Vera O'Brien, CTDP
Content Development Specialist at Metrolinx- Claim this Profile
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Topline Score
Bio
Winnie Linker MBA CHRL 🍁
Vera is a pleasure to work with. She has a positive energy, and inspires people around her with her genuine interest and ability to connect. Vera thinks strategically in her approach and has been very successful in all areas of learning and development. She demonstrates strong leadership in her approach to people and tasks. In particular, Vera has superb curriculum development skills and the results demonstrate her ability and success in this area. Vera is also an above-average facilitator with groups and individuals at all levels and she has helped so many to learn and grow in knowledge and skills.
Jason Allen
Vera was a well loved, and often turned to resource at Metrolinx for all things learning and development. As the person you knew you could rely on for getting things done with a tight deadline, or senior leadership visibility, Vera always came through in the clutch. Her sound judgement and level head made her a popular resource for colleagues throughout the organization with a problem that needed solving. Vera would be an enormous asset to any organization that needed someone with endless energy and creativity, and a solid understanding of people and what motivates them to do what they need to do.
Winnie Linker MBA CHRL 🍁
Vera is a pleasure to work with. She has a positive energy, and inspires people around her with her genuine interest and ability to connect. Vera thinks strategically in her approach and has been very successful in all areas of learning and development. She demonstrates strong leadership in her approach to people and tasks. In particular, Vera has superb curriculum development skills and the results demonstrate her ability and success in this area. Vera is also an above-average facilitator with groups and individuals at all levels and she has helped so many to learn and grow in knowledge and skills.
Jason Allen
Vera was a well loved, and often turned to resource at Metrolinx for all things learning and development. As the person you knew you could rely on for getting things done with a tight deadline, or senior leadership visibility, Vera always came through in the clutch. Her sound judgement and level head made her a popular resource for colleagues throughout the organization with a problem that needed solving. Vera would be an enormous asset to any organization that needed someone with endless energy and creativity, and a solid understanding of people and what motivates them to do what they need to do.
Winnie Linker MBA CHRL 🍁
Vera is a pleasure to work with. She has a positive energy, and inspires people around her with her genuine interest and ability to connect. Vera thinks strategically in her approach and has been very successful in all areas of learning and development. She demonstrates strong leadership in her approach to people and tasks. In particular, Vera has superb curriculum development skills and the results demonstrate her ability and success in this area. Vera is also an above-average facilitator with groups and individuals at all levels and she has helped so many to learn and grow in knowledge and skills.
Jason Allen
Vera was a well loved, and often turned to resource at Metrolinx for all things learning and development. As the person you knew you could rely on for getting things done with a tight deadline, or senior leadership visibility, Vera always came through in the clutch. Her sound judgement and level head made her a popular resource for colleagues throughout the organization with a problem that needed solving. Vera would be an enormous asset to any organization that needed someone with endless energy and creativity, and a solid understanding of people and what motivates them to do what they need to do.
Winnie Linker MBA CHRL 🍁
Vera is a pleasure to work with. She has a positive energy, and inspires people around her with her genuine interest and ability to connect. Vera thinks strategically in her approach and has been very successful in all areas of learning and development. She demonstrates strong leadership in her approach to people and tasks. In particular, Vera has superb curriculum development skills and the results demonstrate her ability and success in this area. Vera is also an above-average facilitator with groups and individuals at all levels and she has helped so many to learn and grow in knowledge and skills.
Jason Allen
Vera was a well loved, and often turned to resource at Metrolinx for all things learning and development. As the person you knew you could rely on for getting things done with a tight deadline, or senior leadership visibility, Vera always came through in the clutch. Her sound judgement and level head made her a popular resource for colleagues throughout the organization with a problem that needed solving. Vera would be an enormous asset to any organization that needed someone with endless energy and creativity, and a solid understanding of people and what motivates them to do what they need to do.
