Change Communication and Training

Recent Projects

CMMI Initiative for Financial Services Company

(May 2007-February 2008)

Provided training and communication to support a Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) initiative.  Developed 12 in-person training modules on CMMI processes and presented to project managers, business and quality analysts.  Converted training to e-Learning modules for ongoing use in the organization’s learning management system.

Broker/Dealer Communications for Financial Services Company

(November 2006-April 2007)

Developed and executed communications between the organization’s IT department and its broker/dealer network.  Provided information and education via intranet about new technology releases as well as business-as-usual communication on issues and outages.

Accessibility Guidelines for Online Retailer

(October-November 2006)

Researched, wrote, and led review and approval meetings for guidelines to help make a major retail website compatible with Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act and the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative.

Records Management Web-based Training for Pharmaceuticals Company

(February 2006-July 2006)

Online training and communications for records management policies and best practices.  Created material designed to help employees understand the need comply with legal and regulatory requirements for retention and disposition of paper and electronic records.

Electronic Document Management System for Pharmaceuticals Company

(November 2005-March 2006)

Training and communications consultant for implementation of a new electronic document management system, Documentum.  Helped to define organizational workflow, job roles and responsibilities within the new system.  Developed training and reference materials for new SOPs and software application.  Developed communications regarding the features and benefits of the new system in order to encourage users to participate in training and implementation.

Employee Communications for Financial Services Company

(July 2004-August 2005)

Communications consultant for finance group that provides accounting, planning, and reporting.  Provided content for Sharepoint-based intranet site, newsletters, and quarterly employee meetings.

Employee Communications for Financial Services Company

(August 2003-July 2004)

Communications consultant for information technology group that supports residential lending and securitization.  Provided content for Front Page-based intranet site, newsletters, and management reports.

CMMI Initiative

(November 2000-August 2003)

Communications consultant for an enterprise-wide SEI/CMM initiative.   Worked with project managers and IT employees to create and update process documentation and templates.

Planned and executed electronic and print communications, intranet content, and special events to promote awareness of, buy-in and ownership for the initiative among Senior Management, Project Managers, and Developers. 

Developed half-day overview of SEI/CMM Key Process Areas.  Delivered the training to more than 700 IT project team members and IT business clients in 40+ sessions.  

Financial Services Merger and Acquisition

(January-March 2002)

Training Consultant for broker workstation applications.  Delivered five days of classroom and one-on-one training to brokers in a newly merged location.

Operating System Upgrade

(March-October 2001)

Communications Consultant for an enterprise-wide systems upgrade that was completed on time and ahead of schedule.  Devised a communication program to teach employees at all sales locations to safeguard their data during the conversion and to create support for the Project Team.  Tactics included an incentive program and a semi-weekly intranet newsletter with tips and success stories.

Customer Service Training

(February 2000-February 2001)

Developed on-line help content for a new web-based customer service tool. 

Y2K Project for Public Utility

(October 1998-May 1999)

Planned and executed communications for the Y2K Project.  Created Internet content, ASK NSP scripts, employee newsletter and magazine stories, and a semi-monthly IT employee news bulletin designed to enhance employee and public confidence in the utility’s Y2K preparations.

Y2K Project for Travel Corporation

(June 1997-October 1999)

·        Communications Consultant for the Y2K Project.  Designed and wrote internal newsletters and other communications used to generate co-operation and buy-in between Y2K Project staff and other IT Department projects and functions.

Backoffice System Conversion

·    Communications Consultant for the Transition 98 project.  Created newsletters and other communications to support implementation of a major back-office systems conversion. 

Other Relevant Experience

1987-1996:  Assistant Professor

Taught advertising, public relations, literature and composition at Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN and St. Francis College, Loretto, PA.  Combined academic background with “real world” experience to teach advertising and public relations campaigns.

Areas of Expertise

Audience analysis  ¨  Business rationale ¨  Instructional Design ¨ Definition of key messages   ¨ Communication objectives and strategies   ¨ Tactical recommendations in a range of media  ¨  Budgeting ¨ Writing ¨ Intranet site content and maintenance (Sharepoint, Front Page, Accelsite) ¨ Voiceovers for training and video