The Mentor-Protege Program aims to do more than connect a Protege to a Mentor; our program is designed to provide greater access to peers, hiring employers, and new methodologies to overcome common challenges in our field. Additionally, based on feedback from past cohorts we’ve added fun meet ups with no planned “learning” agenda so networking and friendship can grow organically within the group.

Due to Covid both 2020 and 2021 were mostly virtual experiences, but we are optimistic we will return to more in-person meetings and experiences in 2022. No matter where you are in your career, whether you’re just starting or a few decades in, we believe you’ll enjoy participating. More so, as a participant you’ll be given multiple opportunities to shape the focus and topics covered in 2022 thereby receiving a year long program tailored to you. We look forward to receiving your application due by December 10.

• First, each Protege will be assigned two Mentors. One mentor for the first half of the year, and a different mentor for the second half. 
• Second, expectations of Mentors is increasing. In addition to monthly one-on-one meetings with your assigned Protege, Mentors will be required to participate in one monthly event as either a host, panel member or active participant (you will be given some level of choice based on logistics). 
• Third, during the Kick Off Meeting, Proteges will vote on the topics month by month to build out a 2022 Program Calendar that is relevant to your needs.  
• Fourth, there will be end of year prizes for attendance and participation.
• Fifth, there will be reading assignments to improve quality of conversations during group events. They will be short. 

Your network and support team will grow massively. Although we assign pairs, every Mentor is available to you. Our Mentors’ years of experience range from seven to over twenty years in proposals; some are private consultants, some run their own departments, and others have worked in both capture and proposal roles. Our webinars and in-person meetings are designed to offer you opportunities to tap into the knowledge, insight and resources all our Mentors bring to the group.

• All participants are expected to attend the monthly group event 
• All Mentors-Protege pairs are expected to meet for one hour per month for one-on-one time
• The burden of initiating meetings and setting agendas for one-on-one meetings is on the Protege

1. You must be an NCA APMP member in good standing
2. You must be willing to use your camera during our video meetings – please ensure you are using a computer where you can access your camera and speaker using Google Hangouts. It is recommended you use a personal computer as many work computers have locked settings which will prevent you from accessing your camera.

I joined the Mentor-Protege Program at just the right time. Before I found out about proposal development, conversations didn’t last long when people asked me what I want to do professionally because I honestly didn’t know. But now, I can talk about proposal development with my mentor for hours. He has provided me with advice and insights that have yielded tangible fruit: I got my Foundations Certification, I landed my first official proposal development job, and I’m a better contributor to my teams.