Rachael Towle is the Founder and Owner of Mercury Prime Consulting LLC, where she delivers specialized geospatial, aviation, and infrastructure proposal support to small and mid-size companies.

Her background includes driving proposal success for Atlantic (now WGI Geospatial) and Woolpert. Rachael earned her CF APMP certification within her first year as a proposal manager and has proudly chaired the APMP MidSouth Chapter since January 2024.

She holds a BS in Sociology (Magna Cum Laude). As Chapter President, Rachael is dedicated to fostering a supportive, collaborative environment to help MidSouth continue to grow.

Michael Zari is an engineer by degree and a seasoned proposal writer by desire. He has over 30 years of proposal development and writing experience. While the majority of experience has been in has been supporting Department of Defense (DoD) and Technical volumes for international customers, his attention to detail suits his activities in compliance verification and color-team reviews. Michael has been self employed since 2003, serving as the President of A2Z Innovations, Inc. and consulting internationally on engineering and proposal efforts. Since 2012, Michael has participated in over $53.3B of successful proposal bids covering the range of Phase I SBIRs to multiple-award IDIQs. Michael holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Engineering Physics (Stevens Institute of Technology) and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Rachel Gessel serves as Treasurer of the APMP Mid-South Chapter and Supervisor of Proposal Services at NRG Energy, Inc. Since joining NRG as a Proposal Writer in 2019, she has advanced through several roles, becoming Senior Proposal Writer in 2023 and team leader in 2025. Rachel leads a team supporting approximately 200 proposal, bid, and qualification responses annually across the United States and Canada. Her team helps drive sales and business development efforts spanning electricity, natural gas, renewables, demand response, and other energy solutions. She is passionate about proposal process improvement, content management, AI-enabled proposal development, and leveraging data analytics to demonstrate the value of proposal organizations.

Rachel holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities from Brigham Young University. Outside work, she enjoys music, reading, and spending time with her husband and two children.

Libby McCurdy is a highly skilled Senior Proposal Manager based in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is passionate about supporting the full proposal life cycle, bringing structure, clarity, and strategic focus to each stage of development. Libby earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), graduated Cum Laude, and holds a Foundations-level certification from the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP).

Kelli Axley is a dedicated marketing professional with a strong background in proposal coordination and business development. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Geography, International Studies, and Spanish from the University of North Alabama. Kelli is currently based in Huntsville, Alabama, where she actively contributes to the success of Woolpert and the APMP MidSouth Chapter. Her expertise in search engine optimization (SEO), Adobe Photoshop, and Google Analytics has enabled her to create compelling and effective marketing content.

Caroline McLaughlin brings five years in the proposal industry, having moved from a Proposal Writer to Proposal Coordinator to Knowledge Manager to Senior Manager of Proposals and Knowledge. She is proud to work for Professional Contract Services, Inc. (PCSI) — a social enterprise and federal contractor dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities through employment, advocacy, partnerships, and innovation. Caroline holds a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Florida. She is certified at the Foundations Level by the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) and is a Microsoft Office Specialist Expert.

Caren lives in the Huntsville Alabama area and is a Proposal Coordinator and Technical Writer. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Auburn University, a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Duke University, and Graduate Certificate in Technical Communications from University of Alabama in Huntsville.  Although Caren is relatively new to the world of Proposal Management she has written and developed a variety technical documents and graphics in her different roles throughout her career. She is Shipley trained in Capturing New Business, Managing Strategic Proposals, and Powerful Proposal Writing. 

Lisa Parker serves as the Director of Proposal Operations at MartinFederal, LLC in Huntsville, Alabama, and earned her APMP® Bid and Proposal Management Foundation certification in 2022. With more than 25 years of experience in proposal management, business development, marketing communications, and competitive analysis, Lisa has built a career supporting federal, defense, and international markets. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Athens State University and completed master’s coursework in Material Acquisition Management at the Florida Institute of Technology. Lisa has been active throughout her career in professional boards and committees and continues to give back to her community through volunteer and nonprofit involvement, including Kids to Love, the Greater Huntsville Humane Society, Therapy Partners, and the North Alabama Foster Closet. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, getting outdoors, cooking, thrifting, and exploring arts and crafts.