SMPS Member Spotlight: Alexa Ramsey

In our member spotlight, Alexa Ramsey sat down for a virtual chat with the Society. Alexa, who’s a proposal strategist at Burns & McDonnell, has been in the AEC industry since 2013 and an SMPS member since 2020.

Please share some recent professional-related news that you’re proud of. This spotlight comes at an exciting time for me. I’m transitioning into a new role at Burns & McDonnell. Over the past decade, I’ve built my foundation in proposal management, supporting complex pursuits and learning the nuances of strategy, messaging, and positioning. More recently, I moved into a centralized corporate role where I helped shape pursuit strategy firmwide — overseeing tools, processes, and resources designed to elevate performance across teams.

In March 2026, I moved into a marketing role with the Burns & McDonnell Environmental Services group. What excites me most is the opportunity to put into practice the systems and strategies I helped implement in my corporate role. This move allows me to pair enterprise perspective with real-time execution, deepening my impact while continuing to grow in new ways.

What has been one of your most meaningful projects? Over the last year, I’ve been supporting a proposal automation initiative. It has come to be one of the most meaningful projects of my career. Implementing automation within an organization as large and complex as Burns & McDonnell is both challenging and rewarding. It required navigating process, technology, and people — and finding solutions that work at scale.

I think what made the project meaningful was the group of individuals who showed up fully invested. There was open dialogue, healthy debate, and a willingness to question assumptions to get to the best solution. It created an environment where ideas were sharpened, not shut down. That level of collaboration made the complexity energizing rather than overwhelming. I’m very excited to watch the team roll out the new technology over the next year.

What’s the best professional advice you’ve received? Your career is what you make of it. If you see a gap, step in. If you see a problem, offer a solution. This mindset has shaped how I approach my role — not just executing tasks but looking for ways to improve systems and elevate the team around me.

What’s the best professional advice you’ve given? People often don’t recognize their own strengths because the things that come naturally to us don’t feel exceptional; they just feel normal. At the same time, we tend to fixate on what we’re not good at. I always encourage team members to ask their peers and leaders what they see as their strengths. You might discover you have a real gift that you’ve been overlooking simply because it comes easily to you.

Why is SMPS membership important to you? SMPS has been an important source of continued learning and professional growth for me. The education and shared experiences from other AEC marketers influence how I approach my work every day. I regularly bring ideas and insights back to my team, which benefits both my growth and our firm’s marketing efforts.

Which SMPS member benefits or resources have helped you? I take advantage of the educational programs most often. They expand my knowledge and keep me sharp in a constantly evolving industry. I also value networking events and the sense of community. There is something powerful about connecting with people who understand the unique world of AEC marketing.

What would you still like to accomplish in your career? Earning my CPSM designation is high on my list. I have often described myself as a marketing generalist, and pursuing CPSM feels like a way to both validate and deepen my expertise. It represents growth, discipline, and commitment to the profession.

Tell us something we’d be surprised to learn about you. In my early twenties, I followed a boy across the country and stumbled into AEC marketing. I married the boy, built a career I love, and now juggle three kids and proposals like it was the plan all along.

What’s on your bucket list? Professionally, I would love to author a book one day. Personally, Banff has been at the top of my travel list for years, and I’m determined to make it happen.

Guilty pleasure: what can you not live without? Lattes are absolutely essential. And early 2000s teen dramas (I’m notorious for rewatching favorites like The O.C. and Gossip Girl).