Neil Cobb

NeilCobb

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Neil Cobb, APMP Fellow (Class of 2006)

Retired

Bio

Neil Cobb was the executive director of the AT&T Knowledge and Proposal Management Center from 2000 to 2013. He has more than 25 years of experience in commercial proposal development and management. After retiring from AT&T, Neil was a continuing lecturer at the University of North Texas Department of Technical Communication. He continues to work to improve the visibility of our profession in the academy, having worked with UNT to create a certificate in proposal writing for the Technical Communication Masters program. Neil holds six U.S. patents for his content authoring and repurposing methods and systems and is the co-author of "Writing Business Bids and Proposals for Dummies" (John Wiley and Sons, LTD, 2016). He is now fully retired, living with his wife Rebecca in Plano, Texas.

What does being an APMP Fellow mean to you?

Being an APMP Fellow means that I brought value to the profession and the association and that my peers recognized my work as exemplary.

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

Implementing, administering, and activating Idea Markets at several conferences, which offered opportunities for proposal professionals to brainstorm ways to solve problems they face every day on the job.

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

Use APMP's rich resources of knowledge and people to master our profession. Share what you learn with others. Be a champion for the profession within your business by bringing insight, value, and innovation to your role every day.

Anything else you would like to share?

APMP membership will help make you more successful. The network you'll build, the skills you'll hone, and the evolution you'll undergo will make you a valuable member of any business venture.

The certifications, starting from the foundation to the professional level, help individuals from diverse timeframes in their careers.

Mayura Ravishankar, Proposal Associate

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

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

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

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

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

You can expand your network by attending the local Chapter webinar and events. They provide an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals locally to create and share consumable content, ideas, tools, and resources.

Sonal Bhatnagar, CP APMP, PMP

APMP has provided an incredible platform for seasoned individuals from the Proposal and Bid Management profession and young professionals who want to start their careers in this field.

Mayura Ravishankar, Proposal Associate

The time was a good investment, and I expect to reap benefits now and in the future!

Kelly Erickson, CF APMP