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MargaretHelsabeck

Margaret Littell Helsabeck, CPP APMP Fellow (Class of 2009)

Retired

Bio

Margaret has been happily retired since 2015. She spent more than 30 years working in the US and the UK, mostly on government proposals and contracts. She had several roles focused on proposal process improvement across a division of the company, starting in 1984 with IBM to implement a cross-division standard proposal system.

She retired from BAE Systems in 2015, where she implemented improvements for the Avionics Division and Platform Solutions before taking on a role at the corporate level in the Centre for Performance Excellence as Director of Performance Improvement. Margaret worked across BAE Systems to identify, communicate, and implement perceived best practices at the time. She designed, wrote, and published an internal book based on identified best practices, which was distributed across the corporation. After BAE Systems, she worked part-time for a consulting group called Harmonic Inc to systematize and create a standard internally and with customers.

In retirement, Margaret is focused on her love of art and improving her drawing and painting skills in addition to traveling, gardening, cooking, reading, and visiting family in the US.

What does being an APMP Fellow mean to you?

It’s an honor to be an APMP Fellow.

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

Receiving my Fellowship. I can also recall some amazing speakers.

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

Be focused, consistent, strong, but also flexible.

Anything else you would like to share?

Proposal management is challenging and a wonderful place to learn about a business and to establish yourself there as a professional who delivers, sometimes known as a heavy lifter.

APMP's techniques on proposal writing are meticulously engineered with real-life examples, and the extensive information available in their Body of Knowledge is a goldmine for bid & proposal professionals.
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Anant Shukla, CF APMP
APMP is an organization full of hardworking, enthusiastic professionals who are dedicated to promoting their industry and practicing their craft.
HeatherFinch
Heather Finch, CF APMP
I never want to be complacent in my career, so it has been beneficial to have this group of peers who are going through similar trials and tribulations in the proposal world on a day-to-day basis.
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Jill Zander, CF 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
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.
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Rita Mascia, CPP APMP
During my association with APMP, I have been fortunate to have met and gathered wisdom from several industry stalwarts.
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Karthik Koutharapu, CP 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
Without APMP, I would not have the tools or knowledge of the industry to have the career I have today and the success I have experienced.
Liz Megli
Liz Megli, CF APMP
For the first time since I started my career, I felt like I was not alone in my struggles to meet deadlines, wrangle SMEs, and answer impossible questions. I’m grateful to have this community to share our wisdom and experiences.
AnthonyRossi
Anthony Rossi, CF APMP