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 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

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

I love that my high scores in English and grammar from grade school finally paid off! I understand where I fit in professionally with a career that is rewarding on many levels. I owe all of this to APMP!

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Bette Sturino, CP APMP

Acquiring this micro-certification allows me to expand my aperture regarding the collaboration between capture and proposal management to develop more robust, customer-centric Executive Summaries for future pursuits. It allows me to advance my skill set, evolve my knowledge, and reflect my commitment to continuous learning.

Stephen Yuter, 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, 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

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 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

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