Proposal Writing: Mastering the Art of Training Your Technical Staff
February 18, 2026
12:00 PM EST - 1:30 PM EST
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Burns Engineering
Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street, #600
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Marketers have plenty of opportunities to learn how to write better proposals and nail the interview. But what about our technical staff? How do we effectively educate them to bring their best to the procurement process? An often over-looked aspect of our jobs as marketers is the sometimes challenging responsibility of training and inspiring our technical staff. How do you overcome resistance, ego, or bad habits that can harm your firm’s chances of winning the work? In this presentation, we explore methods and strategies to help our technical staff break their writer’s block, craft content that selection committees will actually want to read and hear about, and deliver materials to marketing on deadline—all critical elements to winning your next project!
Learning Objectives
- You will understand the proposal process from a psychological and sociological perspective
- You will provide space to honestly reflect on barriers that can prevent technical staff from learning and improving
- You will learn new techniques and strategies for framing and demystifying the proposal writing process for our technical staff
- You will learn proven steps to efficiently draft fantastic cover letters, understandings, bios, and other key content areas
- You will leave with a Proposal Process Check-Up Checklist to help attendees identify gaps, behaviors, and ineffective systems that prevent successful proposal writing
Who should attend?
- Proposal Managers and Coordinators
- Marketing Manager and Coordinators
- Business Development Professionals
- Pursuit/Capture Managers
- Communications Specialists
- Technical Staff (SMEs)
- Anyone new to proposal writing or anyone wanting to improve your firms writing!!!
Agenda
- 11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Networking/Grab lunch (lunch will be provided)
- 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Program
Lunch will be Provided!
Registration will close at noon on Tuesday, February 17th
Speaker
Wendy Simmons
Founding Principal
Middle of Six
Wendy Simmons is the founder and principal marketing strategist of Middle of Six, a consultancy 100% dedicated to the A/E/C industry. With experience supporting more than 150 clients through hundreds of proposals and interviews, Wendy brings practical, proven strategies to help marketers get the most from their technical teams. An SMPS Seattle member since 2008, Wendy also hosts The Shortlist, an award-winning podcast about all things A/E/C marketing. The show earned an SMPS Marketing Communications Award of Excellence in 2022, and Middle of Six’s Wildcards campaign captured both an Award of Excellence and Best of Show honors at Amplify 2024.
Tickets
$40.00 Member
$55.00 Non-Member
$40.00 Other Chapter Member
Refund Policy
Refunds for cancellations made two business days (48 hours) in advance of an event will be provided and are subject to a $5.00 processing fee. Contact Treasurer via email with requests.
