1239 Tyler Place, Erie, Colorado 80516
Mobile: (720) 539-4294
http://www.linkedin.com/in/craigplain
EXPERIENCE
QUALITY MANAGEMENT
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For Fiscal Year 2012, achieved cost savings of $32.3M, exceeding target by $7M.
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Worked with Legal department to reduce costs. Results: $4M shaved off a $21M annual budget.
 Oversaw quality for healthcare company’s technical training division: Results included zero defects found during FDA audit and to ISO 9000 recertification.
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Developed Lean/Six Sigma initiative for Air National Guard Wing; to include training classes and acting as Master Black Belt to several projects: Results include a revised process that had annual savings of hundreds of hours in labor and elimination 100% of defects in deliver of materials.
 Worked with national team to implement a “blitz” of eleven lean rapid improvement events for an Air
Refueling Wing. Results: flow and touch times reduced by thousand of man-hours.
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Drove partnership of Harley-Davidson and Air National Guard for joint quality training programs
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Created new analysis method for student survey data that lead to 33% decrease in training defects.
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As Civilian Program Analyst for Navy: o Implemented new assessment program for Training Organization with 50,000 annual graduates. o Conducted process mapping and analysis of 28 major organizations. o Investigated over 150 cases of Fraud, Waste and Abuse; many dealing with Union Grievances.
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Facilitated over 100 events: from Lean kaizen to process mapping
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Air Force Smart Operations (AFSO21) Black Belt Certified
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Six Sigma Green Belt Certified: filled role of functional Black Belt.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
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Decreased development costs of training from $4,686 per training unit to $2,577.
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Increased training course output 168%; decreased costs 45% and development time decreased 28%.
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Oversaw largest revision of a GE Healthcare technical training program: converted 6 week training program into blend of computer and in-residence training. Completed 25% earlier than scheduled and resulted in annual savings of over $600K.
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On cadre that activate a new Air Force Unit 33 days ahead of schedule —10% sooner than anticipated and below budget.
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Oversaw development projects with multinational teams from India, Israel, Sweden and France.
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
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Managed Evening Division of a Proprietary College with Profit & Loss responsibilities, accountable for student recruitment and all aspects of over 20 faculty in the fastest growing segment of the college.
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Squadron Commander overseeing a 106 person unit with over $30 million accountable assets.
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Supervised organizations ranging in size from 4 to 106.
TRAINING & CIRRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
 Selected to be the Lead Instructor for the Air Force’s first organic Black Belt class. Lead team of 2 instructors in delivering the material, and participated in curriculum refresh.
 Developed unique “CPI Overview and Project Generation Course” A 4 hour class that gave basics of
Continuous Process Improvement, then used CPI tools for class to create a prioritized project list of possible improvement events. Results: Course has been delivered over 10 times, close to 200 projects generated and close to 10 people seeking Green Belt certification as a result.
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Created an accelerated training class o n the Air Force’s 8 Step problem Solving Process. This highly interactive course has been so popular additional classes were added to handle the demand.

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Led instructional development of over 20 online and hybrid courses for corporate training center
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Desi gned training modules for Air Force’s AFSO21 continuous improvement program
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Mentored teams that created standards and certification processes for online courses
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Developed weekly professional development seminars using guest speakers for Fortune 100
Company. Went 3 years, with over 120 seminars and 2,500 attendees. All at no cost to company.
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Developed a Leadership Seminar Series for National Guard Unit. Brought in guest speakers and experts from all over the county, both public and private, to discuss leadership and management issue with military leaders. This two year program had over 500 participants.
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Developed training classes on: Crisis Management for Senior Staff, Program Evaluation, Process
Assessment, Total Quality Management, Job Hunting & Placement and After Action Reviews.
TRAINING & CIRRICULUM DELIVERY
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Undergraduate Courses: o Quality Management, Economics (Managerial, Macro, and Micro), Business Research/Statistics,
Organizational Development, Strategic Management, Business Ethics
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Graduate Courses: o Systems Thinking. Quantitative Reasoning for Business
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Corporate Training: o Process Improvement, Workflow Analysis, Project Management, Relational Database
Management Software Applications
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Military Courses: o Air Force Black Belt Training o Air Force 8 Step Problem Solving Class o Crisis Management for Senior Staff, Program Evaluation, Process Improvement, Continuous
Process Improvement Workshops
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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Re-engineer logistics operations for an AWACS Squadron. By creating partnerships with other units and bases throughout the Pacific, reduced inventory requirements, saving $12 million.
