Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Training
Timeline
Tamara DeFord

Tamara DeFord

Scottsville,KY

Summary

Versatile and proven leader with a diverse background in both product design and education. Extensive experience working effectively with individuals from various backgrounds and nationalities, fostering inclusive and supportive environments. Demonstrated ability to achieve organizational goals efficiently, along with a strong track record of managing, supervising, training, and mentoring individuals to excel in their specific roles. Expert at establishing clear procedures and standards to ensure consistent and high-quality support services.

Overview

41
41
years of professional experience

Work History

Resident Life Supervisor & Head of Female Barracks

St. John's Northwestern Academy
07.2024 - Current
  • Ensure all required actions of the students are completed in a timely and accurate manner
  • Counsels, advises, and disciplines students as needed
  • Listen and empathize with students in the boarding school environment; understanding this may be the first time away from home
  • Maintains a working file on each student; currently 34 female students
  • Maintains written counseling records
  • Prepares written reports, documentation, and records related to student proficiency, conduct, and welfare
  • Prepares written quarterly performance evaluations on each student
  • Supports the operational plan of the Academy
  • Supports recruiting efforts
  • Maintains a working relationship with the faculty to guarantee a joint effort in each student's academic
    progress
  • Work closely with enrolment and admissions to ensure students complete the onboarding checklist, to include: uniforms/supplies; introduction to Academic Advisor, schedule of classes; Tour of campus
  • Establishes and maintains effective communication, coordination and working relations with students, staff,
    faculty, and other Academy personnel
  • Ensures students are comfortable, safe and issues are resolved in a timely manner.
  • Work closely with Marketing, Admissions, and Student Affairs to promote a positive image of the Academy
  • Maintains professional uniform appearance standards that support and reflect the high standards upon which the Academy was established.
  • Works to retain students from year to year in support of the academy's enrollment efforts (80% re-enrollment goal)
  • Attend Open House events for support
  • Maintains standards of conduct through professional and personal lifestyle that reflects on the image of SJNA
  • Timesheet tracking and approval for resident life staff; Working hours / PTO / Sick time
  • Performance reviews for resident life staff (15 Staff members)
  • Create and conduct annual Resident Life Training
  • Training and mentoring new hires to resident life staff
  • Create, review and revise Resident Life Policies and Procedures
  • Schedule and conduct department meetings

Resident Faculty Officer

St. John’s Northwestern Academy
08.2022 - 07.2024
  • Resident Life: Responsible for the safety, well-being, and accountability of students in the female dorm (23 female students)
  • Faculty: SY 2023 - 2024:
    * PLTW Instructor, Intro to Engineering Design (18 students)
    * PLTW Instructor, Principles of Engineering (14 students)

Co-Instructor / Teacher, Summer Academy Plus

St. John's Northwestern Academy
06.2023 - 08.2023
  • Assisted with summer school program teaching drafting and STEM skills to middle school students (15 students)

Engineering CAD Supervisor

Lochinvar, LLC
12.2012 - 07.2022
  • Supervisor of the CAD department for Lochinvar (an AO Smith company), a water heater and boiler company.
  • Supervised a CAD department of 15+ employees responsible for the 3D models and drawings of products utilizing SolidWorks
  • Established drafting standards for department consistency and ensured all CAD employees adhered to the standards
  • Collaborate with departments to ensure CAD employees provide needed information for others to complete the process
  • Prioritized the workload of the CAD department to ensure deadlines are achieved and high priority items are taken care of in a timely manner
  • Attended project meetings to verify CAD employees are complying to project timelines and understand the project scope
  • Created training materials for both CAD and ERP system (SAP / ECTR) usage to ensure compliance to established guidelines
  • Utilized Solid Professor online learning experiences for software applications
  • Created training materials and conducted SAP/PLM training for new “non-CAD” employees
  • Trained and mentored junior designers in the intricacies of various CAD software packages, both one-on-one, individual basis and in a formal classroom setting
  • Participated in blueprinting sessions for proposed system setups and layouts as it related to the CAD department for the implementation of SAP
  • Participated in corporate meetings and symposiums for system enhancements to improve system and user performance
  • Participated in the implementation of SAP/PLM with CAD Integration, CAD Desktop & Engineering Control Center (ECTR)
  • Performed employee relation activities: hiring and firing, performance reviews, mediation, and disciplinary meetings
  • Participated in Problem Solving activities
  • Partnered with internal and external recruiting teams to hire and onboard employees for the CAD department; also, created/updated job descriptions/hiring materials as needed
  • Continuous improvement of team policies and processes in order for team to utilize latest and greatest methods to improve efficiency
  • GD&T Experience

