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About APMP Fellows Colleen Jolly
ColleenJolly

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Colleen Jolly, CPP APMP Fellow (Class of 2010)

Freelance


Bio

Colleen spent 18 years supporting the proposal management profession full-time and the past six years supporting it in a part-time/freelance capacity. She previously served as the CEO, COO, and Secretary of the APMP board as well as on the NCA APMP board as Secretary. She was on the staff of the APMP Journal for ten years serving as Layout Editor. Colleen has spoken at most APMP chapters around the world on visual communications and general business topics and was a regular speaker at Bid and Proposal Con for many years. She was honored with the APMP Fellow Award in 2010; she won the APMP Insight Award in 2012 for her article on international business; was featured in Northern Virginia magazine's "Top 10 Entrepreneurs Under 30" in 2010; and was a finalist for the Stevie Awards Creative Professional of the Year, 2009. She also was honored with the inaugural "40 Under 40" honor from APMP in 2017. She has been published seven times in a women’s entrepreneurial calendar. Colleen has also been recognized for her leadership as a woman in business by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Recently, she started her own trade association outside of the proposal industry and published her first book after performing twice with Snoop Dogg (2019 and 2020). Connect with Colleen via her website: www.colleenjolly.com

What does being an APMP Fellow mean to you?

Being a fellow was my proudest achievement. It made me feel recognized for my contributions to our industry.

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

All of them! I loved attending BPC every year and catching up with old friends.

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

Proposal work can be very rewarding and very challenging. Figure out what "self-care" means for you so that you can keep providing a high level of service to your company/clients/staff without burning out.

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.
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Florian Lamisch, CF 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 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 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
This was my first APMP event, and I was wholly impressed. The energy in the room reignited my passion for this industry, and I can't wait to get back to my team to implement what I have learned.
Brittany Guzman
Brittany Guzman, CF 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
The time was a good investment, and I expect to reap benefits now and in the future!
Kelly Erickson
Kelly Erickson, CF 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
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.
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Dénes Máthé, CF ES-M APMP
Achieving certification sends a message to the world that I’m dedicated and accomplished as a proposal manager. I feel proud of earning this title and I encourage others to join our ranks.
Jessica Davis
Jessica Davis, CF APMP