Experience

Learning designer - travelers, hartford, CT - 12/2019–Present

• Serve as instructional designer/developer for the Training & Development department within Business Insurance Operations. Design a multitude of learning solutions primarily for new and existing employees responsible for issuing and maintaining business insurance policies, as well as various customer service roles. Develop a wide range of learning content, including online courses, learning modules, software simulations, training videos, job aids, hybrid/flipped classroom materials, and other learning content as needed in order to train employees to perform their jobs. Collaborate with subject matter experts (SMEs) to create learning events founded in educational theory and principles of instructional design.

• Design and construct learning plans and pathways in the Degreed LXP. Create custom branding to differentiate audiences and create unique and cohesive experiences between curricula. Generate learner analytics/reports from Degreed and produce infographics for senior leadership. Integrate content from different sources such as company learning server, Kaltura, Sharepoint, and external sources, ensuring a seamless experience for the learner. Utilize xAPI to track learner interaction with course materials.

• Design training modules for proprietary software systems used to service and maintain policies. Utilize backwards design methodology to dissect complex tasks into thoughtful steps that scaffold learners from introduction to mastery. Work in collaboration with SMEs to determine appropriate levels of skill comprehension and evidence of mastery. Develop a range of learning solutions for systems training, from Storyline simulations to hands-on guided practice activities within systems.

• Utilize storytelling approaches to teach insurance concepts to new employees in a fun and memorable way. Create characters, plots, and scenarios where concepts are explained and product offerings are brought to life. Integrate humor, suspense, mystery, and drama to make training fun. Record narration for multiple characters and coordinate colleague recordings for additional voices. Build complex groups of animations using Vyond and compose into learning modules using Storyline and videos using Adobe Premiere. Integrate opportunities for formative assessment with knowledge checks and other learner interactions. Unite multiple courses in a curriculum with common storylines, locations, and characters.

• Serve on the planning team for the annual Travelers Learning Conference (TRAVLearn). Co-lead the learner experience team, including management of the post-conference survey and creation of promotional videos and other materials. Presented standout projects during conference breakout sessions.

• Participate in the new-hire process for learning designers, from initial candidate evaluation to interview. Develop scenario activities used to conduct live evaluations of candidates by requiring demonstration of instructional design knowledge. Provide insights and recommendations to hiring managers. Mentor new-hire learning designers and created scaffolded topic outlines and activities throughout the onboarding period. Serve as trainer, mentor, and coach for new designers. Upskill non-designer roles to broaden and enhance skillsets by developing training sessions on a range of topics from both instructional design and graphic design skillsets.

• Maintain brand guidelines through a range of learning content. Establish and create project style guides for project teams to ensure cohesive visual appearance of deliverables while visually differentiating learning plans within Degreed. Design graphics such as infographics, logos, icons, and supplemental graphics for courses and other learning content. Provide graphic design consultation to individuals and project teams.

• Responsible for ownership of projects throughout entire life cycle, from initial needs analysis and collaboration with SMEs through design, development, and delivery to learners. Determine learning outcomes and assessment methods and recommend appropriate learning strategies and approaches. Thoughtfully design and curate content to help promote learner achievement. Forecast time estimates for multiple stages of projects. Collaborate with project managers and teams to plan timelines for deliverables. Determine capacity for design and development cycles.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the strategic direction of the business and effectively work to align professional development to ensure success. Seek out experiences that provide opportunities to learn new things. Seek to learn from others who have different backgrounds and experiences. 

Instructional Designer & Content Developer for Online Programs - Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT - 3/2017–12/2019

• Serve as Instructional Designer for online program offerings from the Quinnipiac School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences.

• Collaborate with faculty in the design and development of new online courses and redevelopment of existing courses. Project manage the course development process to on-time completion. Review materials and assessments to ensure proper alignment with learning objectives. Recommend assessment strategies and course tools to accomplish desired outcomes. Evaluate and implement technologies and approaches for online learning. Provide course design feedback consistent with Quality Matters (QM) standards for higher education.

• Serve as QM Coordinator during official QM-managed course reviews. Collaborate with faculty throughout the course review process. Share findings with program directors and other stakeholders, and recommend course design strategies to better align with QM standards. Participate in regular QM training and development.

• Responsible for the planning and implementation of in-house Lightboard studio. Regularly film and produce faculty Lightboard videos. Responsible for general operation and troubleshooting of all studio hardware and software. Regularly train other employees and faculty on equipment use.

• Planned and implemented an in-house green-screen studio with teleprompter. Regularly film and produce in-house faculty videos. 

• Film an array of video projects on-location across three campuses.

• Design and develop online faculty training courses and student orientation courses, working in conjunction with faculty and other instructional designers.

• Develop and deliver in-person faculty workshops and trainings.

