I have spent over 20 years in the Workplace Learning and Performance (Training and Development) profession. 12+ and counting of those years have been spent at Oracle Corporation. Currently at Oracle, I manage and write training courses for the Applications Technology Group within Oracle. What that means is that I write the technical courses for the eBusiness Suite (Oracle Applications). The group I manage is responsible for $25 million of Oracle products. What kind of courses? Here is a list of courses I have been or am currently involved with at Oracle:
You will also find Applications Technology Group curriculum available through both Oracle Tutor and Oracle UPK. Every course, shown above, is available through the Oracle Tutor content license. Oracle UPK is a simulation tool along with content that can be modified. The Applications Technology Group has content in Oracle UPK that is not available in any other format. Those topics are:
My 2006 Oracle Open World Presentation is here:
So, that is what I have and am doing. I am specifically titled as follows:
Senior Manager, Applications Technology Curriculum
5955 T. G. Lee Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32822
(407) 458-1200
Bill.Sawyer@Oracle.com
I am currently working on my PhD in Education, Training and Performance Improvement. I am passionate about Workplace Learning and Performance. And, I am actively engaged in the profession. Currently, I am President 2008 for Central Florida Chapter of ASTD. I am also working on the IT aspects of ASTD National's Leadership Development Team. You can reach me through ASTD-CF at Bill@astd-cf.org. I have also held the VP of Communication and the VP of Professional Development role for the chapter, and I am generally the technical advisor and implementer for Information Technology for the chapter.
My current resumé is short and specific. I love Oracle. I am passionate about what we do, and what I do to contribute to that success. So, I am not looking to change. But, when the right opportunity for executive-level leadership comes along, like a Chief Learning Officer, VP of Learning, Director of Training and Development, I will definitely look at it.
How can I expect an executive-level position? Easy! My career has been in reverse order. I spent 9 years moving up the business-end of Workplace Learning and Performance. I ended that career as the Strategic Advisor to the President, working in a $100 million training company. The company was purchased, and the ensuing chaos forced me to look elsewhere. I had developed skills as a trainer. As I left the company, I knew I wanted to build my underlying skills in training delivery and curriculum. So, I've spent the last 12+ years and counting at Oracle honing those skills. I not only speak the language of training, but more importantly I speak the language of business and the executives that run them. My undergraduate degree is in Accounting. I understand business, which is a rarity in the Workplace Learning and Performance profession.