Haley Chapin has been a member of COLSA Corporation’s Proposals Department for eleven years, being hired under former Proposals Director Kathy Tournquist straight out of college.
“I remember being very nervous for my interview,” Haley says, as she didn’t know much about proposals when she started. She had just graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Journalism. However, when she began working, she found herself in what she calls “a really unique time for COLSA.” The TMAS and EPASS task order groups on the OASIS IDIQ had just started, and so Haley was added to the team of proposal analysts charged with answering every pertinent task order. This was a big step for COLSA in the company’s 45-year journey to Large business status, and some of COLSA’s largest contracts are among these task orders. It was a tall order for a new proposal analyst, but Haley credits her coworkers, especially Tammy DeWeese, with helping teach her the ropes and write winning task order proposals.
Eleven years later, Haley is the lead proposal analyst for these same contract vehicles, now on their third iteration.
COLSA’s Culture of Growth
With eleven years under her belt, Haley Chapin has a true feel for the work and culture at COLSA. From her own work experience with the Proposals Department to the company as a whole, Haley has learned to mentor and be mentored.
“Everybody says this in their interviews, but COLSA really is made up of genuinely good people who care about their jobs. Not just their jobs, but they care about the work they’re doing. … Integrity matters to them and also doing good quality work. … By and large, I think across COLSA people are willing to teach.”
Haley specifically attributes a strong sense of this ethos to the Proposals Department: “That’s one thing I think our department does really well—we teach internally.”
She says her job is fast-paced and requires high attention to detail, a “significant problem-solving aspect,” and collaboration. “Nobody just does a proposal in a vacuum by themselves,” she says, especially as “no two RFPs are the same.”
Haley also says that an element of the job that has become more important in the last few years is adaptability or a willingness to learn, which was one of the most important qualities that came up when interviewing intern candidates this spring.
“All of us are still learning with each proposal cycle.”
Outside of Work
Like her coworkers, Haley has a vibrant life outside of COLSA. She has two kids and a dog named Dolly Pawton, and when she’s not chasing after them, she enjoys reading and cooking.
Haley’s surprising hobby is collecting Fiestaware.
“When I bought [my house], … everything was white, but there was also this really pretty heart pine open shelving. I just really wanted to see some color. … I read somewhere that Fiestaware is one of the most collected dinnerwares in the US … because of its bold colors. And now I have a lot of it!”
One of Haley’s favorite things to do is to check at various thrift shops and Goodwill stores whenever she’s in the area to see if they have any pieces. “Almost every piece I own has been thrifted.” Her favorite piece came from the Asbury Thrift Store in Huntsville, Alabama, a stick-handled coffee creamer serving dish from the late 1930s. She also has managed to find a few of the famously radioactive uranium-glazed Fiestaware pieces over the years—those are only for display. She enjoys using the rest of her collection.
Grow with Us
As COLSA grows, we continuously seek qualified talent to join our Family of Professionals. Check out our Careers page to learn more about working for COLSA.
