Interview with SMI/Helios's Dr. Drew Ronneberg
02/01/11
1. What is your background, and what led you to work in the energy field? I have a PhD in Chemistry from Princeton University and a background in energy policy. I was originally attracted to the energy field because I wanted to help deploy clean energy technologies like wind and solar energy. 2. What does your work as an Associate at SMI entail and how will you use your energy background to assist SMI clients? My job currently focuses on helping SMI clients 1) understand the competitive solicitation process 2) meet with key decision makers in the Federal Government 3) identify relevant funding opportunities and 4) improve our client's chances of winning Federal grants. 3. What are you most looking forward to now that you are working for SMI and the private sector in general? After developing several Federal solicitations, it was interesting to see how responding proposals are written and teams assembled. I am looking forward to helping SMI's clients win awards to competitive solicitations. 4. What advice would you give SMI clients hoping to conduct business with the Federal Government from an inside perspective? The process for writing and releasing a Federal solicitation can take a year or more. Because of these long lead times, it is important for SMI's clients to develop relationships with the key Federal decision-makers well before solicitations are released. 5. Do you have any other recommendations or helpful tips for SMI clients? Patience pays when dealing with Federal Government. In a world where earmarks are no longer an option at the moment, it is especially important that SMI's clients understand how to navigate Federal agencies, shape solicitation topics and write successful proposals. |
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