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My job is Training & Development/Web Administration Manager for the Good Guys. I'm told that I was operating my dad's Sony reel-to-reel tape recorder when I was less than two years old, so good guys is a good fit. For those of you that don't live in the far western USA, Good Guys is a large retailer of better consumer electronics - sort of a high-end Circuit City. No appliances or computers – just entertainment electronics with sales approaching $1 Billion annually. I'm involved in all aspects of training, including product, technology, sales, management development, instructional design, video production and the web. I manage a training road show that we call "vendor training" where our suppliers train our staff in various locations. I've enjoyed sharing the stage with trainers from Sony, Mitsubishi, Denon, Yamaha, JVC, Panasonic, Bose, Nakamichi and many others. About three years ago, my team developed a web-training portal that we called the "Infonet". It had over 2600 web pages that we developed to provide information on the products that we sell. It also included a glossary, tech guides, discussion board, a feedback section and links to our supplier vendors. The emphasis was on community. We were really out front in our industry at that time. Due to significant financial difficulties, two years ago we were forced to slash our training staff and initiatives dramatically and our web effort suffered greatly. Recently, I have begun to resurrect it. The old Infonet was more of a "pull" model. You want information? Come and get it. I want to move in the direction of "push/pull", where curriculum is assigned, but learners can still go discover whatever they want and share information across the company. I plan to become a leader in the e-learning space. I believe that the need for continual learning in a knowledge economy will drive growth in e-learning, and as demand rises – so will the opportunity for those ready for it. I also believe in the proverb: “When opportunity meet preparedness, you get lucky.” I hold degrees in music and broadcast communications, and currently I'm working working on my M.S. Ed at California State University Hayward in the Masters in Online Teaching and Learning program. I’m also looking at proceeding on to earn a Ph.D. in either education, business or organizational psychology/systems. I love to learn and I love to teach. By teaching, I believe you do both. Looking forward, I see myself working as a corporate Chief Learning Officer, business consultant and college professor (both online and live in the flesh). |
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