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Designed, implemented and reported on 18 major organizational assessment studies.
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Facilitated company wide workout for GE Healthcare, bringing in diverse groups, to define careertraining path for 5,000 employees.
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Streamlined organizational structure to combine 4 departments into one; improving efficiency and reduced manning.
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Conceived, wrote, and edited and published newsletters at five organizations. Published a newsletter with global distribution of 6,000 copies.
INNOVATION
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Created a partnership with private companies to include Harley-Davidson and the Air National Guard to share ideas on continuous process improvement. This partnership was first of its kind between private sector and the U.S. Air Force and will allow for sharing of information and best practices and improved training opportunities.
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As manager developing training for GE Healthcare, implementing several innovations: o First to incorporate video vignettes into eLearning courses o Created largest blended course for Company:
 The first to utilize prerequisite and curriculum functions of the computerized Learning
Management System.
 First to break down content into smaller modules allowing for their re-use in other programs or as stand-alone courses. o Developed software tool that allowed for subject matter experts to author their own troubleshooting scenarios: resulting in more realistic simulations with a reduction in development time and cost. o Sta rted program of weekly synchronous training courses. These virtual “brown bags” brought current and critical issues in effective manner to over 3,000 field engineers.

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Spearheaded multi-department initiative to implement new Competency Management System functionality in the computerized Learning Management System for GE Healthcare.
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Adapted Army Operational procedures to a ground based Air Force unit. These procedures revolutionized operations and were eventually was adopted throughout the Air Force.
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When assigned to Airborne Radar unit, worked with local ground based radar unit to develop unique dual certification training program. The ground unit was short of operators, the airborne unit was not getting enough radar missions. This revolutionary training program allowed airborne operators to work at the ground unit: giving them more missions and allowing the ground unit to meet all its taskings and requirements.
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Implemented pilot program to create series of podcasts for service and sales personnel utilizing a critical incident reporting procedure.
PUBLICATIONS
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Article, Using Affinity Diagrams , selected by peer reviewed Quality Progress Magazine. Published in
March 2007.
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Article based on original research as presented at international conference of Academy of Human
Resource Development, Use of Qualitative Methodology to Analyze Corporate Training, selected for a special practitioners’ edition of Advances in Human Resource Development Journal.
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Book review of Nation Building by Walter B. Jung published by peer reviewed Strategic Studies
Quarterly , Spring 2009.
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Book review of Thinking about Causes: From Greek Philosophy to Modern Physics edited by Peter
Machamer and Gereon Wolters published by Air Force Research Institute Outreach program, June
2010. ( http://afri.au.af.mil/review_full.asp?id=254 )
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Over 40 columns published as regular Columnist for both Southwest Wisconsin and Southcentral
Chapters of the American Society for Training and Development Chapter Newsletters.
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Presented with General Electric’s Management Award, largely for improving communications for a global workforce of over 6,000 engineers by creating, editing and publishing a quarterly newsletter.
This publication covered training news and updates
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Wrote Podcast script for Sun Tzu & The Art of War for Military History Podcast
( www.militaryhistorypodcast.blogspot.com
)
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS & SPEECHES
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October 2011, presented “Six Sigma: An Introduction” at Air Force’s Continuous Process
Improvement Conference in San Antonio.
 August 2011. Selected to give presentation on development and implementation of “Process
Improvement Overview & Project Generation Course” at Air Force Training Commands Global
Training Conference.
 November 2010, gave two presentation at Air Force’s Continuous Process Improvement Conference in Denver : “Six Sigma 101” and “AFSO21 Overview & Project Generation Course: Development &
Results”
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April 2010, Pre sented “Introduction to Six Sigma” at Air Force Reserves Process Manager
Symposium. Most highly rated session of the 3 days of workshops.
 October 2009: Presented “Using Lean/Six Sigma to Improve an Organization” for University of
WisconsinMadison’s Leadership & Management Conference.
