Résumé of
Rob O. Avery
Phone: (469) 261-5863 E-mail: rob@averynet.us Web site: http://www.averynet.us 4549 Kentucky Drive Plano, TX 75024
Broad experience as an outcome-oriented instructional designer, project manager, technical writer, and team lead in quality conscious organizations Strong analytical skills, flexibility, and high quality standards
Experience
GenSpring Family Offices, 5/2006 – present Senior Leader, Web-Based Learning Set up and configured the firm’s web-based learning management system Consulted with and assisted internal groups in the development of team SharePoint sites and evangelized SharePoint throughout the organization. Deliverables included initial SharePoint sites, coaching, and support Developed comprehensive online performance support for a large-scale internal software project. Deliverables included integrated help system developed with Madcap Flare and numerous Adobe Captivate software simulations Designed and produced client a family learning program on Credit and Debt. Deliverables included PowerPoint deck, learning guide and facilitator guide BECU Credit Union, 4/2005 – 5/2006 Instructional Design Specialist Designed and implemented an organization wide policies and procedures knowledge base using RoboHelp Configured the organization’s Cornerstone OnDemand learning management system Developed web-based training programs Consulting and Contracting; 4/2002 to 2006 Washington Mutual Bank. Contract Instructional Designer for Organizational Learning; 11/2004 to present Redesigned and converted three management courses from instructor-led workshops to blended learning programs with conceptual content online and skills components in instructor-led workshops. Deliverables include Macromedia Breeze tutorials, narration scripts, worksheets, job aids, leader’s guides, and participant workbooks. Designed two Webcast versions of management workshops for synchronous online delivery. Microsoft. Contract Instructional Designer for the corporate Engineering Excellence Group; 2/2004 to 6/2004 Researched the best practices of Microsoft writers and editors in the context of Microsoft’s strategic initiatives and synthesized the results into a set of inferred uniform content standards Designed a performance-based instructor-led course to provide awareness and the practical skills for achieving these standards throughout the company. Deliverables included animated PowerPoint slides, a learning game, a printed and online student reference, and an instructor guide Washington Mutual Bank. Contract Instructional Designer for Consumer Loan Servicing; 6/2003 to 1/2004 Designed, and produced a blended learning program to prepare customer support representatives to service a new loan product at the time of its initial launch. Worked closely with a multidisciplinary product launch team and marketing executives; utilized product and software specs to design online and classroom learning activities. Used Dreamweaver to produce a Web-based learning scenario and an interactive software simulation; produced an instructor-led training component with instructor/student guide, and an online test; have since received excellent feedback about the program Performed several quick-turnaround quality assurance passes on a third-party Flash demo for soon-to-be-launched loan servicing software that was at risk and behind schedule; trimmed the scope of the demo to bring it back on schedule; designed and wrote a downloadable printed guide (PDF) and online test; integrated all of the components into a selfguided learning package that stepped learners at remote sites through practical exercises; worked closely with the bank’s learning delivery system vendor to deploy the self-guided learning package on schedule Developed a Web-based performance support system to improve customer support response time and quality Microsoft. Contract Technical Writer for the Training and Certification Group; 4/2003 to 5/2003 Developed content for three scenario-based workshop units on Windows Server 2003 for systems engineers Deliverables included lab exercises; participant guides, PowerPoint slides, and instructor notes; short timeframe Microsoft. Contract Instructional Designer for MSN support agent training; 5/2002 to 1/2003 Designed instructor-led training to help guarantee a smooth launch for the Money Plus component of MSN 8 Updated and completely re-designed Hotmail customer and technical support training to make it more efficient. Created a convenient online/print reference that enabled the removal of unnecessary detail from the course
Analyzed training needs; developed criterion-referenced tests; specified objectives; worked with subject matter experts and directly with beta software to develop content; produced instructor guides, student guides, online and print job aids, and course Web pages. Used Webex software to conduct synchronous Web-based train-the-trainer sessions Group Program Manager — User Interface; vJungle; 7/2000 to 3/2001 Managed four graphic designers, a program manager, a writer, an editor, and a usability specialist who designed and produced all graphic and text content for a business Web site and portal Significantly improved the usability, look, and overall quality of the Web site’s interface Microsoft. 7/1990 to 7/1998 Online Education Specialist; Executive & Management Development Provided vision and management for Microsoft’s internal Executive and Management Development Web site Designed and produced a unique Web-based “just-in-time” training and performance support solution for managers Guided the design and production of an online tool to facilitate competency-based career development planning Microsoft. 7/1990 to 7/1998, continued User Education Lead and Sr. CBT Designer for MS. Publisher, MS Project, and MS Excel Managed a team of 16 technical writers, graphic designers and editors Led the online content writing effort and designed and produced online demos for MS Publisher features Collaborated with Program Management, Development, Testing, Marketing, Usability, and other product groups Developed a task-based online cue card system and designed an award-winning project management tutorial and quick preview demonstration for Microsoft Project Senior Instructional Designer, Center for Business, Industry, & Labor, St. Louis Community College, St. Louis, MO; 2/1985 to 6/1990 For McDonnell Douglas: As team lead, coordinated instructional design and production of a large CBT curriculum on artificial intelligence and expert systems for McDonnell Douglas using ADDIE model. Designed and wrote content and criterion-referenced testing for CBT courseware: Developing a Simple Expert System, Knowledge Representation, Representing Knowledge as Rules, Representing Knowledge as Frames, Developing Expert Database Systems For Ford and General Motors: Developed audiovisual and online courses on maintaining and programming industrial robots for St. Louis automobile assembly plants Management Instructor, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 10/1982 to 9/1984 Conducted a hospital-wide training needs analysis and performed departmental performance studies Created a career development program for Saudi managers Designed and conducted management training programs on fundamentals of management, time management, performance management, and on-the-job training skills Management Instructor, Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, MO; 1/1982 to 10/1982 Coordinated the development, marketing and delivery of a 40-hour training program, The Challenge of Health Care Management, which attracted participants from throughout the U. S. Presented session on situational leadership Instructional Developer, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 1/1979 to 4/1981 Designed and presented performance-based management courses and workshops Training Coordinator, Murray Developmental Center, Centralia, IL; 12/1969 to 1/1979 Coordinated training and development for 600 employees Designed and presented courses on supervisory skills, performance reviews, and behavioral science
Education Continuing: ASTD TechKnowledge Conference, San Antonio, TX, 2008. Explored application of Web 2.0 social networking concepts to learning problems Continuing: ASTD Conference, Dallas, TX, 2006. Enhanced understanding of LMS options and SCORM; eLearning DevCon, Salt Lake City, UT, 2006. Continuing: ASTD TechKnowledge Conference, Orlando, FL, 2003. Expanded my knowledge and skills for designing Web-based simulations; explored current strategies for incorporating blended approaches to training delivery Continuing: Usability Testing of the Documentation and User Interface of Computer Systems (workshop), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 1992 Graduate: MS, Education (Instructional Technology), Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL; 1989 Undergraduate: BA, Fine Arts (Printmaking), Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL; 1967
Other
Professional Affiliations: American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) Software Competencies: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, Visual Basic, Visio, SharePoint 2008, Visual SourceSafe, and Product Studio; Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, Dreamweaver, and Captivate; MadCap Flare; Articulate; SnagIt, and HTML Personal Strengths: Collaboration and facilitation; planning, visualization, and communication; problem analysis; technical flexibility; resourcefulness Portfolio: View selected work samples online at http://www.averynet.us/Rob