Gifty Abagre-Laryea
Training and Development Specialist
Baltimore,MD
Summary
Team-oriented self-starter bringing over 15 years experience in training, staff development and management. Exceptional communication, analytical and organizational skills with demonstrated planning and global leadership abilities, successful at developing and improving training programs for employees at all levels.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
US Training Manager
World Relief
08.2021 - Current
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive onboarding program and guide for new and transitioning employees
- Developed a strategic training and development plan and standard for all employees across career levels which aligns with organizational and individual goals and directions
- Developed and implemented a manager level training program tailored specifically to meet manager needs and organizational priorities
- Worked with a higher educational institute to deliver content and provide relevant credits for continuing education
- Single handedly designed a cooperate-wide training and development policy for all employee training and development initiatives
- Established a training advisory committee comprised of core training stakeholders from all program areas across the United States
- Led in the development and implementation of organization wide objectives and key results (OKRs) on training
- Collaborated with other departments to align training programs with organizational goals and objectives.
- Conducted annual monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and review of programmatic employee training and development efforts to identify and set training and development standards in all 14 US locations and offices
- Provided expert support and leadership to define and continuously improve World Relief's approach to training design, delivery, and evaluation in compliance with organizational and donor standards
- Led in the development and implementation of relevant diversity, equity, inclusion and belongingness (DEIB) as well cultural integration guidelines for training and subject matter specialists across the organization
- Served as an expert on program and training related policy interpretation and implementation across locations
- Worked with HR to develop plans for implementing short and long-range training goals and directs diverse organizational functions affecting critical aspects of organizational programming
- Collaborated with stakeholders to review and develop volunteer and refugee program specifications and standards and provide direction and oversight into managing critical national programs including resettlement and placement, economic empowerment, immigration legal services, matching grants for the accomplishment of World Relief's mission and values
- Offered periodic technical input into federal allocations for national resettlement program, standards and policies and ensured that program deliverables are duly assessed and reported on
- Functioned as system administrator for official e-learning platform – Thinkific, offering ongoing support and training for over six hundred and eighty (680) employees and eight hundred (800) contractors and volunteers
- Created program planning guidelines for design and evaluation of training workshops, seminars, and conferences across US
- Developed and maintained national training plan and schedule across programs and service lines
- Offers professional coaching to sixteen (16) subject matter experts on implementation of adult learning best practices into technical training
- Collaborated with over forty-three (43) training leads and staff across US to ensure quality training program design, implementation, and evaluation to meet required needs of multi-cultural employees and immigrant/refugee communities and volunteers.
Learning and Development Training Manager
Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration
08.2018 - 08.2021
- Designed, developed, and implemented online as well as in-person instructor-led employee development training courses using the ADDIE model of instructional design and ensured that training events and curriculum met the technical and professional needs of diverse and multi-cultural employees
- Collaborated with management and stakeholders to respond to employee development requirements necessary for achieving MDOT SHA's mission, organized and led employee development seminars and exhibitions for employees across the seven (7) districts of MDOT SHA
- Collaborated directly with external clients and vendors to identify learning strategies, design, and deliver relevant content for employee effectiveness
- Facilitated virtual training sessions through MS teams and zoom for over 230 front line supervisors with up to 30 participants in a class and managed two online courses on MDOT SHA's internal LMS (Cornerstone)
- Facilitated and coordinated six in-person, online/virtual training courses in a year and subsequently graduation for forty-five (45) agency managers and executives
- Developed annual strategic plan and budget for state-wide employee development and training
- Negotiated, and tracked expenditure for various MDOT SHA leadership development training events
- Provided employee training and development solutions based on thorough analysis of organizational behavior, employee development, and motivational theories and identified strategic development approaches through the assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of organizational performance
- Led a team of program managers in the development and implementation of policies and procedures necessary for achieving employee personal and professional development goals
- Conducted extensive planning and data analyses activities to oversee the design and evaluation of training processes, including workshops, seminars, and conferences
- Offered training support and assistance to 30-unit training coordinators across States on various MDOT SHA training and developmental programs
- Facilitated the creation of an employee diversity and inclusion support group, offered continues education and support on diversity, equity and inclusion related content and issues across the SHA Directly supervised, coached, and supported six (6) contractual/temporary employees in the successful completion of daily tasks, performed periodic performance reviews and appraisals as well as weekly one-on-one feedback sessions for continues development
- Led a team of training coordinators and representatives from facilitating colleges including Howard community college (HCC), Anne Arundel Community college (ACC) to develop and implement organization and stakeholder engagement policies and standards which is currently in use, across MDOT SHA
- Offered training support and assistance to 30-unit training coordinators across States on various MDOT SHA training and developmental programs.
- Alternated training methods to diversify instruction, strengthen learning opportunities, and enhance program success.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive training program to increase employee productivity and morale.
- Monitored and evaluated training performance to determine quality and cohesiveness.
- Collaborated with other departments to align training programs with organizational goals and objectives.
- Established a culture of continuous learning, promoting professional development opportunities for all employees across the organization.
- Enhanced employee performance by designing and implementing comprehensive training programs.
