News and Insights

Encore Analytics Empower™: An Introduction

SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik provides an introduction to Encore Analytics Empower™, a tool for earned value reporting

February 20, 2025

Microsoft Word: End-of-Line Hyphenation (Update!)

Wordman (aka Dick Eassom CF APMP Fellow) shows how to use Word's built-in hyphenation tool to save space in page...

December 16, 2024

Cyber Security Risk Mitigation

Organizations face threats to their cyber security daily. It is important to have a risk mitigation plan in place.

December 5, 2024

Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: Organizational Alignment

SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison provides his insights on how to lead your team to find alignment between the organizations...

October 3, 2024

Associate Spotlight: Chris Jude

This Associate Spotlight features Chris Jude, CP APMP, whose career journey has brought him from the US Air Force into...

May 14, 2024

9 Principles of Winning Business Capture and Proposal Consulting

There is a tendency to get lost in the intricate processes for writing proposals. Ajay Patel, President and CEO of...

May 7, 2024

Four Steps to Creating Your Best Team

SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green reminds us that with team building, you must be intentional to create cross-functional relationships that...

May 7, 2024

Mastering Business Writing: 14 Expert Tips for Clear, Impactful Communication

Greg Treverton, Ajay Patel, CF APMP, and Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, provide 14 tips for effective business writing.

May 1, 2024

Associate Spotlight: Jacqueline McClay

We get to know Jacqueline McClay, an associate that has been with SMA: The Program Lifecycle Company for over 20...

April 29, 2024

Associate Spotlight: Vivek Sharma

In this associate spotlight, we are highlighting Vivek Sharma, SMA: The Program Lifecycle Company's Chief Software Engineer.

April 17, 2024

Associate Spotlight: Dave Patterson 

In this Associate spotlight, we delve into Dave Patterson's career history, gaining insights into the mindset of a truly remarkable...

April 9, 2024

Hindsight in Advance: Prospective Lessons Learned

Don't wait until you lose! Our Prospective Lessons Learned (PL2)™ generates pro­spective insights, identifies the different ways an opportunity might...

April 3, 2024

Is Your Proposal On Thin Ice?

Is your proposal on thin ice and now you're in crunch time before submission? We can help you get to...

April 3, 2024

How SMA: The Program Lifecycle Company™ Provides You with the Support You Need to Succeed

SMA recognizes your success precedes ours. We provide program support because our ability to help clients succeed drives us!

April 3, 2024

Is your Program Kitchen on Fire?

Is there a fire in your program kitchen and do you have the solutions to put that fire out? SMA:...

April 1, 2024

Associate Spotlight: Gene Satterfield

We’re back with another Associate Spotlight. The focus is on Gene Satterfield, a standout figure in the realm of program...

February 20, 2024

CEO Book Club Vol 13: "Creating the Organization of the Future"

This week CEO, Ajay Patel, is reading a new book “Creating the Organization of the Future” by Dr. Bernard Jaworski...

July 17, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol 12: "Navigating the Seven Seas"

This week, Ajay is reading, "Navigating the Seven Seas" by Melvin G. Williams Sr. and Melvin G. Williams Jr.

June 20, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol 11: "Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women"

This week, Ajay Patel is reading "Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women: Unique, Eccentric and Amazing Entertainers" by Ricky Jay.

May 31, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol 10: "Faster, Better, Cheaper"

This week, Ajay Patel is reading"Faster, Better, Cheaper: Low-Cost Innovation in the U.S. Space Program" by Howard McCurdy.

May 2, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol 9: “Silent Spring” in celebration of Earth Day

Ajay Patel, CEO of SMA, just finished re-reading "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson, the iconic book that inspired the environmental...

April 17, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol 8: “The PC Is Not a Typewriter”

This week, Ajay Patel is reading Robin William’s classic book, "The PC Is Not a Typewriter" published in 1992 by...

April 11, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol 7: "The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking"

This week, Ajay Patel is reading Barbara Minto’s classic book "The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking."

March 21, 2023

SMA Associate Spotlight: Deniz Dalay

This week we shine the spotlight on Deniz Dalay, an SMA associate specializing in capturing and executing military and commercial...

March 9, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol 6: "Brainwashed: A New History of Thought Control"

This week, Ajay Patel is reading "Brainwashed: A New History of Thought Control" by Daniel Pick of the University...

