Laura Walston, CPSM
Since 2023
Active
SMPS Baltimore member
AEC marketing professional
Laura drives comprehensive proposal strategy and marketing pursuit management for Straughan Environmental, a leading multi-disciplinary engineering and environmental consulting firm founded in 1995. As Marketing Pursuit Manager in Straughan’s Columbia, Maryland headquarters, she oversees proposal development, contract review, brand implementation, and communications strategy for a certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) serving federal, state, municipal, and commercial clients across six offices in Maryland, Delaware, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Her expertise spans environmental planning, engineering, and natural resources marketing with deep specialization in proposal development, contract analysis, copywriting and editing, meeting planning, and brand management. Laura brings comprehensive knowledge of sustainable infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, water resources engineering, coastal resiliency, NEPA compliance, and environmental permitting sectors.
With over 18 years of professional experience spanning environmental consulting, legal services, publishing, and hospitality industries, Laura has developed distinctive cross-sector expertise in proposal management and strategic communications. Her 9+ years at Straughan Environmental have established her as a trusted marketing leader supporting the firm’s mission to advance sustainable and resilient communities through environmental planning, engineering, and construction management services.
Laura’s proven track record includes managing complex federal, state, and municipal proposals, coordinating qualification packages for multi-disciplinary teams, and strengthening brand presence through strategic marketing initiatives that position Straughan as a thought leader in sustainable environmental solutions.
Laura demonstrates exceptional professional leadership through her CPSM certification achievement and Certified Foundation (CF) credential from the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), positioning her among an elite group of dual-certified marketing professionals in the AEC industry. Her commitment to professional certification reflects dedication to elevating proposal management standards and advancing best practices in professional services marketing.
As a member of the 2022-2023 CPSM graduating class recognized at the SMPS Marketing Communications Awards ceremony, Laura joins an accomplished cohort of marketing professionals committed to excellence in AEC marketing. Her APMP Certification Foundation credential demonstrates mastery of proposal development methodologies, competitive strategy, and pursuit planning that enhances her strategic value in complex environmental consulting pursuits.
Laura’s professional development extends beyond certifications to include comprehensive expertise in contract review and compliance, brand strategy implementation, and cross-functional team coordination. Her background in legal services, publishing, and hospitality provides unique perspective on client communications, deadline management, and quality assurance processes that distinguish her approach to proposal management.
Her career trajectory from legal administrative assistant through editorial management to senior marketing leadership demonstrates sustained professional growth and expanding strategic impact. Laura’s ability to translate complex environmental science and engineering concepts into compelling, client-focused narratives positions Straughan Environmental for competitive advantage in federal, state, and commercial environmental consulting markets.
Her self-description as “Wordsmith Extraordinaire” combined with her declaration “I will help you tell the story that will win the work” reflects her passionate commitment to strategic storytelling and her understanding that winning proposals require both technical excellence and persuasive communication.
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