- Championed employee recognition programs, celebrating individual achievements and reinforcing the value of ongoing personal development.
- Increased overall productivity by conducting regular skills gap analyses and addressing identified needs with targeted training interventions.
- Developed a competency-based approach to workforce development, aligning individual skillsets with strategic business objectives.
Training Manager
United States Peace Corps (Ghana)
06.2015 - 08.2018
- Managed and oversaw all aspects of Peace Corps Ghana's competency and community-based training program and staff, and resources to ensure high quality program design and implementation that meets sector and organizational standards
- Served as an authoritative internal consultant on high level complex international volunteer programs and partner management issues
- Collaborated with program managers to assess volunteer needs; design, develop and implement quality volunteer programs across health, water and sanitation, agriculture, and education sectors as well as cross sector program standards and requirement under PEPFAR, Feed the Future (FTF), Diversity and Gender empowerment to fulfill post and agency mission
- Represented Peace Corps - Ghana at various regional conferences and at the Agency Headquarters level in the U.S to deliberate and make input into critical agency-wide policy changes for ensure effective programming and training, health and volunteer safety, and security
- Drafted, implemented, monitored activities and expenditure of Post training program budget throughout each fiscal year
- Successfully trained over 150 volunteers, 120 host country nationals and forty-five (45) employees to effectively adopt and implement program goals and activities across country in Agriculture, Health Water and Sanitation (Health WatSan), Education, Youth in Development (YiD)
- Directly supervised and coached up to 25 permanent and contractual multicultural staff including host country nationals, U.S Citizens and collaborated with monitoring and evaluation specialists, program managers, technical trainers, specialists, and office assistants who support post's programming and training efforts
- Established and provided leadership and continuous improvement on country and agency approach to training design and evaluation (TDE) process to ensure compliance with post and agency standards
- Collaborated with the team to identify and develop programming and training centers and volunteer sites to meet requisite technical program requirements and standards
- Collaborated with relevant staff including the Country Director, Admin Officer, Medical Officers (PCMOs) and Safety and Security Officers (SSO) and relevant US Mission personnel on training issues to ensure volunteer health, safety and security
- Contributed to core program policy design, interpretation, and implementation across volunteer life cycle
- Represented Peace Corps-Ghana at various local level and country government events involving ministers of state, the U.S Ambassador, and other dignitaries across various sectors of the Ghanaian leadership
- Functioned as the Intercultural Competence Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ICDEI) leader for Post; represents Post at ICDEI conferences, facilitate and co-facilitate ICDEI staff and volunteer workshops, offer ongoing support and ensured that, volunteers acquired the relevant ICDEI skill through experiential and practical learning opportunities
- Contributed to the establishment of monitoring systems and data sources and coordinated periodic data flows, staff development and PCV training on M&E, and provided leadership and coordination for timely and reliable data analysis and reporting according to Peace Corps guidance
- Conducted periodic M&E assessments on volunteer and program successes through annual and semi-annual reports, volunteer stories, volunteer surveys, practicum observations, program, and training reviews, and communicated outcomes to relevant stakeholders including, Peace Corps Washington, policy makers, host country partners and various volunteer committees to promote stakeholder accountability and trust
- Conducted extensive planning and data analyses activities to assess and oversee the design and evaluation of training processes, including workshops, seminars, and conferences.
Language and Cross-Culture Coordinator
United States Peace Corps (Ghana)
08.2009 - 06.2015
- Created and facilitated a comprehensive curriculum for language and culture training and led the implementation of this curriculum which is currently in use at post and in other African countries/posts
- Created various local language instructional materials using the ADDIE model of instructional design and coordinated material review to update and maintain these training resources
- Supervised and supported a team of up-to fifteen (15) permanent and contractual language and cultural facilitators
- Independently created the first edition and template of the language manual and accompanying workbook, coordinated the translation of the manual into five (5) local languages to enhance local language teaching and learning in Peace Corps Ghana
- Supported, supervised, and offered continuing on-the-job coaching for staff and volunteers and exemplified cross-cultural behavior as well as facilitated core cultural sessions for volunteers and staff
- Organized and facilitated a series of training of trainers (TOT) for new and regular staff resulting in the creation of the calendar of training events (COT) for PST and other training events
- Organized and coordinated workshops for Language testers across the country with international facilitators
- Worked as the staff liaison and mentor for volunteer gender, youth development and diversity committees.
- Conducted surveys to gauge employee satisfaction levels, identifying areas in need of improvement and initiating necessary changes.
- Served as a liaison between management and staff, fostering trusting relationships throughout all levels of the organization.
- Observed classrooms to provide feedback on behavior management and classroom culture.
- Fostered a positive work environment by organizing team-building activities and events.
- Implemented wellness initiatives such as exercise classes or meditation sessions, supporting employee mental health and overall wellbeing.
- Developed programming to promote skills, talent and high achievement among minority populations.
- Developed diversity and inclusion programs to promote a more inclusive workplace culture.
- Evaluated key performance metrics to measure success of cultural initiatives, adjusting strategies as necessary based on data-driven insights.
