Portfolio

One of my favorite projects was the invention of trainer kits. The trainers had been creating their own customized slides and materials to target specific clients in the field. It was time consuming, inconsistent and lacking in marketable image. As a consultant, I suggested and developed trainer kits. It was a system of “mix ‘n match” modules based on PowerPoint files.

If a client needed only the high-level overview of one topic, but deep details of another, the trainer could simply combine relevant slides into one presentation. The end result automatically provided all the facilitator notes and suggested activities, ice-breakers, hand-outs, and review questions. Problem solved and highly acclaimed.

“Katie was always eager and willing to take on new assignments and responsibilities, utilizing a proactive approach which consistently ends in positive results.” –Training Team Manager

When I’m approached with a project, it’s time to plan. We’re developing instructional materials for adults here. There’s a whole theory on how adults learn. We can’t afford to waste time on materials that won’t serve a useful purpose. The training program also must align with the appropriate business goals.

I like to make the vision of a great training program transparent to all the stakeholders in a clean and simple, yet detailed plan. When I’m in charge of your training projects, you know what you’re getting and when you’ll get it. More importantly, it will be the vision you had in mind, only now it’s painted with the care and passion you were looking for.

“Katie's very professional and very organized in how she works.” –ID Team Member

Having a technical writing background is a bonus in this profession. It means I can produce high-quality materials with effective messages that get the point across in a clean and simplified way. One project that I am particularly proud of is a set of “quick tips”.

A QT™ (Quick Tip) was never longer than half a page. It was absent of screenshots. They were color-coded by product and could be easily printed and compiled into a notebook for easy reference. Clients, both internal and external, were extremely excited about their QTs. They could always reference a manual for additional details and screenshots, but having a quick reference was a real time saver.

“Katie was the anchor for our documentation team at Atlas, always reliable, a self-starter and attentive to details.” –Director of Training and Documentation

Let’s face it—good instructional design means intense project management. Group collaboration of technical and non-technical types is essential. There’s a lot to keep track of and somebody always wants to know the status of any given project. Recently, management wanted to know why we could produce a 60-page manual in one month, but our half-page job-aids were taking two days each.

In the words of Mark Twain, “I would have written a shorter letter, but I didn’t have the time.” To help management grasp the size of our projects based on difficulty and scope, I created a tool in Excel that tracked our progress and sized our projects, providing simplified transparency.

“Katie definitely understands the nuances [of] project planning. She is extremely versatile and able to handle numerous tasks simultaneously, all with a high level of success.” –Training Team Manager

Training is a fine art. You can’t just tell people a bunch of stuff and expect them to remember it. A good trainer engages an audience and draws them in. I like to pull the audience in within the first three minutes. There are different ways to do this, like invoking replies to a critical incident or presenting a brain teaser.

Once I have their attention, I work with the audience to keep it. For example, when trying to describe the factors that lead to poor performance, the audience can brainstorm things they already know. Then we can discuss it. This approach is far more engaging than giving a speech. I prefer to work with people rather than provide lectures.

“Katie brought enthusiasm, leadership and commitment…” –Toastmaster Club Officer

“Katie knows her stuff well, so the pace and content was really good.” –Anonymous Course Participant

Ideally an organization will go to a vendor to develop online learning programs that look good; however, we needed to develop our training entirely in-house. What that really means is that I was solely responsible for the development of online learning material—serves me right since I initiated the whole thing.

For my first project, I created an online learning module to explain a small but complicated new feature. It was a big hit and saved us tens of thousands of dollars in travel expenses. Client Services stopped receiving calls about how the new feature worked. Instead, clients were calling to have the feature enabled.

“I thought this training was fantastic. It was simple and straightforward, but VERY informative. Great job! “ –Anonymous Course Comment

After my first public online module release in 2005, I went on to create a 2-hr course for a comprehensive overview for using our premium product. The training team was very excited. Before the release of the course, trainers were spending four days a week giving the same live presentation over the internet.

After its release, they only spent one day a week in live presentations, and that was usually to expand upon what the online course already offered. The course reduced trainer time spent on training by 75%. This reduction allowed trainers to focus on advanced products and services, increasing revenue opportunities.

“This is an amazing 101 for those just getting started in online media planning and buying. As a supervisor, it is great to see it explained so well. “ –Anonymous Course Comment

Imagine you're at a soccer game and the coach penalizes the star player for not playing the way the coach instructed. Then the coach dons a player's uniform and takes his place on the field. The team loses. Not only did they lose their star player, but they lost their leader as well.

Mentoring means trusting people to do their best work and guiding them to do it better, rather than doing it for them. As the Lead Instructional Designer (ID), I created a reference for non-IDs who were tasked with developing training. I explained key points for them to consider and offered assistance as needed.

Katie is a superb team leader. Her expertise and experience provide the kind of oversight and flexibility that gets the job done on time with the trust to allow each team member to excel in his or her field of expertise -Contracted Team Member

Leadership is not about getting a bunch of people to follow you; it’s about building a vision that people want to be part of. It means service and sacrifice. As founder and President of the Microsoft Impressions Toastmasters club, I had to build the club up from three initial members.

With funds that came directly out of my pocket, I branded materials and supplies with a club logo I created. I organized everything into kits for the officers to help them be more effective, and I posted invitations all over the three buildings in which our organization was scattered. Our membership began to grow, and everyone who signed up benefitted from the rich programs our club offered.

“Katie took charge of our Toastmasters chapter and did an excellent job of making a plan, organizing, and leading the chapter out of a period of low membership and activity. She demonstrated leadership, vision, and capability—a powerful combination that would make her a great asset at any endeavor.”
–TM Club Secretary