In our member spotlight, Travis Niemi, CPSM, recently sat down for a virtual chat with SMPS. Travis is senior proposal specialist for SmithGroup. He has been in the A/E/C industries for more than 10 years and is a member of SMPS Southeast Michigan. In this spotlight, Travis shares the rewards of his career, his favorite part of the job, and what has contributed to his success.
In a few words, how would you describe your current role? As senior proposal specialist, I help strategize and guide our project teams on pursuits, from RFP through interview stage.
What has been your most meaningful project? My most meaningful project was for a new hospital for the VA. It was a long, intense pursuit process that resulted in a fantastic project win. It feels very rewarding to know that the end result of our work will result in a facility that helps so many veterans and families.
What’s the best advice you’ve received regarding your career or working in A/E/C? The best way to learn is by doing. Put yourself out there in unfamiliar situations, try new things, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. The A/E/C industries is full of terms and processes that may be unfamiliar, but I’ve found that the best way to accumulate this knowledge is simply to immerse yourself in new opportunities and be open to learning new concepts and ideas.
How has SMPS helped you in your career? SMPS has helped my career by providing a network of like-minded professionals and resources to continue learning new skillsets and grow in my career. SMPS has also been very helpful in finding new employment opportunities with the A/E/C industries.
What’s a helpful hint to share with your fellow SMPS members? Markendium is a very valuable resource that I’ve referenced multiple times throughout my career.
What did you do at work yesterday? Submitted a proposal to a client and started developing new interview collateral.
As a CPSM, how has certification benefitted you? CPSM certification has benefitted me by reinforcing my knowledge across multiple domains and has led to growth and promotion opportunities within my firm.
What’s on your bucket list? I want to visit every U.S. National Park. I’ve visited 16 parks so far.
Guilty pleasure: What can you not live without? Movies! I’m a huge movie buff.
