Donald Silwick, CPSM
Since NA
Active
SMPS Washington, DC member
AEC marketing professional
Donald leads sales operations and business development strategy for Jacobs, supporting the firm’s mission of challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world’s most critical problems. As Sales Operations Manager for one of the world’s leading global professional services firms with approximately 60,000 employees across 50 countries and $16 billion in annual revenue, he oversees strategic pursuit coordination, proposal development, client relationship management, and business intelligence for a company ranked #1 on Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms for six consecutive years (2018-2023).
His expertise spans infrastructure, transportation, environmental, and federal government services marketing with deep specialization in proposal management, strategic storytelling, and partnering excellence. Donald brings comprehensive knowledge of AEC marketing best practices backed by proven results—averaging $53.6 million in wins annually over the last several years. His professional tagline captures his approach: “Driving AEC Growth through Strategy, Storytelling, & Partnering.”
With demonstrated capabilities across the full business development lifecycle including bid strategy, teaming arrangements, proposal coordination, client communications, and capture management, Donald has established himself as a “five-tool player” in professional services marketing—excelling equally in writing, creating, analyzing, troubleshooting, and leading. His versatility enables him to navigate complex pursuit environments where technical excellence must be translated into compelling client value propositions.
His educational foundation from Towson University combined with multiple professional certifications including CPSM and CF 4PMP (Certified Foundation Professional Project Manager with APMP) provides distinctive capabilities in managing large-scale pursuits that require both strategic thinking and meticulous execution. Donald is currently pursuing CE 4PMP (Certified Executive Professional Project Manager) certification, demonstrating sustained commitment to professional development at the highest levels.
Donald demonstrates exceptional professional leadership through his CPSM certification and sustained active engagement with both SMPS Washington, DC and the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP). His commitment to advancing professional services marketing excellence has earned him significant national recognition, including dual “40 Under 40” honors in 2025—named to both the Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and APMP’s 40 Under 40, a remarkable achievement that positions him among the most influential young professionals shaping the future of business development and proposal management in the Mid-Atlantic region and nationally.
As an active SMPS Washington, DC member, Donald contributes to one of the nation’s most influential chapters serving the federal government and infrastructure markets. The chapter maintains 30+ CPSM members and offers nationally recognized programming including an aggressive 10-week CPSM Bootcamp that has become a model for certification preparation nationwide. Donald’s engagement with SMPS reflects commitment to the collaborative knowledge-sharing culture that defines successful AEC marketing professionals.
His professional engagement includes service on Engineers Without Borders USA committees where he has served as a virtual mentor to student volunteers on transformative international development projects. His assignments have included reviewing design reports, marketing brochures, and fundraising campaigns for initiatives like the bridge build supporting Eswatini in Southern Africa and clean water projects in Bolivia. This pro bono technical review work demonstrates commitment to leveraging professional expertise for global humanitarian impact.
Donald’s thought leadership philosophy centers on the power of strategic storytelling and collaborative partnering to drive AEC growth. His professional website (donaldsilwick.com) positions him as a thought leader who has “quickly established himself as a ‘five-tool player’ in the world of marketing”—excelling across the full spectrum of capabilities required for business development excellence. Whether writing compelling narratives, creating visual presentations, analyzing competitive intelligence, troubleshooting pursuit challenges, or leading cross-functional teams, Donald performs at a consistently high level.
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