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About APMP Fellows Jon Williams
JonWilliams

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Jon Williams, CPP APMP Fellow (Class of 2006)

Managing Director
Strategic Proposals


Bio

As the head of Strategic Proposals’ UK business, Jon is proud to lead an award-winning 30-strong team of amazing people.

Jon served as the founding chief executive of APMP’s UK chapter – the association’s first outside North America. Jon’s worked with sales and bid teams in over 35 countries, helping them to benchmark and improve their proposal capabilities and to win major deals. He has a particular passion for training: as an APMP Approved Trainer, he’s coached several thousand people through their APMP exams.

An acclaimed keynote speaker, Jon’s also a successful author inside and outside work; he's particularly proud of the bestselling book “Proposal Essentials” which he wrote with BJ Lownie. One of only ten winners in thirty years of APMP’s William C. McCrae Founder’s Award, Jon’s a Fellow of APMP, the Royal Society of Arts, and the Institute of Sales Professionals.

Jon's passions outside work include theatre, travel, and fine wine. He has a wonderful wife, two amazing children (aged 23 and 4), two beautiful Maine Coon cats, and a ridiculously lively Bombay kitten.

What does being an APMP Fellow mean to you?

Everything. Recognition from my peers that I've strived to shape best practices in our profession over nearly a quarter of a century. And a platform and duty to promote the importance of bid and proposal management and to help others to develop rewarding careers.

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

"The Fairytale Proposal" - a keynote speech that BJ Lownie and I gave at a Bid & Proposal Con in Arizona. We'd written the story of a team of scribes in a royal palace who were struggling against the odds as they transcribed royal proclamations in dragon's blood - until the magic fairies appeared. And. in parallel, we told the tale of a proposal center experiencing the same pressures - under-resourced and under-valued, until they managed to turn their situation around!

I read the fairy story to my four-year-old daughter recently. I can attest that it works as well at that level as it did for hundreds of bid and proposal people!"

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

We are the job protection and creation engine for our organizations! Never be afraid to advocate at the highest levels for anything you need to perform your role brilliantly.

And never allow others to compromise your life/work balance. Every deal is "strategic" and a "must-win" for the sales lead. That's fine, and we often willingly go the extra mile to help. Proposal people are characterized by their warmth, commitment, and generosity. But always remember that your well-being is the most important thing for you, your family, and your friends.

Anything else you would like to share?

#ProudToBeAPMP

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
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.
ritamascia
Rita Mascia, CPP 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.
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Shubhada Kulkarni, CP APMP
As a sales coach, the executive summary is vital for capturing and proposing management activities. This is an excellent addition to our members' professional standing, and I look forward to many more micro certifications.
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Suzanne Shields, CPP ES-M APMP
Acquiring this micro-certification allows me to expand my aperture regarding the collaboration between capture and proposal management to develop more robust, customer-centric Executive Summaries for future pursuits. It allows me to advance my skill set, evolve my knowledge, and reflect my commitment to continuous learning.
Yuter
Stephen Yuter, ES-M APMP
Achieving the Executive Summaries micro-certification will support me in persuading Sales to create a better Executive Summary.
Gerald Stein
Gerald Stein, CF ES-M APMP
APMP has been instrumental in my success and has given me a framework in which to coach and mentor the bid and proposal stars of the future.
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Ceri Mescall, CPP APMP
Certification has enhanced my worth as a bid professional. It has validated the skills and experience I have and is proof of my bid management qualities and capabilities. It has given me a springboard to develop my career and aim for Professional certification.
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Aynsley Davidson, CP APMP
With this micro-certification and digital badge, I signal to my bid team and stakeholders that I am familiar with this topic. They can use me as their contact and "sparring partner," independent of RFPs.
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Norbert Thiemermann, CPP ES-M APMP
Receiving Practitioner-level certification boosted my confidence and validated my experiences and professional growth in the bid and proposal industry. The badge is something that I see each day, and it motivates and encourages me to keep networking, learning, and elevating others in our combined professional development goals.
Kim Ruff
Kim Ruff, CP APMP