CAD Designer / Engineer

Pure Power Technologies
02.2010 - 11.2012
  • Design Engineer for Pure Power Technologies products of Automotive Intake Valves and EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) Valve
  • Designed products utilizing ProEngineer Wildfire 5.0 and Windchill
  • Collaborated with Engineers on project design requirements to create models and drawings correctly for product manufacturability
  • Attended TS audit training to become a TS Certified Auditor in September 2011
  • GD&T Experience

CAD Designer / Engineer

National Industrial Concepts
02.2008 - 01.2009
  • Design Engineer for National Industrial Concepts products of Engine Air Recirculation Shields for Paccar Trucks
  • Designed products utilizing ProEngineer Wildfire 2.0
  • Worked with suppliers to ensure adherence to product specifications
  • Traveled to customer location to participate in a collaborative design process with others working on a diesel engine
  • Confirmed customer satisfaction in the design of the product during design review meetings

CAD Designer / Engineer

Holley Performance Products
04.2003 - 02.2008
  • Mechanical Designer for Holley Performance Products designing Carburetors, Throttle Bodies, Motorcycle Exhaust
  • Designed products utilizing ProEngineer 2000, 2000i
  • Collaborated with Engineers on project design requirements to create models and drawings correctly for product manufacturability
  • Utilized a FARO Measuring Arm in the design and modeling of motorcycle exhaust
  • Established drafting standards for department consistency and ensured all CAD employees adhered to the standards

CAD Designer / Engineer

Oak Ridge National Labs
02.2003 - 04.2003
  • Mechanical Designer utilizing ProEngineer

Mechanical Designer

State Water Heaters
09.2000 - 05.2002
  • Water Heater design utilizing ProEngineer

CAD Designer / Engineer

DESA International
06.1996 - 08.2000
  • Hearth product design utilizing ProEngineer

CAD Designer / Engineer

American Electronic Components
02.1994 - 06.1996
  • Electromechanical switches
  • ABS Sensors
  • ProEngineer

CAD Designer / Engineer

Lux Seating
10.1993 - 02.1994
  • Quality Inspector of office furniture

Non-Commissioned Officer

United States Marine Corps
01.1984 - 04.1993
  • Helicopter structural mechanic
  • Honorable Discharge
  • Staff Sergeant (E-6)
  • Paint and Corrosion Control Certified

Education

Master of Science - Management and Leadership

Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah
04.2020

Bachelor of Science - Business Management

Mid-Continent University, Mayfield, KY
06.2005
GPA: 3.7

Skills

  • Multi-Tasking Skills
  • Troubleshooting
  • Critical thinking
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Supervision and leadership
  • Salesforce familiar
  • Dependable and responsible
  • CRM Software (Veracross, SAP)
  • Customer service
  • Training & Development
  • Public speaking
  • MS office
  • Attention to detail
  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Organization and time management

Training

  • TABS Residential Student Life Seminar, 07/23, Boston, MA
  • Project Lead The Way, Introduction to Engineering Design, 08/18/23, Principles of Engineering, 12/20/23
  • Institute for Social and Emotional Learning (IFSEL), 07/24, Chicago, IL
  • Numerous Professional Development Courses, 7 Habits Foundations, 7 Habits Signature, Developing Employees through Delegation, Implementing and Sustaining Process Improvement, Project Management Overview, Introduction to Project Management (PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition)
  • Attended SolidWorks Conferences
  • Marine Corps: Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, Kaneohe, Hawaii

Timeline

Resident Life Supervisor & Head of Female Barracks - St. John's Northwestern Academy
07.2024 - Current
Co-Instructor / Teacher, Summer Academy Plus - St. John's Northwestern Academy
06.2023 - 08.2023
Resident Faculty Officer - St. John’s Northwestern Academy
08.2022 - 07.2024
Engineering CAD Supervisor - Lochinvar, LLC
12.2012 - 07.2022
CAD Designer / Engineer - Pure Power Technologies
02.2010 - 11.2012
CAD Designer / Engineer - National Industrial Concepts
02.2008 - 01.2009
CAD Designer / Engineer - Holley Performance Products
04.2003 - 02.2008
CAD Designer / Engineer - Oak Ridge National Labs
02.2003 - 04.2003
Mechanical Designer - State Water Heaters
09.2000 - 05.2002
CAD Designer / Engineer - DESA International
06.1996 - 08.2000
CAD Designer / Engineer - American Electronic Components
02.1994 - 06.1996
CAD Designer / Engineer - Lux Seating
10.1993 - 02.1994
Non-Commissioned Officer - United States Marine Corps
01.1984 - 04.1993
Mid-Continent University - Bachelor of Science, Business Management
Western Governors University - Master of Science, Management and Leadership

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Tamara DeFord