SMPS-NY New Jersey Affiliate Knowledge Exchange: Getting Started with AI in Proposal Development
Posted on Jul. 19, 2026 / Event Recap / Subscribe 0
On July 16, the SMPS-NY New Jersey Affiliate hosted AEC marketing and business development professionals at Dewberry's Parsippany office for an evening of networking, knowledge sharing, and conversation about one of the industry's most talked-about topics: artificial intelligence. Attendees enjoyed light bites and refreshments while connecting with fellow industry colleagues before an in-depth session on the usage of AI in proposal development.
Alex Borowick, Proposal Manager at EnTech Engineering, led the discussion and shared how his team is putting AI to work in the proposal process today, not as a future idea, but as a tool that's already helping teams work more efficiently. He showed how proposal teams are using AI to streamline time-consuming tasks such as content reviews, resume tailoring, and proposal analysis, freeing up more time for strategy, storytelling, and client-focused messaging.
Using his past EnTech proposals as case studies, Alex walked attendees through several examples, including:
- Resume tailoring to align candidate qualifications with specific RFP requirements
- Proposal reviews that simulate an evaluator's perspective and identify compliance gaps
- Project experience analysis and categorization for prequalification submissions
- Go/no-go decision support
- Proposal analysis and workflow optimization efforts supported by in-house AI solutions
What made the presentation especially engaging was how quickly it turned into a larger conversation. Many attendees could relate to the challenges Alex described, and the examples sparked an open discussion about how firms are balancing deadlines, limited resources, and growing interest in AI tools. The presentation reinforced that AI is not about replacing professionals, but about helping teams work more efficiently and strategically.
Key Takeaways
Throughout the presentation, Alex emphasized that AI is most effective when paired with human judgment. Alex emphasized several key principles that proposal professionals should keep in mind:
- AI outputs should always be reviewed and verified by the user
- Fact-checking remains essential
- Sensitive data must be protected
- Successful implementation starts with simple use cases before expanding into more complex applications
- AI serves as a tool to support marketers, not replace critical thinking and professional judgment
The discussion that followed was one of the highlights of the evening and it showed every firm is at a different stage in the AI journey. Attendees shared how their firms are using tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot for marketing and proposal efforts, where they're seeing success, and where they're still cautious. It was refreshing to hear such an honest exchange of ideas, challenges, and lessons learned from peers across the industry.
Thank you to Alex Borowick for sharing his expertise and giving attendees a practical look at how AI is being incorporated into proposal workflows. A special thank you to EnTech Engineering for sponsoring the event and to Dewberry for graciously hosting our New Jersey Affiliate and providing a welcoming space for industry professionals to connect.
We look forward to continuing these conversations at future SMPS-NY events and exploring the tools, technologies, and strategies shaping the future of AEC marketing and business development!
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