As the Learning Leader for Baker Tilly's Consulting Practice, I am responsible for providing functional and technical training solutions that align with the practice's business needs. I lead a Consulting Learning Steering Committee, which consists of Learning Representatives from the various Consulting Teams, providing support and direction for appropriate learning solutions. Together we continually assess learning effectiveness and ensure we have solutions to meet the needs for continuous development for the ever-changing skill sets needed for Consulting.

I am one of the co-hosts for #LaidOffLife. After finding myself laid-off due to Covid-19 I decided to partner with a former colleague to make a podcast to provide hope and inspiration to all of us out there job searching! Because when life gives you lemons, you make a podcast.

Oversaw the development and production of all professional educational programming, serving over 16,000-member companies. Educational programs include industry professional certifications, online education, weekly webinars, tradeshow education, diversity, and annual summer conferences for targeted interest groups that include the Women’s Leadership Conference, SPARK (young professionals), North American Leadership Conference, and Technology Summit. Collaborated and worked closely with executive staff and Board of Directors to ensure programing met the association vision and mission. Strengthened reliability of educational programming with members by establishing program goals and measurable processes with the professional development and certification committees (representatives of association members). Unified and coached a staff of program managers to source content, develop programming, secure speaker contracts, manage onsite logistics, online education support and overall customer service for professional development programs. Collaborated with marketing to develop campaigns targeted to engage members in educational programs. Marketing channels include: targeted emails, social media campaigns, and print. Implemented online community, an interactive platform hosted by Higher Logic designed to engage members to ask industry-related questions resulting in curated content from the association. Member engagement surpassed association expectations and was considered a best in class example by Higher Logic.

Lead a staff of global curriculum developers, instructors and LMS administrators. Responsible for the development strategy and deployment of global learning programs in Americas, EMEA and APAC. Key global capstone courses include: Foundations of Consulting, Leadership Programs, Giving & Receiving Feedback, Critical Behavior Interviewing and Fierce Conversations. Work closely with the business to intake request for developing and delivering content to provide development opportunities for new skills aligned to transforming business strategy and solutions. Work with country L&D leads to create budgets and ensure programs delivered our within budget for FY. Collaborate with Hitachi Ltd. on implementing corporate wide learning programs and learning management system (Cornerstone). Project Manager for Executive Global Leadership Summit, bringing together 200 Vice Presidents and executives from other Hitachi companies. Manage multiple vendor relationships for learning programs and hotels/venues.

Lead and mentor a staff of curriculum developers and a training administrator. Oversee the development and maintenance of curriculum for instructor led, virtual instructor led and eLearning programs. Instructor for live and virtual led programs.

Oversaw training for 500 plus stores and the corporate support center. Contributing Human Resources team member to large scale initiative to relocate corporate office from Savannah, Georgia to Addison, Texas. Assisted with recruiting and communication efforts for relocation project. Responsible for curriculum development of both classroom and eLearning. Training programs included customer service, sales, product, employee on-boarding and performance management. Communication planning and delivery for change initiatives.

Managed three curriculum developers and oversaw the development and rollout of learning programs to over 2000 stores, seven brands and General Office. Collaborated with Organizational Development in identifying competencies and learning paths for all employees. Implemented a training assessment and project management process to streamline requests for three curriculum developers and six field trainers. Identified and assessed vendors for training materials and/or the delivery of training, including vendor contracts. Implemented Oracle Learning Management System and selection of e-learning authoring tool. Conducted sessions with executive leadership in identifying competencies and related training programs for Regional Manager Program.

Responsible for developing curriculums including project budgets, workplans, training assessments, materials, train the trainer programs, training facilitation, training evaluations level 1 and 2, and basic training consultation to all seven company brands. Developed and implemented a Diamond Selling Certification Video to approximately 7500 employees creating a validation technique for using diamond tools appropriately when selling merchandise. Designed, developed and managed two day leadership program for 250 regional managers across all six brands to foster corporate vision and culture per the direction of the CEO and Brand Presidents (2004 and 2005). Designed new leader guides for store managers to use for in store training, which resulted in decrease of training time and a consistent delivery approach from store managers.

Project manager for new product training and restaurant management-training program. Managed approximately three writers and/or graphic designers at any given time based on project assignments. Developed and implemented a skills based certification program for approximately 1,000 employees on new restaurant processes. Managed the development of new product training including: assessments, trainer outlines, reference guides, and restaurant job aids.

Lead curriculum developer for the customer service center growth market operations. Managed two full-time contract curriculum writers, general curriculum direction, and review of content writing, budget resources, project workplans, and status reports. Responsible for managing curriculum needs and development based on organizational projects consisting of process improvements, Siebel Energy and Cordaptix system upgrades or releases. Training delivery consists of train the trainer, system update training, process improvement training, and new hire training. Special project assignment (8/03 – 12/03): Communication and Change Management specialist for Customer Operations center. Responsible for identifying and managing internal employee communications and the implementation of an employee recognition program to build company culture and morale. Additional responsibilities included preparing communications from the Senior Director to company leadership, board members, external stakeholders, and the Public Utility Commission of Texas

Provided business consulting services in the area of training and development, process re-engineering, organizational development, communication strategy, and change management. Served as the Culture Committee Chairperson for the 350 person Dallas, practice: focused on providing venue for educating practice members through company meetings; sustaining and building office culture; coordinating office social events