The Right People at the Right Time.
Led by partners Mara and Kelly, Pivotal brings senior-level strategy, proposal leadership, and pursuit expertise to every engagement, then scales with the right team when the pursuit demands it.
Construction, engineering, and architecture pursuits are what we do. We’ve spent our careers helping AEC firms compete for and win complex, high-value projects in highly competitive markets. Because Pivotal is intentionally partner-led, Mara and Kelly remain closely involved in the strategy, messaging, and direction of every pursuit, bringing the experience and perspective needed to position your team for success.
Supporting every engagement is a trusted team of specialists that allows us to scale based on the size, schedule, and complexity of the pursuit. This approach keeps our process personal, responsive, and senior-driven while providing the capacity to meet demanding deadlines. Whether you need strategic guidance, hands-on proposal leadership, compelling messaging, or additional pursuit support, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and become an extension of your team.
Kelly Billings
Kelly Billings is a co-founder and managing partner of Pivotal Marketing Partners, bringing over 20 years of experience in AEC marketing, proposal development, and pursuit strategy. She’s worked on everything from quick-turn proposals to large, high-profile design-build and CMAR pursuits, so she understands both the pressure and the complexity that teams are navigating.
Kelly has a knack for quickly getting up to speed, understanding the project, the team, and what really sets them apart. She’s especially strong at helping teams cut through the noise, focus on what matters, and turn their experience into clear, structured, and compelling narratives.
Her experience spans the entire pursuit process, which allows her to jump in at any stage, whether it’s shaping early strategy, developing content, or helping guide a team through the final push to submission and interviews. She brings a calm, organized approach that helps teams stay focused and move forward with confidence.
Mara Prendergast
Mara Prendergast is a co-founder and managing partner of Pivotal Marketing Partners, with more than two decades of experience in AEC marketing, proposals, and visual communication. She’s spent her career working alongside contractors, engineers, and architects, helping teams turn complex ideas into clear, compelling stories that actually connect with selection committees.
What Mara does best is bridge the gap between what a team knows and what actually comes through on paper (or in an interview). She has a natural ability to take technical information, identify what matters most, and shape it into messaging and visuals that are both easy to understand and hard to ignore.
Her experience spans the full pursuit process, from early strategy conversations to final design and delivery, so she can step in wherever a team needs support. Whether she’s helping refine messaging, writing content, or building out the visual approach, her focus is always the same: making sure the team’s value is fully understood.
Mara is known for being highly responsive, detail-oriented, and easy to work with. She brings a collaborative, solutions-focused mindset to every pursuit, helping teams stay organized, aligned, and confident under pressure.
Clients Trust Mara For Her Ability To:
- Make complex ideas clear without losing the technical depth
- Listen first, then helps teams say what they actually mean
- Bring both creative thinking and practical execution
- Be consistent, responsive, and dependable, especially on tight deadlines
- Getting it right, not just getting it done
What We Hear Most From Clients
“They ask the right questions and help us figure out our strengths to highlight.”
“The final product exceeded our expectations and really conveyed who we are.”
“The process felt seamless, and the end result was top-notch.”
“Why didn’t we do this sooner?”
Let's Build The Right Team Around Your Next Pursuit.
Whether you need senior strategy, hands-on proposal support, or a full pursuit team behind you, we can scale to meet the moment, and help you move forward with confidence.