Technical Competencies

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Conference Presentation
  • 2003 Spring Transition Conference in Frankenmuth, MI, presented a session on coordinating a transition
    conference for students.
  • 2004 & 2005 Spring Transition Conference presentation on the MiConnections project.
  • 2004 Michigan Works Conference in Mt. Pleasant presentation on the MiConnections project.

Group Facilitation
  • As co-chair of the Kent Community Transition Council (three years), facilitated monthly meeting of 20 to 35
    people from diverse sectors: K12 and post-secondary education, non-profits, government agencies, and
    parents.
  • As coordinator of the Kent County MiConnections project, developed and facilitated a Local Steering Council
    and work groups.
  • Master's level Group Facilitation class in Master of Management program.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Website development
  • Created and published a website for the MiConnections project and a personal “Virtual Life / Work Portfolio;
    including a career portfolio.
  • Maintain the "Career" and "Community" resources sections on a church website.

Internet and e-mail
  • Have greatly increased effective communication, project coordination, and information dissemination in my
    work through the use of e-mail.

Listserv
  • Developed a listserv communication system for disseminating information on transition and coordinating
    activities in Kent County as part of the Community Transition Council and the MiConnections Local Steering
    Council.

Digital Presentation
  • Have developed numerous presentations for trainings and conferences with the use of PowerPoint.

COMPUTER COMPETENCIES

Macromedia Dreamweaver and Microsoft FrontPage
  • Created and maintain website for professional and personal marketing and information resources.

Microsoft Publisher
  • Developed flyers, brochures, and certificates for events.

Microsoft Word
  • Developed electronic document research papers of 25 to 30 pages complete with inter-document links,
    hyperlinked table of contents, footnotes, and hyperlinked list of sources.

Microsoft Excel
  • Developed spreadsheets to track expenses, record information for community contacts, and to track referrals
    for vocational assessment.

Microsoft Access
  • Developed database to register over 400 students for a conference, assigning sessions, generating lists for
    schools, sessions, and name tags.

Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Have developed numerous presentations for training and conferences.

ENTREPRENEURIAL & BUSINESS SKILLS

Entrepreneurial and strategic thinking
  • Through the Master of Management Degree, I have learned to integrate strategic / entrepreneurial thinking into
    my work life. Have put it into practice through starting up and piloting MiConnections in Kent County as a model
    or prototype for the State of Michigan.

Strategic audit
  • Ability to perform a strategic audit on an organization and then develop a strategic plan for improvement or
    reconstruction.

Marketing plan
  • Have developed several marketing plans for Management Degree. As a team member, am developing the
    statewide marketing plan for MiConnections.

Business plan
  • Have developed business plans for Management Degree.
  • As Micro Enterprise Coordinator at Hope Network, train staff in developing business plans for clients.

Small Business
  • Started an ran a consulting business.
  • Started and run a small sharpening business.

Independent Contractor
  • Contracted services in maintenance
  • Contracted services in employment services

Full time entrepreneur, independent consultant