Welcome to AST On the Move where we spotlight our amazing staff and what makes them tick. Today, meet Senior Proposal Manager Yvonne Hamel

You recently received your AI-M APMP – AI for Proposal Development Certification- congrats! What inspired you to pursue this credential?

I’ve always believed in staying ahead of the curve, especially when the curve is barreling toward us like a freight train named Artificial Intelligence (AI). As a proposal manager, I recognize the importance of understanding not only what AI can do but also how to utilize it responsibly and effectively in the high-stakes world of federal proposals.

How do you see AI shaping the future of proposal development?

AI will not replace proposal professionals, but it will replace those who don’t adapt. I see AI streamlining compliance checks, surfacing gaps in resumes or past performance, and even simulating how an evaluator might score our content. It can also help you build a powerful customer-focused evaluators priority database.

But the strategy, the customer nuances, the storytelling, and the final tailoring? That’s still 100% human;

AI can’t tell you how a human feels or what they believe – that is up to the BD Team. And it’s very important to keep the human-in-the-loop (HITL)- any organization that fails to recognize or do that won’t win the day.

How will this certification help you in your current role?

It lends me credibility when I incorporate AI into the process, whether I’m building a compliance matrix, qualifying key personnel, or utilizing it as a second set of eyes on a red team. It also helps me work with my fellow teammates who aren’t proficient in AI or are “AI hesitant.” This certification proves I’m not just experimenting; I’m making informed, secure, and ethical decisions.

If you had to describe the certification journey in three words, what would they be?

Insightful. Energizing. Mildly terrifying. As someone who doesn’t exactly throw confetti at the thought of standardized tests, thanks to Dyslexia, this was a rollercoaster of brainpower and breath-holding. Imagine learning something genuinely useful while also battling the inner voice that says, “Wait… did that question just double back on itself?” It was a challenge, but a totally worthwhile one.

What’s your go-to productivity hack when working on proposals (We know you work wild hours! LOL)?

I work in 90-minute sprints of laser focus, followed by a 10-minute break to walk the dogs, hydrate (caffeinate – I’m known for my coffee habit), or hold a sarcastic team meeting with them (the dogs) about compliance matrices (spoiler: they remain unimpressed).

Voice notes are my secret weapon for late-night brain dumps when my fingers tap out before my brain does.

And for ambiance? Gregorian monk chants at a borderline ridiculous volume. They keep me centered in the early hours. The dogs, however, are not fans.

Any advice for someone considering this certification?

Don’t overthink it, this isn’t a cybersecurity exam, and you don’t need to code in Python before breakfast. Curiosity and a willingness to experiment are your best assets. Oh, and fair warning: don’t put all your faith in the APMP study materials. They’re helpful… but some questions will make you feel like you accidentally signed up for AI Jeopardy. If you already wrangle proposals for a living, this will make sense; it’s less about algorithms and more about using AI without accidentally automating your soul.

Fun one: If proposal writing were a sport, what would be your hype song before a big deadline?

“Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses. Because let’s face it, by the final 48 hours, we’re dodging last-minute edits, chasing signatures like wild prey, and battling formatting gremlins in their natural habitat. Honorable mention: the Jaws theme for when Contracts says, “We found a new attachment you missed…”