Agenda and Speakers

Sam is a bid strategy and management expert with over 13 years of experience helping businesses secure major contracts through innovative and human-centric approaches. Passionate about driving step change in the industry, Sam has led the implementation of AI-driven tools to enhance bid efficiency and decision-making.

 

Recognized for her expertise, Sam has been shortlisted for the APMP Bid Excellence Awards and listed in APMP 40 under 40. She sits on the panel of experts for Bid Solutions and is known for delivering impactful bid strategy workshops. Now specializing in Global Mobility Services, she continues to shape the future of procurement and bidding with a blend of strategic insight, technology, and collaboration.

Chris Colquitt is an APMP Professional and tenured head of bids at both international and UK national firms. Starting as a bid manager in 2010, Chris now holds almost 15 years' experience working within a wide variety of industries and customer segments, as well as holding positions on the UK APMP board. Chris is a previous 40 under 40 winner and a multiple-time presenter at the UK APMP conference.

 

Chris holds Bachelor's degrees in Biology and Psychology and a Master's degree in Strategic Decision-Making. He is currently researching at the University of Chester to complete a PhD in Strategic Decision-Making within the Bids and Tenders evaluation process, which he hopes to complete around 2027.

Samantha Enslen is an APMP Fellow and the president of Dragonfly Editorial, a creative agency that specializes in making complex information clear and compelling. She brings over two decades of experience in writing, editing, and content strategy, having previously served as editorial manager at CSC and as a contributing editor to The Editorial Eye. 

 

Samantha spent eight years on the board of ACES: The Society for Editing, where she also served as managing editor of Tracking Changes, the organization’s quarterly journal. She has earned multiple awards for her writing and is a regular contributor to the Grammar Girl podcast. Samantha lives in Ohio with her husband Greg—author of the Frank Harper mystery series—their three children, and a house full of pets.

Sara Hekmaty, CF APMP, is a federal proposal strategist and AI-driven capture expert with over 17 years of experience securing U.S. Government contracts for technology companies. As Director of Federal Proposal Operations at Cayuse Holdings, she specializes in integrating Generative AI and data science into proposal development, optimizing processes, and enhancing bid strategies.

 

She holds certifications in APMP Bid & Proposal Management, Generative AI for Business, and Applied Data Science from MIT, along with a Prompt Engineering Specialization. She was also a content contributor for APMP’s newly-released AI Micro-Certification, shaping industry standards for AI adoption in proposal management.

 

In 2024 and 2025, Sara participated in the AI Agents for Defense & Gov Hackathon in Washington, D.C., designing AI-driven solutions alongside members of the U.S. intelligence and defense community. She is passionate about mentoring small businesses in GovCon, pioneering AI adoption in federal procurement, and bridging the gap between AI automation and human expertise in high-stakes proposal management.

Spencer Humm is a corporate speaker, orals coach and author of the #1 International Bestseller “win.” For 25 years, he has assisted presentation teams at companies like IBM, Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Lockheed Martin in winning $28B in competitive bids for over 300 government, public sector and commercial contracts. He's coached CEO’s, IT engineers, and even astronauts on how to use spoken communication to win big business.

 

Spencer brings doctoral studies in behavioral and cognitive psychology. He recently spent a year studying with Flow Psychology and neuroscience luminary Dr. Steven Kotler and is advised by neuroscientist Dr. Michael Mannino.

 

Spencer also brings decades of communications experience as a touring comedian, playing venues like the Hollywood Improv, and as a fight choreographer for stage and screen, recently working for MARVEL.

 

When winning depends of the ability to deliver a powerful spoken message, companies call upon Spencer.

Kel Raleigh, CF APMP, of K2, Inc., brings more than five years of proposal industry experience, complemented by a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Baltimore and a nontraditional career path rooted in customer service and creative communication. Before entering the proposal field, Kel sold appliances, tended bar, lifeguarded, and served members at a private club, real-world experiences that sharpened their ability to listen, adapt, and persuade under pressure.

 

After three years teaching in higher education, Kel transitioned into proposal management, where they now combine behavioral insight, storytelling, and strategy to deliver exceptional results. In addition to leading government proposals, they provide grant writing and editing assistance to nonprofits in the Baltimore area. Passionate about both the art and science of proposal development, Kel is dedicated to sharing knowledge and empowering others, especially those entering the field from unconventional or customer-facing backgrounds.