Value of Your Proposal Content & Knowledge Assets
A trending topic in Proposal Management, Knowledge Management (KM) is crucial for business development in 2025. KM, in short, is a standardized methodology for delivering the right information to the right people at the right time and in the right format to win new business. In this APMP MidSouth presentation, learn how to maximize the value of your proposal content, lessons learned, best practices, customer-related knowledge, and deal-crafting expertise. We will discuss the integration of technology and KM, cultural change and knowledge sharing, tacit versus explicit knowledge, and effective strategies to cope with rapid information growth.
Caroline McLaughlin is a Knowledge Manager with a passion for transforming information chaos into clarity. With a background as a reference librarian and proposal coordinator, she specializes in designing digital repositories that ensure no draft, resource, or insight is ever lost. Caroline is a Microsoft Office Specialist Expert with BA in English from the University of North Florida and an MS in Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina, with additional graduate studies in Information Architecture from Florida State University. At Professional Contract Services, Inc. (PCSI), she leads knowledge initiatives for the BD wing of a $250M Government contractor.
Mastering the WIN Theme Formula: Strategies to Craft Compelling Federal Proposals
This session introduces a strategic framework for crafting compelling and compliant win themes that resonate with evaluators and clearly communicate value in federal proposals. Using a “WIN Theme Formula,” attendees will learn how to identify customer hot buttons, align discriminators to evaluation criteria, and weave win themes consistently throughout proposal sections. Designed for proposal professionals at all experience levels, this session breaks down the process into a repeatable, easy-to-apply method that improves clarity, compliance, and competitiveness. Participants will leave with actionable techniques to elevate the persuasive power of their proposals.
Learning Objectives:
1. Define What Makes a WIN Theme Effective: Learn the characteristics of a strong win theme and how they differ from simple benefit statements.
2. Apply the WIN Theme Formula: Understand how to use a repeatable formula to connect features, benefits, and customer-focused outcomes to evaluation factors.
3. Craft WIN Themes Collaboratively: Explore techniques to extract discriminators and win themes from SMEs and capture teams.
4. Integrate WIN Themes Across the Proposal: Learn how to ensure win themes are consistently reflected in executive summaries, introductions, and throughout technical and management volumes.
5. Evaluate and Strengthen WIN Themes: Gain tools to assess the strength of a win theme and revise it for clarity, compliance, and impact.
Target Audience:
This session is designed for proposal managers, writers, capture professionals, and solution architects involved in federal proposal development. Whether you’re new to win themes or looking to refine your process, this session offers practical strategies to sharpen your competitive edge.
Speaker:
Adelicia Phillips is a seasoned proposal manager and business development professional with nearly 15 years of experience in compliance program development, business development, process improvement, and strategic proposal development. She currently resides in Fairhope, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and two dogs named Dolly and Jasper. Adelicia holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and is highly proficient in proposal best practices, including Shipley. Her leadership and expertise continue to drive the chapter's success and growth.
BPC Nashville 2025
Sunday, May 18 – MidSouth Table Opens
Registration: 4pm until 7pm
*APMP highly recommends registration during this time MidSouth’s table will be located very close to Registration
Stop by the MidSouth table to meet Board Members
Rachael Towle, Chair
Rachel Beirs, Co-Chair
Mary Ann Till, Secretary
Rachel Gessel, Treasurer
Kelli Axley, Marketing Co-Chair
Caroline McLaughlin, Technology
Monday, May 19
Registration: 7am until 5pm
Kick-Off: 8-9:30am
TARA: 7-9pm
Tuesday, May 20
Registration: 7am until 5pm
Morning Welcome: 8-9:45am
Chapter Leaders Meeting: 12-2:15pm (MidSouth table unmanned)
BPC Happy Hour: 4:15-5:30pm
Membership Mixer: 6-9pm at Homegrown Taproom & Kitchen
Wednesday, May 21 – MidSouth Table Closed
Registration: 7-11am
Morning Welcome: 8-9:30am
Closing Ceremony with PRIZES: 11:45am-12:30pm
APMP BPC Nashville Pre-Event Discussion
For May's monthly meeting, we will be hosting an open forum to discuss the annual APMP Bid & Proposal Con, which will be hosted in Nashville on May 18-21 this year.
In this discussion, we'll talk about how we can help you make the most of your time at BPC and allow newcomers to ask questions so that all of our members feel welcome and ready to take advantage of the conference.
Quality Assurance - Because Good Enough Isn't Enough
Julie Patel fell into the world of proposals 10 years ago and never looked back. She has managed proposals in a variety of markets and industries, including infrastructure, strategic consulting, and health and human services. Currently the proposal director for Woolpert, Inc., a global architecture/engineering/geospatial firm, Julie oversees a team of talented professionals who work closely with their markets and each other to develop high-quality proposals that stay ahead of the competition.
Spring Cleaning
Many of us are Type-A personalities, but that doesn’t mean we are always organized. Work gets busy, emails stack up, and a good cleaning may be in order. Whether you need tips to be better organized or have tips to help others, we want to hear from you!
We will also share the latest from APMP for BPC 2025. We are expecting more information from APMP before the end of this week and want to make sure we keep the flow of information down to our members as well.
During the last 15 minutes of our meeting, we will randomly choose one member from the meeting to receive a $25 gift card.