Best Practices in Learning and Personnel Retention

This event, held on October 29, 2010, brought together decision-makers from the Federal government and industry for insightful debates/solutions surrounding the issues of employee learning and retention. Attendees heard ideas that can help you manage your agency's most important resource of all – PEOPLE!

For more information, send an email to etrain@ntis.gov

 

Conference Agenda and Presentations

 

Dr. Christopher Hardy (Defense Acquisition University, Director of the Global Learning and Technology Center)
Leveraging Technology and Learning Innovation

Christopher Hardy's picture Christopher R. Hardy, Ph.D., is the Director of the Global Learning and Technology Center of the Defense Acquisition University. His mandate is to take DAU to the next level leveraging technology and learning innovation catalyzing DAU 's Second Transformation. Previously, as DAU’s strategic planner, he provided the road map for DAU’s rapidly rise to national preeminence as an award winning corporate university that has repeatedly been recognized as one of the best throughout the public and private sectors. This powerful story is recounted in “Leading a Learning Revolution: the Story Behind DAU’s Reinvention of Training,” Pfeiffer, 2007, in which he was a co-author. Dr. Hardy has a Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Prior to DAU, he served both in government and private industry becoming Vice President, INNOLOG, Inc., a Global Supply Chain Logistics Company headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

Keynote Speaker – Mr. Bob Danna (Bersin & Associates)
The Modern Learning Organization
Creating the High-Impact Learning Organization

Bob Danna's picture Bob Danna has more than 30 years of experience in human performance consulting, adult learning and associated management consulting services for a wide spectrum of commercial and government organizations. At Bersin & Associates, he has been instrumental in launching the Advisory Consulting practice, developing the firm’s branded WhatWorks® methodologies, and delivering advisory support in talent management, enterprise learning, measurement, and technology selection to numerous research members.

Recent presentations include insights and research on the blending of formal and informal learning, learning culture, integrated talent management, leadership development and the evolution of high performing learning organizations at forums throughout the U.S., in Europe for the European Commission and recently in India at the NASSCOM HR Conference.

Danna has held executive management positions with RWD Technologies, where he served as a vice president in the Enterprise Systems Group, responsible for operations in the U.S. and Asia-Pacific; at General Physics Corporation, where he held positions of executive vice president, group president and member of the board of directors; at Knowledge Management Solutions, Inc., where he served as executive vice president, COO and member of the board of directors; at Convene.com, where he served as senior vice president and chief customer officer; and at Resource Management International, where he served as senior vice president of the management and technical services practice. In these positions, he consulted with Fortune 1000 clients worldwide, with extensive experience in Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Danna also served as a naval officer on active duty at the Naval Nuclear Power School as a division director and instructor, and in the reserves, leaving the service after 12 years as a lieutenant commander. He holds advanced degrees in physics and engineering, is a registered professional engineer, and has published or presented more than 40 papers on a variety of management, technical and enterprise learning topics.

Mr. Jeff Parks (Performance Breakthroughs, Inc.)
Framework for Organizational Excellence (HPO)
USCS Best Practices
HPO Assessment

Jeff Parks, President of Performance Breakthroughs, Inc. will deliver the presentation.

Jeff served a 20 year career in the US Coast Guard – his last 3 years as the Director of Training & Workforce Performance Improvement as well as the Service’s Leadership Training Manager. In this role he envisioned and lead the group that produced the first-ever set of Core Values for the Coast Guard. PBI guides organizations, teams, and individuals to achieving excellence and has assisted the Coast Guard, Missile Defense Agency, Department of Labor, Social Security Administration, and OSD’s Washington Headquarters Service. Jeff is a Certified Performance Technologist, is certified in Strategic Change Management, and is an adjunct instructor for the Federal Executive Institute and George Mason University.

Mr. Jack Lee (Knowledge Management Solutions, Inc.)
Porting Existing Learning Content to Mobile Devices

Mr Lee's picture Mr. Lee is President and CEO of Knowledge Management Solutions, Inc. (KMSI). Over the past eight years, KMSI has become one of the largest learning and talent management technology providers in the industry, providing service to millions of end-users and many of the largest companies in the World.

Prior to founding KMSI, Jack worked with Sylvan Ventures to found iLearning, Inc. iLearning was a pioneer in the development of web-based knowledge transfer communities. Prior to founding iLearning, Mr. Lee served as an Executive Officer of General Physics Corporation (NYSE – GPX) for 12 years. Jack concurrently served as President of GP's largest subsidiary, General Physics Federal Systems, Inc. where he worked with government clients interested in using technology to support training and performance improvement initiatives. Before joining GP, Mr. Lee worked with ManTech International as an Executive Director, where he architected the first expert system to fully automate the processes used in development of training materials for federal government clients. Jack also served in the US Navy for 8 years with his final posting as training manager for the Trident Submarine Ballistic Missile Training Program.

Mr. Larry Mercier (Knowledge Engineering & Associates, LLC) and Mr. Emaad Burki, NRC LMS Program Manager
NRC LMS Implementation
LMS Best Practices

Larry Mercier's picture Larry Mercier is the President of Knowledge Engineering and Associates (KEA), a Talent Management (TM) consulting company. Prior to that, he served a combined 30 years in the civil service, active duty and Coast Guard Reserves. Mercier retiredvfrom OPM in 2005, where he completed his federal service as the Founder and Director the of GoLearn program, a fee for service, eGovernment provider that assists federal agencies implement Learning Management System (LMS) infrastructure and talent management systems. Mercier has developed learning strategies, TM strategies and many other learning and talent services for 14 of the 15 cabinet level departments and many of the major independent agencies.

Closing Remarks – Ms. Shannon Burrington, NTIS Associate Director

The National Technical Information Service (NTIS), an agency of the Department of Commerce, serves as an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) authorized eTraining Services Provider (eTSP) to help agencies implement electronic government services under the eGovernment Act of 2003.