Chris Simmons

ChrisSimmons

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Chris Simmons, CP APMP Fellow (Class of 2013)

Founder & Principal
Rainmakerz Consulting LLC

Bio

Consultant; Rainmaker; BD Expert; Featured Speaker; Award-Winning Author; Trainer; Coach; Reputation for passionate, entertaining, practical, and content-rich presentations

Frequent APMP presenter and author; Former APMP NCA Vice President and Membership Chair; First John Elder APMP Journal Award Winner (How to Create Winning Proposal Themes); NCA Mentor of the Year; Former NCA LinkedIn Group Manager
Founder and Principal Rainmakerz Consulting LLC (www.rainmakerz.biz); 200+ customers; Tens of billions in new contract awards
Consulting Magazine’s Top 25 Consultants (nominee)
Deloitte Consulting Partner; CGI Senior Principal
MBA, Information Technology, University of Massachusetts (Amherst)

What does being an APMP Fellow mean to you?

It is the highest recognition in the capture/proposal industry achieved by ~100 out of 20,000 members since the program was established in 2001.

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

2013 Bid & Proposal Con, where I received both the Fellows recognition and the John Elder APMP Journal Award for "How to Create Winning Proposal Themes."

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

Work hard, play hard, be thankful for the opportunity, communicate, work/life balance.

Anything else you would like to share?

APMP has been directly responsible for helping me grow personally and professionally.

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

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.

Anant Shukla, CF 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

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

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

APMP certification is the gold standard for the industry. For me, accreditation is formal recognition of my commitment to the profession, as well as an avenue for improving my performance and bid outcomes by training in APMP principles.

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Ailsa Tuck, CP APMP

I would advise new professionals to take advantage of the resources that APMP offers. Not only do you have access to conferences and seminars through your chapter, but the free webinars and the robust network of professionals are great benefits that can help advance one’s career.

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Valerie Kessie, CP APMP

APMP is an organization full of hardworking, enthusiastic professionals who are dedicated to promoting their industry and practicing their craft.

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.

Jill Zander, CF APMP