March 8, 2023

It’s Time to “Reboot” Earned Value Management

SMA Senior Program Advisor, Wayne Abba, recently published an opinion piece on the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) website, stated the...

March 3, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol 5: "The Cold Start Problem"

This week, Ajay Patel is reading “The Cold Start Problem” by Andrew Chen, published in 2021.

February 21, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol.4: “The Science of Storytelling"

This week, Ajay Patel is reading “The Science of Storytelling” written by William Storr, published in 2019.

February 14, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol.3: “The Ten Equations That Rule the World"

This week, Ajay Patel is reading "The Ten Equations That Rule the World and How You Can Use Them Too"...

February 6, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol. 2: "The Power of Geography"

Welcome back to the CEO Book Club! Ajay Patel, CEO of SMA, reads a wide variety of books and this...

February 1, 2023

CEO Book Club Vol. 1: "The Organic Growth Playbook"

What and why does Ajay Patel read? Ajay Patel, CEO of SMA, recently read The Organic Growth Playbook by Bernard...

January 23, 2023

SMA Associate Spotlight: Lee Ellingson

This week we spotlight Lee Ellingson, an SMA Associate of 18 years, who specializes in graphic design and production.

January 13, 2023

SMA Associate Spotlight: Lynden Holsclaw

Lyn Holsclaw, SMA associate specializing in systems engineering for U.S. aerospace and defense systems, has the spotlight this week.

December 1, 2022

SMA Associate Spotlight: Susan Trivers

This week we shine the spotlight on Susan Trivers, an SMA Associate of six years. She is an orals coach...

November 3, 2022

SMA Associate Spotlight: Robert Scott

Robert Scott, an SMA Associate who is an Executive Advisor on contract management, acquisition planning, and strategic capture has the...

October 27, 2022

SMA Associate Spotlight: Luis Estrada

The keynote speaker at Town Hall #119 was Luis Estrada, an SMA associate who was nominated twice for an Emmy...

October 7, 2022

SMA Associate Spotlight: Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson, an SMA Associate excelling at project management, earned value management, scheduling and more, has the spotlight this week

August 18, 2022

SMA Associate Spotlight: Rick Mullikin

Rick Mullikin, an SMA Associate specializing in capture and proposal management in the aerospace and defense industries, has the spotlight...

July 28, 2022

Metrics That Matter

Growing to over 800 professionals and being in business for over 40 years, have learned one thing for sure.

July 14, 2022

SMA Associate Spotlight: Dr. Alan Berman

We sat down with Dr. Alan Berman, Vice President of Research and Strategic Initiatives at SMA and an SMA Associate...

July 12, 2022

SMA Associate Spotlight: Bill Dean

This week we spotlight Bill Dean, one of our most senior program architects who is celebrating 24 years as an...

June 10, 2022

SMA Associate Spotlight: John Ambielli

This week we spotlight one of SMA’s newer associates, John Ambielli, who specializes in proposal and program management.

April 29, 2022

SMA Associate Spotlight: Earl Mazerolle

This week we spotlight Earl Mazerolle, an associate at SMA for 14 years specializing in scheduling and program management.

April 15, 2022

SMA Associate Spotlight: Patricia James

We spoke with SMA Associate Patricia James. She shared her career journey as a proposal production, graphics, and coordinator specialist.

April 7, 2022

SMA Associate Spotlight: Christie Woodward

We recently spent time with Christie Woodward, an SMA Associate of five years. She discussed her time as a proposal...

March 17, 2022

Where and How Russia Will Strike Next

A White Paper originally prepared by SMA, Inc., for the U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)) on 22 January...

February 25, 2022

What Is the Secret to a Successful Project?

Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., CEO of SHRM states, “Employers need to recruit for skill but hire for fit.” So, how...

January 19, 2022

SMA: Parker Aerospace’s Trusted Partner for Ten Years

“SMA showed our team what done right looks like” – Barry Draskovich, Vice President of Program and Contract Management, Parker...

January 6, 2022

Not All Heroes Wear Capes!

At SMA you can trust our heroes to rescue you and provide the resources needed to rescue you when you...

December 17, 2021

SMA: Fincantieri’s FFG(X) Trusted Partner

In an interview with SMA, Chuck Goddard, former CEO at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, told us, “SMA was instrumental in winning...

December 2, 2021

Api Rudich: "SMA was Instrumental in MediVector’s Success with DoD"

We recently spoke with Api Rudich, CEO of MediVector, who we helped win a $230M program for the development of...