Credentials
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Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner
ProsciOct, 2020- Sep, 2024
Experience
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Metrolinx
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Canada
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Ground Passenger Transportation
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700 & Above Employee
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Content Development Specialist
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Nov 2022 - Present
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Learning & Development Specialist
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Nov 2021 - Present
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York Region (The Regional Municipality of York)
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Government Administration
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700 & Above Employee
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Corporate IAM Training Specialist
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Sep 2017 - Jan 2018
Assessing corporate Information Management (IM) learning and development needs and developing, delivering, monitoring and evaluating training programs for the Region to meet legislative obligations; ensuring that program learning and development practices are consistent with corporate policies, legislation and regulations; and assessing program training technology, legislated training requirements and individual and group learning and development plans Assessing corporate Information Management (IM) learning and development needs and developing, delivering, monitoring and evaluating training programs for the Region to meet legislative obligations; ensuring that program learning and development practices are consistent with corporate policies, legislation and regulations; and assessing program training technology, legislated training requirements and individual and group learning and development plans
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Black & McDonald Limited
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Canada
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Construction
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700 & Above Employee
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Learning Manager
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Aug 2014 - Jan 2017
Designed & managed Learning, OD and HR Development for Nuclear Region 500, 4 Direct Reports• Advised management on strategic leadership, employee/leadership development, labour relations, governance, policies & procedures, health & safety, selection and retention and performance management, surpassing quarterly scorecard objectives • Created and managed regional professional development, budget, reward/recognition programs, resulting in employee progression, engagement and increased employee survey metrics • Conducted needs analysis identifying gaps in employee development/engagement, nuclear and legal compliance improving regional strategic planning and commendation from nuclear review board• Developed and managed nuclear training and onboarding team, improving efficiency, client satisfaction and commendations from direct reports for provision of leadership excellence• Designed & implemented Black & McDonald’s first ever, Learning Management System (TRMS); providing compliance, engagement measurements resulting in successful nuclear and ministry audits • Designed & Facilitated; Orientation, Situational Leadership II™, AODA, Workplace Harassment & Violence Awareness, The Skilled Presenter™ and Subcontractor/Nuclear Supervision – 100% compliance result• Collaborated with client groups producing nuclear leadership curriculum, onboarding program, governance, increasing training participation and reducing missed training incidents
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Corporate OD & Learning Instructor
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Sep 2009 - Aug 2014
• Manages corporate Employee Orientation program end to end; curriculum development, senior leadership participation, due diligence adherence, 2013 program reflects changes in organization, reduced to 2 days, 25% increase in participation and $17, 000.00 annual cost reduction• Consults with client groups (engineering, prosecution, customer service, safety, bombardier); conducts needs analysis, recommendations & implementation of learning solutions; design, facilitation and vendor sourcing resulting in numerous stakeholder and client commendations• Consults with individual contributors; assesses learning needs, provides career and learning guidance, options and interpretation of Metrolinx policy, guidance has resulted in employee promotion• Manages Professional Development program; budget, request assessment & approval, interpretation & application of corporate learning policy, all reimbursements awarded within fiscal program maximum• Facilitates & designs corporate training programs including; The Skilled Presenter™, Situational Self Leadership™, Diversity, Harassment & Violence Awareness, Customer Service & GO Transit Passenger Charter™, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities resulting in average facilitator rating 4.7/5, $23, 000.00 reductions in training expenses and Senior Management commendations• Supervises Learning & Development Coordinator; delegates, sets priorities and timelines, leads towards independent resolution in coordination of training and events for entire organization• Championed, developed and represented Organizational Development & Learning team in collaboration with O.D. & Learning Consultant at 2012 Human Resources Corporate Open House
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Learning Coordinator
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Apr 2007 - Apr 2009
• Independently coordinated national learning events for multiple programs including; participant qualification, preparation of learning materials, logistics planning, proposals, contracts, invoice reconciliation, catering, learning page postings, travel, facilitation of inquiries from participants, presenters, senior management and internal clients, reduction in event cost of $75, 000.00 and recognition at RVP meeting• Prepared learning documents; facilitation guides, participant guides, learning materials, presentations, editing, proof-reading, learning page materials, minutes, analyzes and quantifies participant feedback and materials as requested by Vice President of learning• Organized Advisor e-learning sessions via Web-Ex, assisting participants, sponsors and facilitators with presentation preparation, inquiries and technical support• Created and maintained; budget tracking spread sheets, program spread sheets, invoices, filing, participant attendance records and feedback, training supplies inventory and ordering
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Education
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Institute for Performance and Learning
Certified Training and Development Professional, Learning and Development/HR -
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Ken Blanchard
Certified Facilitator, Situational Leadership 2 -
2012 - 2012
Ken Blanchard
Certified Trainer, Situational Self Leadership -
2012 - 2012
McLuhan & Davies
Certified Teacher of Adults, Certified Facilitator, The Skilled Presenter -
2008 - 2010
Durham College
Certification, Teacher & Trainer of Adults -
1994 - 1997
Durham College
Diploma, Human Resources Management
Community
