Learning and Development Manager

Simon Garcia

214-***-**** **************@*****.***

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Learning and Development Manager

Driving workforce excellence by implementing a comprehensive Learning and Development Framework, Systems, and Tools across multiple sites and leadership teams. Standardizing training processes to enhance orientation, onboarding, job certification, and employee development programs, ensuring consistency and effectiveness. Partnering with on-the-job trainers and subject matter experts to optimize learning solutions that empower teams and elevate performance. Leading as the primary administrator for the Learning Management System (LMS), streamlining system management, and supporting administrators to maximize efficiency. Bilingual in English and Spanish, bridging communication gaps to drive engagement and enhance learning across diverse teams. Skills

Organizational Development Coaching Global Facilitator Instructional Designer Interviewing Content Development Learning Management System (LMS) Role-Based Onboarding Microsoft Office Teams SharePoint PowerPoint Excel Word Google Suites Prezi Process Improvement Vendor Management Budget Oversight Event Coordination Cross-Functional Collaboration Crisis Management Deliver-Facilitate Live Webinars

Experience

Smurfit Westrock January 2023 - November 2024

Area Learning and Development Manager

Developed, designed, conducted, and administered the new hire orientation program across area plants (adopted by ten other plants) ensuring compliance with company standards while advocating for safety awareness.

• Measured and assessed week one operations survey (for new hires) providing feedback to the safety manager, NHO facilitators and department Job Skills Trainers to improve their engagement skills, ensuring compliance.

• Created LMS Campaigns aimed at improving performances from all team members.

• Collaborated with HR, Operations, Safety, CSR & Quality teams to enhance training requirements, tracking, communicating clear goal setting, fostering a safer and more inclusive work environment, high engagement with the SW Resource Groups, improving team engagement, supporting learning solutions and

• Conducted needs assessments and provided feedback to improve frontline leaders’ skills, contributing to a significant reduction in turnover and improved safety practices.

• Reduced turnover rate from 54% to 2.4% within 13 months by conducting regular performance evaluations of frontline leaders’ listening and empathy skills, crucial for effective management and plant profitability.

• Led (end-to-end) the Engagement Survey Campaign, resulting in an 87% response rate at Dallas Cards and a 95% response rate at Greenville, highlighting our ability to inspire and engage employees.

• Oversaw all budget allocations for training initiatives, ensuring efficient use of resources while meeting organizational objectives, savings, $100K or more during the first year.

• Coached/Mentored Safety Managers as Facilitators/Trainers Improving PowerPoint slides, animations, using a variety of questioning techniques, managing difficult participants, and creating team building activities.

• Customized the new Smurfit Westrock safety slides, giving it an upgraded look that follows company standards and awareness.

• Received the Learning and Development “Values Award” Simon Garcia **************@*****.*** Page 2

Team Flawless, Houston 2020 - 2021

Director of Operations, Human Resources (Contract) Managed vendor relationships and contracts for Make-Up Artists, ensuring compliance and professional standards.

● Realigned MUA’s newly (legal) developed contract and facilitated monthly meetings, disciplinary actions, contract reviews, salary increments.

● Coordinated with web-designers to maintain accurate product inventory, optimizing supply management processes. Ensuring all product inventory was correct for the site.

● Conducted market research then developed all new marketing materials, increasing sales by 75%.

● Built Team Flawless Google Suites, including excel inventory (aligning with web sales) email accounts for MUA’s and event calendar.

● Collaborated with the Miss Universe Organization and aided in TF first ever cosmetics commercial, which aired nationally during the Miss USA & Miss Universe pageant. Firstservice Residential, TX 2018 - 2020

Connect Training & Development Manager

Consulted with Regional Presidents, VP of Ops for TX, and National Operations, analyzing needs then developed the training strategy and roadmap for increasing usage of proprietary software, Connect, including their Learning Management System (FSR University).

● Designed Portal Guides for Board of Directors/Residents, then delivered education workshops on how best to use technology, often one property at a time. Increased usage 75% year over year.

• Created slides, verbiage, and strategy by blending the adult learning theory with in-class learning activities, with a 90-day onboarding (supervisory) evaluation system to ensure transfer of knowledge.

• Leveraged the creation of the Connect Navigation Guide for New Users, adopted for national distribution.

• Designed Digital Job Aides and supervisor’s guide for applying the job aides during one-on-one coaching sessions plus full department meetings, adopted nationally.

• Designed Task Training, facilitated training; adopted for national usage, increasing sales by 85% in first quarter of adoption.

• Delivered proprietary software abilities to potential HOA Board of Directors during the sales negotiation process, introducing our app and how best to use the technology to run their HOA’s more efficiently. Hilton Hotels Corporation 2000 - 2017

Americas/Global Learning Manager for Full-Service Brands (12 yrs) Strategized with Brand Performance Support to increase inclusion and diversity in leadership development for property, leadership & team performance through audits and observations followed by customized training.

• Created ongoing design of compliance training tracking spreadsheets for full-service brands.

• Collaborated with vendors to ensure accuracy and time sensitive turnaround, including the integration of the learning management system, resulting in 100% education audit improvements with worldwide adoption.

• Strategized an early intervention by innovating 28 tools and resources, enabling users a variety of self-administered solutions and consulting options, resulting in an Overall Service Score gain in the Guest Experience Survey.

• Provided End-to-End development of workshop materials based on the 4 Step Method of Training involving both Instructor Led Training, Learning and Virtual Training.

• Sold workshops designed to reduce turnover, increase team efficiency, leadership, productivity, and team/leadership morale, increasing Team Opinion surveys, resulting in profits worldwide over $150,000.

• Lead Facilitator, Director of Sales Symposium for the Americas 2010-2017: Culture Development, Hilton University, Situational Leadership, Behavior Based Interviewing, Coaching, Storytelling

• Project Specialist/Curriculum for General Managers & Directors of Sales: drive full lifecycle design of the brand learning curriculum requirement for General Managers & Directors of Sales for all Full-service Brands, now available on Hilton Worldwide University LMS.

Simon Garcia **************@*****.*** Page 3

Certifications

● ATD Consultant Certification

● ATD Certified Master Trainer

● ATD Certified Instructional Designer for TTT

● ATD Coaching for Empowerment

● DISC Certified

● Human Operational Performance Certified (HOP)

● Lean Six Sigma (Yellow Belt Certified)

● Achieve Global Products

● Behavior-Based Interviewing

● Introduction to Situational Leadership II (Ken Blanchard Products)

● Achieve Global Products

Education

Bachelor of Art, BA – Communication/Speech, University Of Texas-Arlington, TX

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