November 24, 2021

Peter F. Drucker's Vision Realized

Our 30 September Global Town Hall explored recent trends for knowledge workers and their implications for managing a professional services...

October 5, 2021

Changing the Font in Microsoft Word Equations

Wordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our Vice President of Corporate Support) explains how to change the font used...

July 26, 2021

Wordman’s Must Have Windows Apps

What apps do you always download to a new Windows computer? Wordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our Vice...

April 16, 2021

Your Win Strategy Should NOT Be a Black Box!

Strategy is about the choices you make to create a differentiation in the market. How do you know if your...

March 12, 2021

Microsoft Word: Color Themes

Wordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our Vice President for Corporate Support) shows you how to create a Microsoft...

March 9, 2021

The Nine Principles of Winning and Proposal Development

40-year secrets of SMA’s success finally revealed! You will not find these principles of winning anywhere else—the missing link between...

March 8, 2021

How to Thrive in the Gig Economy for Professionals

Watch a recording of our recent Global Town Hall discussing how developing a strategy for leveraging gig workers is critical...

March 1, 2021

Price-to-Win Re-examined

Presenting our point of view on a modern approach to pricing strategy for competitive procurements, and how to avoid the...

February 26, 2021

Are We Stuck in the Past? The Need for New Thinking

In this presentation, SMA President and CEO, Ajay Patel, CF APMP, asks if we have neglected proposal text by focusing...

February 24, 2021

How to Turn Around a Losing Proposal: A Case Study of Great Expectations

In this case study, SMA CEO Ajay Patel offers guidance on what to do when you find yourself in the...

February 18, 2021

Conducting a Failure Analysis, Part 2: Nine Steps to Failure Resolution

In the second part of his 2-part series on conducting failure analysis, SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison describes the nine...

December 1, 2020

Conducting a Failure Analysis, Part 1: Developing Ground Rules for Troubleshooting

In part 1 of his 2-part series on conducting failure analysis, SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison looks at developing ground...

November 30, 2020

Does Your Proposal Team Have Swing?

A great proposal development process can get you to compliance, but a team with "swing" can move beyond compliance to...

November 13, 2020

Microsoft Word: Diacritics

Need to insert a character with an accent into your Word document? Wordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our...

September 22, 2020

A Lesson for All Time: Leadership and Management for the New Space Race

SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison discusses the differences between leadership and management in the context of the 1986 Space Shuttle...

September 16, 2020

Maintaining Cost and Resource Estimates throughout the Pre- and Post-Award Lifecycle

SMA Senior Associate Ron Wadlinger discusses how to maintain your cost and resource estimates through the project lifecycle: from pre-proposal...

September 15, 2020

Is It Really a “Must Win”?

SMA Principal Associate Danny Long shows how an opportunity can only be a "must win" if specific criteria of staffing,...

September 3, 2020

Deltek Cobra – Replace Resources Best Practices

In this article, SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, looks at Deltek Cobra's Replace Resource process to replace a single...

September 1, 2020

Microsoft Word: Dummy Text

If you want people to see how your new Word template will look with text, you'll need some easily-insertable dummy...

August 31, 2020

Deltek Cobra – Slip Best Practices

SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, continues his masterclass on Deltek Cobra by showing how to use the Slip feature...

August 27, 2020

Microsoft Teams vs. Microsoft Office: When Shortcut Keys Clash

Following an unexpected problem during a virtual training event using Microsoft Teams, Wordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our...

August 26, 2020

Strategy, Planning, and Tactics: Why Business Projects Fail

SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison shows that incomplete strategic development leading to poor operational planning can cause business projects to...

August 25, 2020

Deltek Cobra - Align Time-Phased Dates Process Best Practices

SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, continues his masterclass on Deltek Cobra, this time looking at how to use the...

August 17, 2020

Microsoft Word: The Secret to Perfect Table Bullets

In his latest article, Wordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our Vice President of Corporate Support), shows you how...

August 11, 2020

Deltek Cobra – Top Down Planning Process Best Practices

SMA Sr. Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, looks at Deltek Cobra Top Down Planning process, which can also be useful for...

August 6, 2020

Deltek Cobra – Rolling Wave Calendar Best Practices

SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, examines the best practices for using the Rolling Wave calendar process in Deltek Cobra.