• Provide faculty with Blackboard course support, such as learning module development, technology integration, grade center, course tools, and advanced features.

• Train and support faculty in the use of online learning technologies (Lightboard, Camtasia, VoiceThread, Zoom, TechSmith Relay, etc.).

• Develop visual content that is engaging, aesthetically pleasing, and accessible to all types of learners. This includes videos, animations, graphics, e-learning modules, documents and guides, and other visual assets.

• Develop e-learning content using Articulate Rise, Storyline and Adobe Captivate.

• Create animated instructional videos for newly adopted software tools.

Multimedia Content Developer - Post University, waterbury, CT - 5/2013–3/2017

• Collaborate with instructional designers and faculty, as well as other members of the Post University community (academic affairs, marketing, senior management, department chairs) in the design and production of high quality, engaging educational content and learning materials for online and on-campus courses. Such materials include—but are not limited to—videos and animations, interactive documents and graphics, websites, instructional documents, lecture notes, course graphics, and more, in an effort to promote the ultimate student learning experience. Create effective visual solutions to augment the Post University online learning environment, in alignment with instructional design theories, best practices, and accessibility standards.

• Conceptualize, develop, and formally launch the Post Multimedia Services initiative, a sub-departmental group designed to strategically undertake campus-wide projects in addition to standard course development work. Design, develop, and maintain the Post Multimedia Services website, which describes the newly defined role and position within the school, details various skillsets and service offered, and showcases a comprehensive portfolio of past projects.

• Continuously research and explore new technology tools, practice and develop new software skills, and strive to introduce exciting new opportunities for Post University.

• Assess and budget timelines for scheduled development cycles to ensure that all multimedia deliverables are completed on time. Provide time and resource estimates for special projects as needed. Provide budgetary estimates for hardware, software, digital creative assets, and stock photography needs.

• Collaborate with other Multimedia Content Developers in the production of large-scale video projects. Provide creative direction, project management, copywriting, storyboarding, and general planning services. Facilitate scheduling and meeting logistics for remote and/or inter-organizational participants as necessary.

• Maintain consistent brand identity standards across a diverse array of projects in order to visually reinforce the Post brand. Organize the facilitation of periodic rebranding, as needed, for template-based materials. Provide branding consultation to the instructional design team.

• Blackboard Learn 9.1 System Administrator: Design and maintain visual aspects of Blackboard LMS, including course customization, custom HTML editing, custom modules, system theme, color palette settings. Responsible for module and tab development and organization, user management, and customized course copy/creation as needed. Design and develop custom announcements and student resources.

• Provide training and oversight of temporary student workers on multimedia-based assignments, including searching, reviewing, purchasing, and retouching stock photography, adding/editing closed captioning to YouTube videos, and basic document branding tasks. Provide new-employee training for full-time staff in Blackboard Learn system admin features and functionality.

Senior Graphic Designer - ASSA ABLOY, New Haven, CT - 5/2010–5/2013

Graphic Designer - ASSA ABLOY, New Haven, CT - 8/2005–5/2010

• Art Direction for Mobile Showroom vehicle photography: Organize four showroom vehicles in several different orientations, and direct a professional photo shoot. Conduct comprehensive Photoshop retouching and orchestration of individual and group vehicle photos in an array of artificial locations.

• Art Direction for product photography: Work directly with professional photographer on product photo shoots. Oversee studio, direct staging, lighting, color, and photographic style of subject matter. Complete Photoshop retouching of final photos, including simulated product installations.

• Art Direction for photography of on-site showroom: Scout different vantage points throughout the on-site product showroom. Direct a group of models appearing in photos. Design promotional brochure in parallel with photo shoot.

• Design a multitude of both print and digital sales collateral, including advertisements, print and digital brochures, signage, sell sheets, catalogs, banner ads and other web assets. Customize materials based on target audience. Design vehicle wraps for Mobile Showrooms.

• Logo design and illustration

• Photo retouching

• Design material for several different annual tradeshows, including booth design, billboards, video screens, and promotional goods.

• Maintain branding guidelines for over 20 companies. Ensure the integrity of brand identity for each company across a range of applications.

• Create interactive PDFs for informational, instructional and promotional purposes.

• Produce animated videos for promotional use, tradeshow displays, and meetings and presentations.

• Work directly with the Print Production Manager to determine project specifications, oversee color approval, and meet budget and time constraints

Graphic Designer - Royal Printing, West New York, NJ - 8/2004–8/2005

• Responsible for all general graphic design and electronic pre-press duties for the in-house art department

• Design promotional material and direct mail, in addition to logo creation and general design work. Design marketing collateral for a range of clients, such as politicians, schools, towns, and local businesses

• Pre-press work for various design firms, magazines, and freelancers. Responsible for file correction and management, photo retouching, and color approval