Mike Parkinson

MikeParkinson

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Mike Parkinson, CPP APMP Fellow (Class of 2008)

Principal
24 Hour Company

Bio

Mike is a geek. He is a CPP APMP Fellow, 1 of 36 Microsoft PowerPoint MVPs in the world, an internationally recognized communication and proposal expert, a best-selling author, and a professional trainer. Mike has spearheaded multi-billion dollar projects and created thousands of graphics resulting in billions of dollars in increased revenue for his clients. His keynotes, training, books (“Billion Dollar Graphics” and “A Trainer's Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters.”), and tools (www.Build-a-Graphic.com) help companies succeed while saving money and time. Mike owns Billion Dollar Graphics (www.BillionDollarGraphics.com) and is a partner at 24 Hour Company (www.24hrco.com), the premier proposal graphics firm.

Mike regularly conducts workshops and creates graphics, presentations, and content for companies like Microsoft, FedEx, Pfizer, Xerox, Dell, Subaru, Nestle, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing, as well as at learning institutions and government agencies like NSA, CMS, OCC, the Army, and the SEC.

For fun, Mike is an artist, a pop culture connoisseur, enjoys exercise and fitness, and loves helping others achieve their goals.

What does being an APMP Fellow mean to you?

Being an APMP Fellow is an honor. It means that I will always be an advocate for positive change in our industry and help others find value within APMP.

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

So many "best" memories: meeting people who became my dearest friends, dancing at social events, and geeking out with my fellow proposal nerds. If I had to pick my best memory, it would be giving my At-a-Glance keynote at the APMP BPC 2019. What an amazing experience. The support and feedback exceeded my expectations.

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

Two things that helped me... One, I found a mentor. Two, I eventually understood the "why" (the psychology) behind what and how we do what we do. Once I had a deeper understanding, SO many things clicked for me.

Anything else you would like to share?

Thanks, APMP, for being a wonderful organization with passionate members and staff!

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

Acquiring the executive summary micro certification has helped to build my confidence in producing best practice Executive Summaries. I also benefit from the social media badge for my LinkedIn profile and certification to add to my resume. Both of these allow me to verify my Executive Summary capabilities.

Laura Rispin, CP ES-M APMP

The Executive Summaries Micro-Certification exam was easy to follow and clear in what was required. I found the learning materials to be very informative, and they will be a great tool to use while in the exam and for future executive summary tasks.

Sarah Chapman, CP ES-M APMP

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

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.

Norbert Thiemermann, CPP ES-M 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

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

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.

Anthony Rossi, 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.

Jill Zander, CF APMP

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