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May 2009: Keynote Speaker for South Central Wisconsin’s Project Management Institute’s
Professional Development Days Conference.
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February 2009 and August 2008. Brown Bag presentation History of Quality to Madison Area Quality
Innovation Network. Response was so popular, encore was requested.
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November 2008. Presentation to Madison Area Quality Innovation Network on quality initiatives of the
Air Force Smart Operations for 21 st Century program.
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2007-2009 Presented seven different sessions for faculty and staff professional development at
Madison Area Technical College Convocations
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Commencement Speaker for 2007 Joint Reserve Officer Training Corps Commission Ceremony at
Marquette University

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2006 International Conference of A merican Association for Adult and Continuing Education’s.
Presented original research work on Impact of Student Surveys on Instructors' Development
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February 2006, developed and delivered 4-hour workshop on Continuous Improvement for over 40 leaders of Air National Guard Wing that resulted in project funnel of possible improvement projects.
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2005 Academy of Human Resource and Development (AHRD) International Conference. Presented original research work: Use of Qualitative Methodology to Analyze Corporate Training
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Poster Presentation at 2005 Midwest Research to Practice Conference in Adult, Continuing, and
Community Education: How the Practical Application of Qualitative Research Methods Transformed a
Broken Evaluation Process into a Functional Quality Initiative
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2005 presentation GE Healthcare Technical Training Overview to Army Reserve Training Command
 2004 University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee’s School of Education Annual Research Conference.
Presented original research work: Evaluating Corporate Training: Using Qualitative Research
Techniques to Analyze End-of-Course Surveys
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2003 Southwest Wisconsin Chapter of American Society for Training and Development Chapter
Meeting. Presentation on Current and Future states of eLearning
 1998 presentation of “History of Quality” for American Society of Quality’s professional development program at their global headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
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Original research work on Impact of Student Surveys on Instructors' Development . This qualitative study examined how Faculty use information from end of course student surveys for professional development. Presented at American Association for Adult and Continuing Education’s conference.
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Original research work: Evaluating Corporate Training: Using Qualitative Research Techniques to
Analyze End-of-Course Surveys . This study took qualitative data from 17 different surveys and applies thematic coding to create a process to allow for data comparison. Presented at Academy of
Human Resource and Development (AHRD) International Conference and selected for publication.
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Conducted three Return on Investment Studies for GE Healthcare to investigate the relationship between the amount of technical training received and worker performance. These quantitative studies sought focused primarily on the performance of those trained to service specific systems and those not.
FACILITATION HISTORY
Facilitated or co-facilitated the following workouts or events:
 “Why We Win/Lose” Sales Event. Worked with team to conduct qualitative analysis of 32 in-depth customer interviews to determine factors in won or lost accounts.
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Complaint Handling : Lead global multifunctional team to improve medical device manufacturer’s complaint handling system.
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Corrective & Preventative Action (CAPA): Facilitated global multifunctional team to standardize and improve medical device manufacturer’s CAPA process.
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Assisted in reducing a Legal Departments cost savings of $4M from a $21M budget without sacrificing quality or increasing legal exposure.
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Facilitate Supplier Pricing Event for a $1.2B company. Drove development of standard work in contract reviews and price rollouts with suppliers resulting in reduced costs.
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Lead international multifunctional team to establish standard processes regarding the development of
Digital Asset (video, graphics, animations, applications, etc.). New processes avoided duplication of work, streamlined development leading to an estimated savings of over $1M a year.
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Enterprise-wide event on Full-Time Support. Working with Senior Staff to design single standard comprehensive policy that shapes the use and classification of full time employees for the Air Force
Reserve. Developed a graphic decision tree that provided a one page reference to a complex maze of laws and regulations regarding employment status.
 Lead Enterprise Value Stream Analysis that was first ever for Reserve’s Human Capital Management
Leadership Team. Outlined processes for Force Development from individual to Command level and lead to team to identify areas of possible improvement.
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Enterprise level event on High Year Tenure Waivers for Enlisted Personnel.

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Career Force Developer event: helped to redesign processes used to provide mentoring and force development services to over 20,000 reservists.
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JAG Accession event: re-engineered how Air Force Reserve acquires lawyers. Reduced ascension time by 60%.
