1st Place: Publication
Gateway to Adventure: Transforming Pursuit Strategy into a Storytelling Experience Facing a competitive RFP with a tight deadline, Calibre launched Gateway to Adventure—an immersive, storytelling-driven proposal strategy that transformed a technical submission into a captivating travel magazine experience. The campaign secured a $2.2M contract, demonstrated creative excellence, and proved a small firm could outshine global competitors. The Challenge Calibre needed to win a fast-tracked, high-stakes project against a large international competitor—over the holidays, with just 2.5 weeks to respond. Beyond meeting basic qualifications, the team needed to overcome concerns around profitability, deliver confidence in execution, and ignite excitement for the Origin Park project—an ambitious 430-acre riverfront destination in Clarksville, Indiana, designed to embrace the dynamic nature of the Ohio River—all while standing out as a nimble, innovative partner. The Solution The team replaced a standard proposal format with a 64-page travel magazine, positioning Origin Park as an international adventure hub and Calibre as the technical partner who could deliver it. Combining storytelling, dynamic visuals, and multimedia—including QR-linked videos—the proposal addressed both logic and emotion, answering client concerns while inspiring decision-makers with vision and energy. Execution & Impact Calibre’s Communication and Whitewater teams produced a professional, print and digital flipbook blending editorial-style design with persuasive storytelling. The leave-behind served as a focal point in interviews, creating a memorable, immersive experience. The result: a $2.2M contract win (up from the initial $1.5M scope), 8,796% ROI, and industry accolades—including Best in Show and People’s Choice awards from SMPS Colorado. Internally, the campaign became a creative benchmark and training tool across the firm. Campaign Stakeholders Wendy Smith, Emily Villines, Scott Shipley, PE, and the Strategic Communications & Whitewater teams.
RESULTS
$25,000 total campaign cost including labor, travel, and printing Project scope grew from $1.5M to $2.2M post-proposal submission 8,797% return on investement Winner Best in Show, People’s Choice, and Project Pursuit Marketing Excellence Awards (SMPS Colorado), 2025 SMPS MCA Award of Excellence, Project Pursuit Marketing – Mixed Media
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