Education
Master in Public Administration -
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology
Ghana 11.2015
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics - Linguistics And Political Science
University of Ghana
Ghana 06.2008
Skills
- Training Development and Management
- Leadership and change management
- Talent Management and Coaching
- Budgeting, Procurement and Financial Management
- Mental Health and First Aid
- Effective Communication and Problem Solving
- Content Development and Delivery
- Adult and Experiential Learning
- Stakeholder and Partnership Management
- New hire onboarding and training
- LMS/E-Learning Platforms
Accomplishments
- Trained over 30 hiring managers on behavioral interviewing techniques, hiring processes and onboarding.
- Successfully restructured and implemented in-house and external training standards and series
- Worked with various public institutions to develop and implemented mid and senior level leadership development programs for over 280 leaders
- Developed over 60 advanced training courses using various software including PPT, Canva, Thinkific, articulate, cornerstone.
- Led safety, policy and leadership courses in Ghana, Tanzania, Togo and the U.S.
- Collaborated with a team of 15 training leads in the development of a national training strategy
- Supervised and coached a team of up to 46 staff members and volunteers
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Collaborated with team of 3 subject matter experts to in the development of a 325 page training manual which is currently being used across Peace Corps West African countries
- Developed and implemented an organization-wide onboarding program
- Implemented a training tracking system leading to 70% increase in the rate of training completion
Certification
- Certificate in Measuring Learning effectiveness, LinkedIn Learning, October 2023
- Certificate in Supply Chain Foundations; Supplier Development and Diversity, LinkedIn Learning, October 2023
- Certificate - Design and Deliver of Training Programs, LinkedIn Learning, October 2023
- Certified Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) USA, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, July 2022
- Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM), Training Industry, October 2021
- Certificate in International and Strategic Human Resource Management, Alison.com, March 2021
- Certificate in Organizational Change – Managing and Supporting Employees, Alison.com, March 2021
- Certificate in E-learning Theory and Practice, Alison.com, January 2021
- Certificate in Second Language Acquisition (Wisconsin University; EAU Claire), September 2018
- Certificate in Managing Teams, Project Management Institute, February 2018
- Certificate in Coaching and Developing Employee, Project Management Institute, March 2018
- Certificate in Delivering Employee Feedback, Project Management Institute, March 2018
- Certificate in Strategic Planning (Anne Arundel Community College), September 2018
- Certificate in Leadership Excellence (Anne Arundel Community College), December 2018
- Certificate in New Supervisor Training Program (Howard Community College), October 2018
- Teachers Certificate in Basic Education, Tamale Training College, June 2000
Presentationspublications
- Article - Training Industry; Gain a Seat at the Table: How to Show Training's Value to Business Executives, November 2023, https://trainingindustry.com/articles/professional-development/gain-a-seat-at-the-table-how-to-show-trainings-value-to-business-executives-cptm/
- A Training Industry Podcast - The Business of Learning podcast, training needs assessments/identifying skills gaps, October 2022, https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-9vt5k-125ee03
- Thesis - The socio-economic contributions of the Unites States Peace Corps in the Upper West Region of Ghana Journal on Humanities and Social Sciences, ISSN (Online)2225-0484, 2021
- VILT - Transformational Leadership Skills, Seminar for mid-level managers, MDTA Workshop, MD, 2020
Training
- Training Industry Conference and Expo (TICE), Training Industry, September 2023
- Training Industry Conference and Expo (TICE), Training Industry, February 2022
- Let Girls Learn Staging Curriculum Training of Trainers, Washington DC, April 2017
- Africa Region Intercultural Competence, Diversity, and Inclusion Workshop, Senegal, October - November 2016
- Gender Workshop, Washington DC, March 2015
- Focus In/Train Up Workshop, Tanzania, November 2012
- OST for Training Staff and Training Managers, South Africa, 2010
Timeline
US Training Manager
World Relief
08.2021 - Current
Learning and Development Training Manager
Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration
08.2018 - 08.2021
Training Manager
United States Peace Corps (Ghana)
06.2015 - 08.2018
Language and Cross-Culture Coordinator
United States Peace Corps (Ghana)
08.2009 - 06.2015
- Measuring Learning effectiveness, LinkedIn Learning, October 2023
- Supply Chain Foundations; Supplier Development and Diversity, LinkedIn Learning, October 2023
- How to Design and Deliver Training Programs, LinkedIn Learning, October 2023
- Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) USA, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, July 2022
- Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM), Training Industry, October 2021
- International and Strategic Human Resource Management, Alison.com, March 2021
- Organizational Change – Managing and Supporting Employees, Alison.com, March 2021
- Introduction to E-learning Theory and Practice, Alison.com, January 2021
- Second Language Acquisition (Wisconsin University; EAU Claire), September 2018
- Managing Teams, Project Management Institute, February 2018
- Coaching and Developing Employee, Project Management Institute, March 2018
- Delivering Employee Feedback, Project Management Institute, March 2018
- Strategic Planning (Anne Arundel Community College), September 2018
- Leadership Excellence (Anne Arundel Community College), December 2018
- New Supervisor Training Program (Howard Community College), October 2018
Master in Public Administration -
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics - Linguistics And Political Science
University of Ghana
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