Tony Birch

TonyBirch

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Tony Birch, CPP APMP Fellow (Class of 2006)

Founder & Director
Shipley Limited

Bio

Tony Birch co-founded Shipley Limited in 1997, having worked for Shipley Associates for three years. Currently, he serves as Chair of the Board of Shipley Limited but remains an active consultant/trainer in all aspects of Business Development.

Tony served on the main board of the APMP for four years (2004 – 2007) and was one of the founding members of the APMP UK Chapter (2001). He was elected a Fellow of the APMP in 2006 for his contributions to developing and launching the APMP’s global Certification Programme. In 2016, the APMP awarded him its highest honor, the William C. McRae Founder’s Award, for his contributions to the organization.

Over the last 28 years, Tony has worked with large and small companies across sectors as diverse as Automotive, Defense, Insurance, and Space, delivering business-winning related services.

What does being an APMP Fellow mean to you?

It is a recognition of my commitment to the profession.

What's your best memory from attending an APMP event?

Sitting around a fire pit in Wild Horse Pass Resort, AZ, meeting and greeting friends I would not have ever known if I had not been a member of the Association.

What advice do you have for a proposal professional entering our field?

Doing the impossible for the ungrateful can sometimes be very hard. Keep at it, and it can be a rewarding career.

The time was a good investment, and I expect to reap benefits now and in the future!

Kelly Erickson, CF APMP

The Executive Summary is the key element of each proposal, literally the most important part of the response next to the price – this is why my focus was on this micro certification. Understanding the principles of Deal-Strategy, Win-Strategy, Competitor-Analysis, Ghosting, Persuasive Writing, Features/Benefits/Discriminators, and many more is essential and beneficial for so much more than just the Executive Summary.

Florian Lamisch, CF ES-M APMP

APMP has provided an incredible platform for seasoned individuals from the Proposal and Bid Management profession and young professionals who want to start their careers in this field.

Mayura Ravishankar, Proposal Associate

This topic, Executive Summaries, is way underrated. The Executive Summary is the most eye-catching document, which almost everyone on the customer side reads. Yet, in most bid teams, we don’t dedicate the attention it deserves. I want to learn about something I can immediately put into practice at my workplace, which provides a “quick win” to the team and is a long-term benefit for the company.

Dénes Máthé, CF ES-M APMP

APMP has changed my professional life, elevating it to a standard that I didn’t know existed. Aside from the professional advantages of being certified as an APMP Professional, it’s the community of members who make it so special.

Rita Mascia, CPP APMP

The certifications, starting from the foundation to the professional level, help individuals from diverse timeframes in their careers.

Mayura Ravishankar, Proposal Associate

Being an active APMP certified practitioner allowed me to recognize my hidden potential multifold (40u40, BPC Awards, BPC Speaker) and give back to the profession through the APMP community.

Karthik Koutharapu, CP APMP

Being a part of APMP, I get access to the knowledge and experience of great leaders and mentors from the community. I have learned a great deal from the webinars and conferences I attended on diverse topics from career progression in Proposal Management, trends (such as automation) in PreSales to achieving work-life balance, and handling burn-outs – all real-life experiences.

Kulkarni Shubhada photo

Shubhada Kulkarni, CP APMP

My experience, combined with the APMP Body of Knowledge, helped me obtain both the APMP Foundation exam and the Practitioners exam within a week.

Sonal Bhatnagar, CP APMP, PMP

APMP Certification is an important milestone in the bid and proposal profession. It helped me upgrade my knowledge and be competitive in the industry. You can achieve your dream career with APMP certifications. Thanks to APMP India.

Swapnil Patange

Swapnil Patange, CF APMP