August 3, 2020

Microsoft Word: Understanding the Paragraph Properties Mark

Wordman (aka Dick Eassom CF APMP Fellow, SMA’s Vice President of Corporate Support) exposes the secrets behind Microsoft Word’s Paragraph...

July 29, 2020

Deltek Cobra - Microsoft Excel Schedule Data Import Best Practices

In the last of his four-part series on Deltek Cobra cost/schedule data sharing, SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, looks...

July 20, 2020

Estimating Overview: Understanding the Range of Possible Outcomes

SMA Principal Associate Doug Plummer shows how using three-point estimate can be used to improve your confidence in bases of...

July 15, 2020

Deltek Cobra - Open Plan Professional Schedule Data Import Best Practices

In part three of his four-part series on Deltek Cobra cost/schedule data sharing, SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, looks...

July 14, 2020

Microsoft Word: Run-on Headings and more using the Style Separator

Wordman (aka Dick Eassom CF APMP Fellow, SMA's Vice President of Corporate Support) shows how to use Microsoft Word's Style...

July 13, 2020

Deltek Cobra – Microsoft Project Professional Schedule Data Import Best Practices

In the second of his four-part series on Deltek Cobra cost/schedule data sharing, SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, looks...

July 9, 2020

The Value of Personal Contact and Telework—Gifts of COVID‑19?

Anthony Rock, Lt. Gen. US Air Force (Ret) and SMA Executive Advisor, reflects on telework during COVID‑19 pandemic: will it...

July 8, 2020

Deltek Cobra – Oracle Primavera P6 Schedule Data Import Best Practices

SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, continues his series of articles on Deltek Cobra looking at best practices for importing...

July 1, 2020

Facilitating Enterprise Change

SMA Senior Proposal Manager Larry Tremmel discusses the steps necessary to make the changes necessary to allow your enterprise to...

June 30, 2020

Client Project Management Process Overhaul

SMA Principal Associate Scott Keeney, PMP, describes how we re-established best practice project management processes within our client's Project Management...

June 29, 2020

Recommendations: One and Done or Invested?

When someone asks for your letter of recommendation, how do you track their progress and success? SMA Executive Advisor Anthony...

June 26, 2020

Self-Improvement: Turn Your Downtime into Uptime

How do you get the best out of your current downtime? Turn it into "uptime" and improve yourself, says SMA...

June 25, 2020

Deltek Cobra Advanced Calculated Fields

SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, provides a tutorial on how to use Advanced Calculated Fields for Earned Value Management...

June 18, 2020

Spam and Phishing Attempts on the Rise: Are Your Digital Identities Secure?

SMA Principal Associate and cyber risk expert Sarala Rajeshuni emphasizes the need to protect digital identities during COVID-19 teleworking

June 17, 2020

On Virtual Teams

SMA Senior Proposal Manager Larry Tremmel discusses the specialized communication tools and tactics needed by virtual teams

June 11, 2020

Accountability and Control

Anthony Rock, Lt. Gen. US Air Force (Ret) and SMA Executive Advisor, continues his leadership articles with how to handle...

June 10, 2020

Deltek Cobra EVMS Progress Guidance

SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, provides a tutorial on earned value management progress techniques using Deltek Cobra

June 9, 2020

For Leaders: 5 Reasons Why Both Continuous Improvement and Sleep Are Deeply Underrated

SMA Senior Program Advisor Rick Ferraro compares the benefits of sleep and continuous process improvement to the organization

June 8, 2020

Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: What Is Meant By, “Don’t Tell” and “Don’t Direct”?

SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison wraps up his "Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct" series of articles on leadership

June 5, 2020

Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: Is “Cross-functional Teamwork” an Oxymoron?

SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison shows how reframing the problem can improve the effectiveness of cross-functional teams

June 4, 2020

Words Matter with Teamwork: “I” and “My” or...?

Anthony Rock, Lt. Gen. US Air Force (Ret) and SMA Executive Advisor, reminds us that choice of words can encourage...

June 3, 2020

LPTA: Balancing Your Pipeline

In the final part of his 4-part series on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements, SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green...

June 2, 2020

LPTA: Capturing without Equitable Adjustments

In part 3 of his series on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements, SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green shows how...

June 1, 2020

Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: Benchmarking with Competitors

SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison shows how benchmarking your organization with your competitors can improve your market position

May 29, 2020

LPTA: Leaving Money on the Table

SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green continues his four-part series on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements. In this part, he...

