DARLESA CAHOON
Instructor - Designer - Creator - Learner
Curriculum Vitae Darlesa Cahoon
206-304-1645
EDUCATION
MA, Information & Learning Technologies, emphasis Adult Learning - (completion Fall 2018)
University of Colorado – Denver, CO
GPA: 4.0
Graduate Certificate, E-Learning Design & Development
University of Washington
BA, Liberal Studies – Arts & Literature
Antioch University - Seattle, WA
SPECIALTIES
Learning Program & Project Management
Internal Marketing and Communication Strategic Planning
Systematic Needs Assessment
Leadership Development
Learning Design and Delivery using ADDIE, SAM and other methods
Story-Based Learning, Simulations and Interactions
Development of Performance Support Systems
Articulate Storyline, Camtasia, Rise, Captivate, PowerPoint, Audacity ...
Screencasting/Digital Storytelling
Job Aids
SharePoint Content Design & Management
Synchronous Web Meeting/Virtual Training Design, Production and Facilitation
WORK EXPERIENCE
Training & Development Manager
Columbia Distributing
August 2016 – Present
Lead a team of local and remote learning professionals providing performance and talent development products and services for largest beverage distributing company in Northwest. Conduct learning and performance needs assessments, identify knowledge and skill gaps and best ways to address them, provide consultation and coaching to managers and staff, instructional design, development, and delivery of instructor-led, online and a variety of blended training in new employee onboarding, safety, sales development, training the trainers, presentation skills, leadership, and performance management to assist employees at all levels to meet competencies for their positions, transfer knowledge from outside the organization and within the organization between people and departments, improve performance, and reduce wasted training efforts.
Sr. Instructional Designer/Facilitator
Columbia Distributing
Feb 2016 – August 2016
Consulted with leaders and managers to analyze and design learning programs to support business goals. Developed reinforcement programs for learning. Redesigned and facilitated 5 course leadership training program. Managed, designed, and developed online, blended, instructor-led learning projects. Designed and produced learning artifacts such as: videos, self-paced e-learning courses, job aids, on-boarding checklists, screencasts, and performance support items.
AV/E-Learning Specialist
Port of Seattle
July 2010 – Feb 2016
Online learning program enablement for the Port of Seattle involving: consulting and training Port learning leaders regarding best practices and innovations using new and emerging training technology to improve access to compliance and performance improvement learning programs for all levels of employees, using both ADDIE and various Agile methods to manage and develop e-learning, blended, and instructor-led projects, performing needs assessments to meet business goals and regulatory requirements, interviewing and collaborating with SMEs and learners, designing and developing multi-media, multi-platform online courses, and screencasts for corporate LMS and web, producing live virtual events, managing, designing, and facilitating SharePoint content for internal social learning groups, evaluating and improving ongoing training programs
Training Specialist
Port of Seattle
2007 – 2010
Managed computer based security and driver training lab, worked with external vendors to create content, created & curated items for video learning library, maintained training compliance records and reports, designed and developed e-learning and multi-media projects
Independent Business Owner
2001 – 2007
Marketing consultation, graphic design & legal transcription services
Marketing & Training Specialist
FMC, Inc.
1998 – 2000
Designed and developed marketing plans, graphic design of marketing proposals, menus and signage, and developed and delivered software/hardware training for managers and employees in field cafeteria locations
HONORS & AWARDS
Accomplished Woman at the Port
Port of Seattle – April 2010
Distinguished Service Award
Port of Seattle - January 2009
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
VNext Amazon Learning Technology Meetup
E-Learning Guild
ASTD National Chapter
ASTD Puget Sound Chapter
PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION CERTIFICATES
Game Development and Gamification for Non-Programmers
Andrew Hughes, Designing Digitally – February 2018
The Allen Experience
Michael Allen, Allen Interactions – September 2017
Up the Quality, but Not the Cost, of Video-based Training
Aaron Quigley & Matt Fishbach, Lynda.com - November 2016
Project Management for Learning Projects
Lou Russell, Russell Martin – October 2015
Readying Your Organization for Performance Support
Bob Mosher & Conrad Gottfredsen – June 2015
The Gamification of Learning
Karl Kapp & Sharon Boller – January 2015
Designing for the VILT Environment
The Training Doctor - January, 2014
Immersive Learning Solutions
Koreen Olbrish Pagano - October, 2013
User Experience Design for ELearning
Julie Dirksen - October, 2013
Camtasia Bootcamp
Dappertext - June 2013
Articulate Storyline: Beginning & Advanced Training
Yukon Learning - July 2012
Mastering ELearning Project Management
ReadyGo, Inc.- October, 2012
Articulate Studio: Beginning & Advanced Training
Yukon Learning - April 2010
MOOCs
Public Speaking - University of Washington (Coursera)
(March 2014 – May 2014)
Gamification - University of Pennsylvania (Coursera)
(January 2014 – March 2014)
E-Learning & Digital Cultures - University of Edinburgh (Coursera)
(Nov 2013 – Jan 2014)
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Combining the Best of Institutional and Corporate Learning Theory, How Brain Science Can Inform Better Instruction, Agile Learning Development, Improving Performance Support Infrastructure, The Future of Experience API, Serious Learning Games, Practical Uses for AR & VR in Learning