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Company wide workout looking how to link installed system data with personnel records to learning management systems: resulting in top ranked IT project for GE Healthcare
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Co-facilitated GE Healthcare Service-wide career path and competency workout.
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Facilitated process mapping sessions with over 28 Naval Organizations: this included mapping of current process and another session for analysis and improvement. Streamlining of these process maps resulted in savings of thousands of labor hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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Headed a working group for development of a Competency Management System
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Lead a consolidated School Board in Southeastern Wisconsin in developing Mission and Visioning
Statements.
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Cofacilitated Air National Guard Wing’s Mission and Vision Statement Workout.
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Conducted a multi-unit process review for calibration and shipping processes for precision equipment
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Six Sigma project: Tool Kits used in Technical Training Center. Reduced losses of tools and time spent retrieving tools as well as streamlined check-in and check-out procedures.
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Six Sigma project: Workflow Process for development of Technical Training.
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Participated in Lean Kaizen event: Enrollment process for Technical Training.
 Facilitated brainstorming and prioritization session for Madison Area Technical College’s Master
Facilities Plan.
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Ran rapid improvement event on process of posting college courses online.
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Acted as Six Sigma Blackbelt: o Mentored several Return on Investment Studies o Oversaw numerous Green Belt certification projects in Technical Training o Mentored three Continuous Quality Improvement Teams at Technical College o Provided certification review of Air Force Level 1 Facilitators o Mentoring Process Improvement Teams dealing with complex grant projects at University of
Wisconsin-Madison
DETAILED EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
12/11 to Present: OpEx Director for Respiratory & Monitoring Solutions, a $1.8 billion Business Unit with
Covidien Healthcare. Promoting use and culture of Lean and Six Sigma in areas of Business Processes,
Manufacturing and R&D. Areas of responsibility include: Increase efficiency/Reduce Cost in global manufacturing environment. Improve Enterprise Level Business Processes. Drive New Product
Introductions using Design For Six Sigma
2/06 to 12/11: Master Process Officer, Air Force Smart Operations for 21 st Century (AFSO21). United
States Air Force. Part time position promoting and conducting rapid improvement events using Lean, Six
Sigma and other continuous improvement methods. Was one of only nine certified Level 2 facilitators
(equivalent to Black Belt) for the entire Air National Guard. As Level 2 Facilitator, able to conduct Rapid
Improvement Events, provide Level 1 training and mentoring. Special Assignments to Secretary of the
Air Force/Smart Operations Office to develop training material for entire Air Force. Created and implemented idea for “Wisconsin Blitz” conducting 11 rapid improvement events within 2 months.
Spearheaded relationship between Harley-Davidson and Air National Guard, culminating in a formal partnership between the two organizations to provide mutual training and personnel support. .
11/93 to Present: National Guard and Reserves. Presently assigned as Lieutenant Colonel. US Air Force
Reserves. Acquisition Integration, Pentagon, Washington DC. Assigned to Information Dominance team, researching and procuring sensors and information technologies. In this part time position, current tasks include training development and process improvement. Past assignments include:

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2005-08: Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander, in charge of all aspects of a 106-person unit covering Supply, Fuels, Transportation and Deployment Planning. Responsible for over $32 million of equipment and supplies for Air National Guard Wing..
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1999-05: Assistant Chief of Supply, Air National Guard. Oversaw manning and operations.
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1996-99: US Army Reserve. Training Officer for 6 state medical training brigade in U.S. Army
Reserves responsible for operations and accreditation issues.
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1993-95: Army National Guard: Logistics Planning Officer with Infantry Brigade. Acted as Brigade Air
Operations officer during manning shortage.
6/09 to Present: Owner, The Tangent Company. Communications and Training consulting; specializing in field of quality and process improvement. Current projects include developing a computer based training strategy for a process improvement organization. Have also been hired to facilitated CPI events.
10/93 to 10/10: Adjunct Faculty. Part-time teaching undergraduate courses in:
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Quality management
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Economics
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Statistics and Research
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Adult education
Graduate courses taught:
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Systems thinking
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Business Statistics.
Have taught at University of Phoenix, Ottawa University, Marion College, and National Louis University and have been guest lecturer at University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.