May 28, 2020

LPTA: Get Out of Your Own Way!

SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green opens a four-part series on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements. First: get out of...

May 27, 2020

Why the Defense Market Doesn’t Adhere to Basic Supply & Demand Models

SMA Analyst Eddie Solares examines the defense market and explains why it doesn't fit the standard supply and demand model

May 26, 2020

Deltek Cobra Earned Value by Budget Method

The calculation of Earned Value (EV), or performance, is central to Deltek Cobra. EV is always measured at the work...

May 22, 2020

Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: A “Shaming”

SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison asks whether shaming a team member into doing something can achieve the desired results

May 21, 2020

Don’t Wait, Reflect and Act: High Performing Teams Don’t Just Exist; They Are Created

SMA Principal Associate Sarala Rajeshuni argues that if you do it right, you cannot help but create successful, high performing...

May 20, 2020

Getting More Value from Deltek Cobra: Cost Classes

SMA Senior Associate Ron Wadlinger describes some of the advantages of using Cost Classes in Deltek Cobra for your Earned...

May 19, 2020

Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: What Does/Can a CAM Do?

SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison gives examples on the role of the Control Account Manager (CAM) in the project team

May 18, 2020

BD Pipeline: Calculating PWIN

In the last part of his 4-part BD Pipeline series, SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green summarizes how to combine all...

May 14, 2020

BD Pipeline: Customer Relations

In part 3 of his 4-part BD Pipeline series, SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green shows how customer relations affect your...

May 13, 2020

BD Pipeline: Internal Gates

In part 2 of his BD Pipeline series, SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green describes the internal gates to estimating your...

May 12, 2020

BD Pipeline: Validating Your Opportunities

You have limited resources and can only follow so many business opportunities: SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green explains opportunity validation

May 11, 2020

Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: Schedule Recovery

When the situation looks hopeless, SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison shows how working backwards from the desired result can help...

May 8, 2020

Urgent and Important

Anthony Rock, Lt. Gen. US Air Force (Ret.) and SMA Executive Advisor, reminds us to not let the "urgent" overcome...

May 7, 2020

Best Practice Scheduling and EVMS Training Should be Mandatory in Industry

SMA Principal Associate Roger Risinger warns that project staff should be trained in scheduling and EVMS best practices, or risk...

May 6, 2020

Digital Transformation of IT Shared Services: Why You Should Migrate Them to The Cloud

Although migrating your IT infrastructure to the cloud seems obvious now, SMA Principal Associate Sarala Rajeshuni advises that you have...

May 5, 2020

Know Your Market: Creating a Market Intelligence Program

Before you start bidding, know your market. SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green provides five tips for building a market intelligence...

May 4, 2020

Creating an Effective PowerPoint Presentation

Do you dread being asked to create and deliver a PowerPoint presentation? SMA Associate Fellow Rich Nichols provides a few...

May 1, 2020

Know Your Market: Building a Competitor Profile

Before you start bidding, know your market. SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green provides six tips for building a competitor profile

April 30, 2020

You Need to Have a Business Continuity Mindset

SMA Principal Associate Lisa Troglio recommends considering Business Continuity during all aspects of the program lifecycle

April 28, 2020

Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: Why Call for an Ordnance Summit? Risk Management

SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison provides a reminder of the importance of effective risk management, especially when working with complex...

April 27, 2020

Four Steps to Getting Past Your Motivation Slump

Losing your motivation after a month of lockdown? SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green provides four steps to help you get...

April 23, 2020

Learning the Six Circles of a Client Program

SMA Principal Associate John Trapane reminds consultants that working effectively as a member of a client team requires you to...

April 21, 2020

The Importance of Details

SMA Principal Associate Rick Riordan reminds us that contract and proposal management are based on reading every written word in...

April 17, 2020

Schedules Should be Performance Models

SMA Principal Associate Roger Risinger argues that project schedulers must have a detailed understanding of the “Project Process”

April 1, 2020

Change Is in the Air

How Earned Value Management (EVM) can aid your understanding of how well your digital transformation activities to adapt to changing...

January 6, 2020

The Art of Briefing

You're going to get interrupted during your important briefings, so think about how you're going to answer awkward questions in...

September 18, 2019

A Space Odyssey: A Look at Microsoft Word’s Odd Spaces

Wordman looks into Microsoft Word’s odd spaces, and how to use them in proposals and other technical documents.

December 12, 2016