+1 218 508 4968 vanessawholmes@gmail.com
 Trainer | Instructional Designer | e-Learning Designer | Health & wellness facilitator

Vanessa Holmes

 

 

 

ABOUT me

I’m an enthusiastic trainer and eLearning developer with a wealth experience, having taught and trained a wide range of adult students and teachers in various settings. My passion lies in creating engaging and memorable learning experiences that ultimately boost business performance.

As a perpetual learner, I’m always on the lookout for new technologies that can make training and courses more interactive and effective. Feel free to click on the video to get to know me better. Thanks for dropping by my page!

Sincerely,

Vanessa Holmes

 

How I design learning solutions

My approach to designing learning solutions is rooted in adaptability and tailored to the unique dynamics of each situation. I prioritize interactivity, real-world applicability (where feasible), tangible results, and the enrichment of participants’ knowledge.

Key process steps:

  1. Thorough Analysis: I initiate the process by conducting comprehensive discussions with all stakeholders, constructing an action plan that precisely delineates objectives.
  2. Needs Assessment: Engaging with owners, managers, subject matter experts, and learners, I perform in-depth job task and context analyses to ascertain genuine training needs.
  3. Objective Formulation: Employing Bloom’s Taxonomy, I craft clear and measurable learning objectives aligned with desired outcomes.
  4. Strategic Planning: I utilize Gagne’s Nine Events to strategically plan content, methodologies, activities, and media selection. Additionally, I employ Kirkpatrick’s Model for assessment, focusing on achieving Level 4 “Results” rather than just Level 1 “Reaction.”
  5. Curriculum Development: I create tailored training materials and curriculum to effectively convey the desired knowledge and skills.
  6. Implementation: I facilitate the training process, ensuring that the learning experience is engaging and effective.
  7. Evaluation: To gauge training effectiveness, I assess outcomes and share feedback with stakeholders.
  8. Continuous Improvement: Based on feedback, I make necessary adjustments to enhance the training’s efficacy.

My approach is rooted in constructivism and andragogy, recognizing that practical, valuable, meaningful, and realistic learning experiences are the most effective in fostering knowledge acquisition.

Brief overview of resume
My Experience

Seasoned trainer, teacher, and coach with 20+ years of experience. Successful in designing engaging, interactive, and results-driven courses, and professional development (PD) sessions. Ability to use and integrate educational technology to teach, drive retention, comprehension, and participation. Accomplished in cultivating relationships with all stakeholders and working in varied environments.

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN YEARS

ADULT TEACHING & TRAINING YEARS

COACHING YEARS

ABBOTT – Contract

Quality Compliant Training Specialist/Instructional Designer

Scarborough, Maine, 07/2024– Present

  • Conduct needs assessments and partner with managers to develop tailored learning solutions aligned with compliance and regulatory standards.
  • Manage and update course materials, training records, and delivery logistics across various formats (in-person, virtual, online), ensuring timely access and adherence to organizational requirements.
  • Design and assign training to support the integration of two legacy business units; manage Cornerstone LMS and evaluate training needs driven by policy changes.
  • Oversee the full lifecycle of job descriptions—from drafting and stakeholder review to approvals and system activation—and develop a training matrix to align required learning with each role.

Freelancer

Freelance Instructional Designer & Health & Wellness Facilitator and Coach

United States, Remote, 06/2023– Present

  • Create compelling course content, using video editing, cutting edge authoring tools, and additional technical and multimedia tools, by implementing instructional design methodology.
  • Remain current in industry best practices and emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) trends in content development and learning technologies.
  • Facilitate health and wellness sessions