9/09 to 3/10: Assistant Faculty Associate, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Faculty position appointed to help design and develop training programs for the Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies
(CHESS) and NIATx groups. Mission of these organizations is to provide process improvement to healthcare organizations.
6/09 to 10/9: Black Belt, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mentoring Lean Six Sigma teams through continuous process improvement projects. Participating in several program committees: Leadership group, Program Overview team, and asked to help develop University wide training program.
9/07 to 3/09: Director of Flexible and Emerging Learning Strategies. Madison Area Technical College.
Madison, Wisconsin. Responsible for providing strategic vision for online, hybrid, and accelerated courses. Worked with department and centers to create course standards, faculty training, student support and IT infrastructure to make strategic vision a reality. Mentored 3 continuous process improvement teams using Six Sigma methodology. Implemented Lean Value Stream Mapping to develop standard work processes.
3/03 to 9/07: Quality Leader-GE Healthcare Institute. GE Healthcare. Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Quality leader for Technical Training dealing with regulatory and related issues such as Food & Drug
Administration (FDA) and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requirements.
3/00 to 3/03: Training Program Manager-GE Healthcare Institute. GE Healthcare. Waukesha,
Wisconsin. Oversaw matrix teams that developed, computer-based training, and in-residence courses and blended training solutions. Included both technical and soft skills. Ensured training programs were completed on schedule, within budget and compliant to standards such as internal requirements, FDA, and SCORM. Assumed quality roles to include revising Student Survey program and conducting Return on Investment Studies.
3/99 to 3/00: Technical Trainer. Catalyst International Software, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Developed and taught courses on, and relating to, complex Database Software Programs. Also developed and delivered ancillary training such as Project Management and Time Management Classes.
Provided demonstrations at Trade Shows and Conferences.
8/96 to 3/99: Program Analyst. Department of Navy. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois
Implemented n ew Total Quality Management assessment practices for Navy’s largest training facility; including training all organizations and departments. Responsible for individual consulting: helping create process maps and conducting process map analysis. Also responsible for conducting investigations into
Congressional Inquiries and into complaints of Fraud, Waste and Abuse. Assisted Great Lakes Hospital with their Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations review.
8/95 to 8/96: Assistant Management. Wickes Lumber Company. Vernon Hills, Illinois. Responsible for all aspects of business. Tasked with special projects: Revision of training program for all 110 stores.
Review pricing and suggest alternatives methods for entire corporation.
12/93 to 8/94: Assistant Dean. Stratton College. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Responsible for entire Evening
Division of over 20 faculty and 400 students. Hiring Manager for adjunct faculty. Chaired Internship
Department responsible for placing students in work programs. Co-chaired accreditation program.
11/92 to 11/93: Training and Marketing Contractor. Other Company Computer Consultants. Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. Developed training programs and created marketing programs. Wrote and published company newsletter for customers. Set up and manned vendor booths at trade shows.
9/85 to 10/92: Captain. U.S. Air Force. Honorable Discharge. Assignments throughout U.S. and Asia.
Primary duties included: Operations Officer, Radar Operator. Additional Duties: Training Officer, Plans &
Exercises, Logistics, and Disaster Preparedness.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Adult Education at University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee
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
Completed Coursework July 2006
Completed Preliminary Examination February 2007.
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Dissertation Topic: Impact of Training upon Organizational Development
Black Belt Certification, US Air Force, 2007.
Air Command & Staff College: US Air Force Master’s Level Leadership Course, 2005.
General Electric Project Leadership Certification, 2003.
General Electric Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, 2000.
M.A., Economics with emphasis in Management, University of Oklahoma, 1993.
Squadron Officer School, US Air Force Graduate Level Leadership Course, 1987.
B.B.A, Economics, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, 1984.
ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
Toastmasters
 Lead charter of new corporate Club “The Covidien Conquerors”
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Served as President for club
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Won Awards at Club, Area and Division Level Contests
Madison Area Quality Innovation Network (MAQIN)
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Executive Board Member
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Chair of Marketing and Membership Committee
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Member of Networking Committee arranging continuing education events
American Society for Training & Development
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Served on communications committees
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Regular columnist for two area chapters
American Society of Quality
Association for Human Resource & Development