About Me

My educational, professional, and personal journey is defined into four phases.

Training. Development. Application. Success.

Phase 1: TRAINING

Training - " Teaching, or developing in oneself or others, any skills and knowledge or fitness that relate to specific useful competencies. Training has specific goals of improving one's capability, capacity, productivity, and performance."

In 2012 I graduated from high school in a small town in Indiana I had my sites set on studying psychology at Murray State University. I was a thriving, passionate woman who believed she knew exactly what her life was to look like. What I did not notice at the time was that I was completely and utterly wrong.

Soon after multiple educational study changes, I seemed to not find a place to which I could see my true strengths. It was as if everything I had tried to study, I simply wasn't grasping. It was in this moment for my own personal and professional health that I attend to myself and discover my true calling. What better place to try and find happiness than the happiest place on earth, Walt Disney World.

While at Walt Disney World I had discovered myself and a passion not just for a career but for the overall development of people. While in the role of Disney Housing Operations Event Coordinator, I redefined what it meant to host and cater a creative event for the nearly 25,000 students we had during my time in the Disney College Program. This proved a substantial increase in overall event attendance by 34%. While at Walt Disney World I was recruited to train all incoming college program participants upon their arrival into the program. It was during this time I was first introduced to training and development. I learned I had a desire to focus on changing and improving the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of individuals for the betterment of themselves and others.

The events in which I planned and the training I was personally recruited to teach taught me interpersonal skills, strategic planning, and overall developmental skills of the event itself and a higher degree of focus on the individual's growth and competencies while on the program. It was during this time - I did not know - I was training for what was to come in my future.

Phase 2: DEVELOPMENT

Development - "Having a long term focus on preparing for future work responsibilities while also increasing the capacities of employees to perform their current jobs."

After Walt Disney World, I decided to move south to continue my education at Columbus State University in southern Georgia. It was during this time I became a Desk manager for a business called The Jersey Shoppe and a store manager at Plato's Closet. The Jersey Shopp is a local customized apparel shop and boutique. While working at the Jersey Shoppe I developed a marketing business plan to increase overall sales, boutique product sales, and customization orders. These strategies continued on with new hires and boutique sales went up 37% compared to the previous year. The Jersey Shoppe over my tenure became the premier small business to customize and personalize your life and the life of your friends and family. The business's overall organizational development became well known and practiced amongst other similar businesses in the Columbus Georgia area.

While working at Plato's closet I completely overhauled their training and development of incoming sales associates. While implementing organizational socialization, based on the training I had received from Walt Disney World, I knew I also had to implement role orientation, group norms, and expectations through a variety of learning methods. This process was my first opportunity to help inspire those around me and myself. While learning about teamwork, conflict resolution, and overall training program development, I was able to find a passion within myself I knew one day would impact my overall career choices. I realized during this development phase of my life that it was not always about the fastest program or the most knowledgeable employee. It was about an employee who would bring creativity, innovation, and overcome obstacles that are able to make the most difference towards both short and long-term goals.

I graduated from Columbus State University in December 2017 and set off to pursue an Event Team Lead position at Texas A&M's University Center and Special Events. Stepping into this supervisory role with over 50+ students set me on a path to success that would soon lead me to apply for the EHRD Masters Program.

Phase 3: APPLICATION

Application - " To put to use especially for some practical purpose. To bring into action. To put into operation or effect."

Once at Texas A&M I was in the position of "Event Team Lead" for 6 months prior to a promotion to "Event Coordinator III." During this time as an Event Team Lead, I transformed the onboarding process for the set-up students (60+ students) within the department. I developed an extensive 3-day training program and a step-by-step process to ensure the completion of all necessary paperwork in regards to the onboarding process. Between my co-workers and I, we set objectives, developed a lesson plan, selected a wide variety of methods and techniques to utilize during the training, and prepared the materials to better schedule the students when taking part in the training.

Soon after my time as an Event Team Lead, I had the opportunity to apply for the position of Event Coordinator III and successfully was offered the position. This role was more extensive and had multiple moving parts including event management, facility supervisor, training and development of our "Zone" students, and managing other aspects of the department such as booking banner location and working with our online service called Virtual EMS (Event Management Systems).

It was soon after obtaining this position that I found myself getting to sharpen the skills I had developed over time. With encouragement from my friends and family, I decided to pursue the EHRD master's program in Human Resource Training Development to sharpen the training and development opportunities I had previously obtained and better myself for the future endeavors I was soon to take on.

At the time of application, I was conditionally accepted. Although nervous that my previous lack of educational perseverance would kick in, I was focused and am blessed to say I have maintained a 4.0 GPA and look forward to graduation on December 17th, 2021. This is an incredible accomplishment for I have never been successful in academic challenges. However, this program is different. This program focuses on what you are passionate about and challenges you in the best of ways to reach deep within your critical thinking skills and brings out the best of who you are and the best you wish to bring out in others.

This entire program has been an adventure. It has been inspiring, frustrating, joyful, and brought tears to my eyes. However, it has continued to challenge me every step of the way. With every adventure comes the joy of discovery and the fear of the unknown. Much like within an organization the best way to make the most of those joyful moments and eliminate that fear of the unknown is to persevere and trust in your preparedness.

It is with that wanderlust desire and the fear of the unknown that as I absorbed the teachings of the EHRD program, I also apply them as I continue on with my personal and professional goals. While pursuing this degree, I decided to take on another position as a Regional Manager for a small business in College Station called "My Magical Memory." I had never held a unique position such as this but, having confidence in myself and knowing with this degree I am well prepared, I was ready to step into the unknown and experience the trials and joy of helping run and operate a small business from the ground up. During my time in this position, I learned how to properly apply the ADDIE model to identify performance gaps and training needs within the organization, and properly collect data to better create a theoretical framework My Magical Memory can implement over a long period of time.

Working as a Regional Manager for a small business has really allowed my skills from his program to shine and helped me overcome obstacles along the way. I would have never had the confidence to step into this role without the training, development, and applicable skills given to me by this master's program.

Phase 4: Success

Success - "The accomplishment of an aim or purpose. The good or bad outcome of an undertaking."

Being an Event Coordinator at Texas A&M and a Regional Manager for My Magical Memory has given me so many opportunities to apply what I have learned within this program. But what is next? I have been successful in my academic and professional journey but I am not done. I am hungry for more.

What some of my hopes and dreams consist of is working for an organization or company as an HRD specialist implementing new training and policies to better develop the staff and employees of the organization. But, specifically, I want the next organization I work for to assist with the work of Jesus Christ. Likewise, I also want to be closer to home and my family in the midwest.

This program has taught me to seek understanding amongst individuals and critically think while also empowering others through a variety of perspectives. These courses place you in situations where developing relationships, connecting individuals, and utilizing skills learned to guide you and your team through exceptional experiences.

It is my long-term goal to be an HRD Training and Development Specialist for a developing non-profit Christian organization in the midwest. I would hope to oversee the training and development for an organization population exceeding 25,000 people. Currently, I oversee training and development for over 100 students at the largest student-populated university in the country. I assist in operating a 4 million dollar revenue event department and I hope to utilize the skills learned during this master's program to continue my success and one day operate and lead the development for others at a Christian non-profit. organization.

I can call Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas home - but where I succeed next will be all thanks to God and this Master's degree.

RESUME