The King’s College Online

Professional Development Specialist & Instructional Designer

Remote (office based in Phoenix), 01/2022-05/2023

  • Created engaging instructional material and learning activities such as instructional lead and self-paced performance support tools, eLearning tutorials, software simulations, and learning assessments using the latest authoring and video editing tools.
  • Collaborated with management, department heads and staff to conduct thorough needs assessments to determine areas for employee improvement.
  • Held weekly online onboarding and training sessions for small groups and individuals, providing support and mentoring across departments.
  • Conducted research and collaborated with SMEs (subject matter experts) to identify target audience’s training needs and desired outcomes.
  • Designed and generated the layout and learning supports such as work aids, flyers, and additional documents.
  • Analyzed the effectiveness of the training, making sure that the staff was successfully utilizing what was learned.
  • Set up and constructed corporate repositories in SharePoint sites to hold all corporate documents.
  • Played a pivotal role in cultivating and sustaining a vibrant corporate culture, fostering employee well-being and engagement through initiatives like 15-minute mindfulness sessions and virtual game nights.

Freelancer

Freelance Trainer | Health & Wellness Facilitator and Coach

Worldwide, 2016– 01/2022
(Vietnam, Turkey, Honduras, and USA)

  • Delivered international training sessions on instructional methodologies and ESL strategies for adult learners.
  • Held seminars and coached clients in the realms of health and wellness, offering expert guidance on weight management, yoga, mindfulness, and holistic healing practices.
Jerome School District

 ESL District Coach & District Assistant Coordinator

Jerome, Idaho, 08/2014 – 07/2016
  • Designed and implemented engaging, results-driven learning and development initiatives tailored to diverse learner needs in close collaboration with district leadership and key stakeholders.
  • Led professional development programs, driving an 8% improvement in district-wide ESL performance through targeted training efforts.
  • Streamlined instructional resources, revising and standardizing job aids, SOPs, and training materials.
  • Developed instructional content and assessments aligned with learning objectives.
  • Coached, mentored, and provided effective feedback regarding teacher performance.

“The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.”

— Henry Ford

 

my skills

With a foundation in teaching and presentation expertise, I offer a blend of pragmatic and theoretical proficiency in pedagogy, course development, instructional design, scaffolding, and assessment. I am an ardent proponent of fostering collaboration and facilitating the exchange of best practices, recognizing the wealth of innovative ideas within our collective.

In my coaching capacity, I demonstrate exceptional aptitude in communication and interpersonal relations. My repertoire includes adept problem-solving, conflict resolution, and a commitment to building robust relationships through the application of empathetic cognitive coaching techniques.

Training & Instructional Design

  • Excellent presenter
  • Ability to differentiate training effectively
  • Collaborate with all stakeholders effectively
  • Convey information concisely and accurately
  • Firm leadership & decision-making skills
  • Adaptable, flexible & able to multi-task
  • High productivity and time management skills
  • Extremely organized
  • Excellent problem-solving skills
  • Strong assessment & analysis skills

Coaching

  • Highly empathetic
  • Active listener
  • Excellent at building rapport
  • Ability to give gentle feedback
  • Diplomacy & EQ skills
  • Constant evaluation of myself and the situation
tech skills
  • Articulate Storyline & Rise 360
  • Camtasia – Movavi – Filmora
  • Vyond – InVideo -Animaker
  • Office 365 – Google Workspace
  • Blackboard -Moodle – Canva – METRO (Cornerstone)
  • Agile (Oracle)
  • Adobe Illustrator  – Adobe Photoshop
  • Asana
  • Snagit – Greenshot

 

Education

Glendale Community College

Course

Introduction to Digital Design

2024

 

University of Sunderland

Master of Arts

Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL)

2015

Arizona State University

Bachelor of Science

Construction Engineering and Management

1997

 

Related Articles

I regularly keep up with trending topics and innovative ideas in the field. Here are a couple of recent articles that caught my attention. Instructional design is constantly evolving – especially with the rapid integration of AI and emerging technologies. Here are two recent articles that offer valuable insights into how the field is shifting in 2025, from streamlining course development to reshaping the learner experience. 

January, 2025

Trends and Innovations for Instructional Design for Workforce Learning

August, 2024

Augmented Course Design: Using AI to Boost Efficiency and Expand Capacity

PHOTO GALLERY

Ready to Chat?

Contact Me

phone +1 218 508 4968